FLACO JIMENEZ
Squeeze Box King (Compadre)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Flaco Jimenez is probably best known as the accordionist for the Texas Tornadoes, the Texas supergroup that included Doug Sahm, Freddy Fender and Augie Meyers, but he has roots deep in the venerable Tejano style known as conjunto. This album features Flaco exposing those roots, and if you've yet to be exposed to the music that grew from the marriage of German and Mexican musical cultures in south Texas, this is a perfect introduction. If you're a conjunto fan, or a Flaco fan generally, already, you already know you want this one.

Flaco Jimenez boasts as fine a set of credits as anyone in popular music, including recordings with everyone from Willie Nelson to the Rolling Stones, from the Cheiftans to Bob Dylan, but this album is all his (in addition to being his first set as a leader in three years, it's his first solo production effort), and all the qualities that attracted the great artists he has accompanied are amplified when he takes the lead role. Mixing polkas, rancheros, cumbia and waltzes, he offers a comprehensive tour of the conjunto world as interpreted by one of its foremost exponents.

Break out the beer (we're not in Heaven yet), salsa and your dancing shoes and get ready to party Tejano style. This is the perfect soundtrack for the festivities.

Track List:

En El Cielo No Hey Cerveza (In Heaven There Is No Beer) * Tan Solo * De Donde Has Sacado * Ojitos Negros * Cuando Te Quiero, Te Vas * Prenda Del Alma * La Rosa Negra * Soy Romantico * Tumba Sin Flores * Un Viejo Amor * La Tormenta

© 2004 - Shaun Dale