Arhoolie Presents American Masters, Vol. 4: 15 Tex-Mex Conjunto Classics

by Tex-Mex Conjunto Classics / Various

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	11/05/1996
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297010426

Tracks

1. Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio  - Flaco Jimenez  - Santiago Jimenez
2. Connie  - Paulino Bernal  -  Conjunto Bernal
3. Cuando Se Pierde la Madre  - Narciso Martinez  - Esteban Oritz  - Lydia Mendoza
4. Cada Vez Que Cae la Tarde  - Don Santiago Jimenez  - Santiago Jr. Jimenez
5. Zulema  - Don Santiago Jimenez
6. Alejamiento y Regreso  - Jose Morante  -  Pavos Reales
7. Atotonilco  - Juan Jose Espinosa  - Tony de la Rosa
8. El Canoero  - Valerio Sr. Longoria  -  Public Domain
9. Corrido de C¿¿sar Ch¿¿vez  - Rumel Fuentes  -  Pinguinos del Norte
10. Pasos Cortos  - Juan Lopez
11. No Me Estorbes  -  Traditional  -  Trio San Antonio  - Fred Zimmerle
12. Luzita  - Narciso Martinez
13. El Mexicano-Americano  -  Cenzontles  - Gilberto Gutierrez  - Santiago Jr. Jimenez  - Eugene Rodriguez
14. Hazme Caso  - Esteban "Steve" Jordan
15. Negra Traici¿¿n  - Flaco Jimenez  - Henry Zimmerle

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lydia Mendoza   Primary Artist
Fred Zimmerle   Primary Artist
Narciso Martinez   Primary Artist
Trio San Antonio   Primary Artist
Valerio Longoria, Sr.   Primary Artist
Los Pavos Reales   Primary Artist
Santiago Jimenez, Jr.   Primary Artist
Los Cenzontles   Primary Artist
Tony de la Rosa   Primary Artist
Juan Lopez   Primary Artist
Conjunto Bernal   Primary Artist
Los Pingueinos del Norte   Primary Artist
Esteban "Steve" Jordan   Primary Artist
Flaco Jimenez   Primary Artist
Don Santiago Jimenez, Sr.   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Narciso Martinez   Performer,Composer
Gilberto Gutierrez   Composer
Tom Diamant   Editing,Producer
Henry Zimmerle   Composer
Tony de la Rosa   Performer
Chris Strachwitz   Editing,Producer,Photography
Don Santiago Jimenez, Sr.   Composer,Performer
Esteban Oritz   Composer
Jose Morante   Composer
Juan Lopez   Composer,Performer
Los Cenzontles   Performer
Los Pavos Reales   Performer
Public Domain   Composer
Rumel Fuentes   Composer
Wayne Pope   Art Direction
Juan Jose Espinosa   Composer
Esteban "Steve" Jordan   Composer,Performer
Santiago Jimenez, Jr.   Performer
Los Pingueinos del Norte   Performer
Dix Bruce   Photo Restoration,Artwork,Design
Conjunto Bernal   Performer
Paulino Bernal   Composer
Trio San Antonio   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Santiago Jimenez   Composer
Valerio Longoria, Sr.   Performer
Eugene Rodriguez   Composer
Flaco Jimenez   Performer
Fred Zimmerle   Performer