PSJA North Travels To San Antonio

Miguel Guerra, a PSJA North High School classmate of mine, wrote a really great piece titled “From My Street to Main Street”. This appears in a book titled Global Mexican Cultural Productions. I am sharing an excerpt of this because I remember when they were doing this play at PSJA North, as I was part of the tech theater 3rd period class. I wasn’t part of the techies that stayed after school or traveled with this troupe, but I was friends or acquaintances with this cast and crew.

Marco Antonio Solis Autograph Poster

I thought this had gone missing. Glad I found it still in good condition. 

My tia took my mom to this concert seven years ago. After the show, they saw Marco Antonio Solis (or “El Buki” as they love to call him because of his previous band Los Bukis) leaving the arena in Hidalgo. They asked for his autograph. While he was signing these posters with a pen, my tia claims to have run her fingers through his beard (which has magic powers, I think). 

For years my mom had this poster next to a painting of “La última cena” (“The Last Supper”), which was oddly appropriate since so many people joke that Solis looks like the popular, European and North American depictions of Jesus Christ. 

CD Review - José "El Patrullero" Moreno - El Fidelero Del Valle‏

Don José Moreno is incredible. The people that know him, like folks who have worked at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center (where Moreno has taught) in San Benito and various local musicians, are aware of how great he is. To those of you that aren't, I hope you give him a chance, because he's a brilliant, original musician that resides here in the Rio Grande Valley.

This is eighteen-track album presents the uncommon yet wonderful music of Don José Moreno.

The crown jewel of this collection is Moreno's instrumental vals interpretation of Agustín Lara's "Maria Bonita". Lara composed this beautiful piece for his then wife, Mexican cinema superstar María Félix during their honeymoon. Other quality musicians have covered this tune before, including Paulino Bernal who crafted a spectacular polka version of it on the accordion. Moreno's take — with the violin delicately leading the way, Amado Banda on the bajo-sexto, and Mark Rubin on the tololoche  — is every bit as genuine and romantic as the original cancion. This is enchanting no matter how many times I listen to this.

Other forms of music found on this release include polka, huapango, redova, and son matachin. Moreno brings so many neat touches to many of these piezas. For three tracks, Moreno uses a mandolin, which sounds whimsical in a polka titled "Patricia Erika".

There is only one track with singing, and it's at the tail-end of this release. It happens to be the famous anthem "El Corrido De Gregorio Cortez". It's a ballad on Cortez, who became a folk hero after he shot Karnes County sheriff W.T. "Brack" Morris to defend himself and his brother Romaldo in 1901. No violin or mandolin here as Moreno decides to show us that he's quite capable when it comes to the accordion. I'm glad this was included as it reveals how versatile Moreno is.

The CD comes with a booklet that features a nice two-page biography on Moreno that is credited to David Champion and Ramon de Leon. The notes mention that Moreno recorded for various labels like Charro, RyN, Triple E, and Chief. It gives me hope that I'll be able to track down some more rare Moreno gems at some point in my life. So far, all I have of Moreno is this CD, and Mi Manzanita, an out of print album collaboration between Moreno and Santiago Jimenez, Jr. that I found at Novedades Martinez in Pharr earlier this year. When I took it up to the cashier to purchase, even he was surprised that they had it in stock.

This fantastic release from Arhoolie Records succeeds in capturing the soul of a unique, one of a kind musician. When I take trips across the Rio Grande Valley, this is one CD I always carry with me. I can't even estimate how many times I've listened to this entire album. Moreno staying true to this style of music throughout the decades should be counted on as a blessing to any fan of regional music.

Available for purchase at http://www.arhoolie.com. Also streaming for free at Spotify.

Q & A - Ricardo Guzman Jr.‏

Ricky Guzman III and Ricky Guzman Jr.

Ricardo Guzman Jr. y Sus Tres Aces return to La Lomita Park this Sunday night to carry on the tradition that his father started in the 1950's. The 54-year-old bajo-sexto player talked to me about his dad Ricardo Sr., his son Ricky III, his current style of music, and about performing at La Lomita Park.

Eduardo Martinez: I always hear people say great things about your dad's group, the original Ricardo Guzman y Sus Tres Aces. How was the experience like growing up with him?

Ricardo Guzman Jr.: When I was real chiquito, I used to go to the dances. Me iba abajo de las mesas (I would go underneath the tables). My mom would take the tickets at the door. I grew up, todos mis heroes eran musicos (all my heroes were musicians). It was so much fun porque estaban locos mis tios (because my uncles were crazy). (laughs)

EM: How young were you when you first started performing with your dad's conjunto?

RGJ: I started playing professionally the drums con mi dad when I was eight years old.

EM: Do you have any favorite memories from the times you've spent with him and your uncles, playing music?

RGJ: My favorite thing was going out with ellos en gira (them on tour). Nombre, I would have the time of my life!

EM: How does it feel now to have your son Ricky III follow in your footsteps?

RGJ: I'm so proud of him. Ricky is a real good musician. He's a top of the line musician, aqui en el Valle. Outstanding. He plays drums, bass, bajo-sexto, and the accordion. He learned (the accordion) in seven months. He's got it in his blood.

He looks so much like my dad. Parece que tengo a mi dad ahi cuando estamos on stage (It looks like I have my dad on stage when we play today).

EM: Your bandmate Sergio "Checko" Gonzalez won the "Bass Player of the Year" prize at the "Conjunto of the Year" award show in July. This isn't the first time you've won an award there. Can you talk about other times your conjunto has been honored?

RBJ: Oh yes, several of my musicians have won some awards. My drummer Juan Tellez tambien got "Drummer of the Year" (in 2009).

I have quite a bit of them there at the house. (laughs) We won "Conjunto of the Year" in 2008. Myself I got conjunto "Male Vocalist of the Year" (in 2011), tambien.

EM: To those that haven't seen you play, how would you describe your bajo-sexto and conjunto style?

RBJ: We sound a lot like my dad's (conjunto) pero it's becoming a more progressive sound. We go kind of wild in the music, kind of jazzy. I think we have a pretty nice show.  

EM: When talking to Pepe Maldonado, he told me the first group he ever sang for was for your dad's conjunto in the 1950's. Considering how long ago that was, does it seem like he's part of the family now?

RBJ: Oh yeah. Pepe used to sing for my dad. Pepe would say mi papa fue el que le enseño a cantar (my dad was the one that taught him how to sing). He's an outstanding man.

EM: How do you feel when you perform at Pepe's place (La Lomita Park)?

RBJ: I always want to play for Pepe. I'm so proud of him for putting on conjunto events pa' que no se muera (so it won't die). I think we were a dying breed pero I think we're doing pretty good now. Pepe's is the main place to go for conjunto. A lot of people come from San Antonio, from all over the place, just to go to La Lomita.

EM: Thank you for your time.

RBJ: Gracias.

Who: Ricardo Guzman Jr. y Sus Tres Aces and Los Tremendos Alacranes
Time: 6:00 PM
Date: 8/31
Cost: $10.00
Phone Number and Website: 956-867-8783 or visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Lomita-Park/146095848797378
Location: La Lomita Park, in McAllen.