Rating:
Genre:
World
Release Date: 11/05/1996
Run Time: 42:41
One of
Arhoolie's specialities has always been
Tejano (or
Tex-Mex or
conjunto if you prefer). Here, the best 15 representatives of the genre from the
Arhoolie release archives are presented as
Vol. 4 of the
Arhoolie American Masters series. As would be expected, the
Jimenez family takes up over a quarter of the album, but that's a good thing here.
Flaco opens the album with the title track from his
Ay Te Dejo album, and
Conjunto Bernal follows with a bit of a
polka.
Lydia Mendoza stands in as the queen of
Tejano (surprisingly instead of
Eva Ybarra), and
Flaco's brother
Santiago takes a turn on the accordion. The patriarch of the
Jimenez lineage,
Don Santiago, follows his son with the old
"Zulema," and is followed in turn by
Los Pavos Reales and the old
standard "Tony de la Rosa." Valerio Longoria performs the old classic
"El Canonero" (made perhaps more popular by
Los Super Seven much later).
Los Pinguinos del Norte and
Juan Lopez each contribute a track (the former from the old
Chulas Fronteras video), and
Fred Zimmerle adds one as well. The old recordings of
Narciso Martinez are added to the lineup, and
Santiago Jimenez adds his accordion to the sounds of
Los Cenzontles, maintaining the
Jimenez stranglehold on the genre.
Steve Jordan tosses one in, and the album closes with its opener and star,
Flaco Jimenez again, this time from his earliest recordings.
Tejano recordings are easily come by in recent years given the deeper appreciation of roots music in general, but this album makes a fine addition to anyone's collection. With the archives of
Arhoolie behind it, the selections promise to be among the best, and the diversity in time and nuance of style give the introductory listener a good deal to listen to for future purchases. If you're only going to hear one
Tex-Mex album this year, this is quite possibly the one to hear.
~Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
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