As always, the local horse and cow show has avoided Tejano music at all costs. It seems like the Grammys are avoiding it too–in a category that supposedly includes Tejano. Well, we won’t avoid it. Here are a few new tunes that have dropped recently.
The Latin Breed – Sientes Igual – As a loyal fan of Tejano music, the legendary Latin Breed is always on my playlist. With their vocalist Ben Miranda, TLB drops this horn-driven ranchera that makes you more than toe-tap. Quiero bailar! Enjoy.
Jay Perez – Necesito Odiarte – The Voice is back with a new single and an upcoming album. Penned by Eddie Perez and produced by the good folks at Freddie Records, Perez gets a new set of musicians together for this tune. And despite the new guys, the legacy sound is not lost at all–even live. Many know that Jay has been taking a short break after some maintenance surgery on his vocal cords, but after over 25 years in the biz, we all would need a tune-up. I’m lovin’ this song.
La Dezz – Anhelos – Chocked full of experience, La Dezz is hardly a new band, and they have been dropping good original music for a while. But this hit made famous by Los Aguilares and is a fitting tribute, which features Ram Herrera joining Mark and David Ledesma and Lisa Mar. Ram has included this tune in his live repertoire lately.
Rebecca Valadez – No Te Voy A Perder – Rebecca has been in the business from a young age, touring with Janet Jackson and the two itirations of Mazz. Recently, she’s been performing with Stevie D and has a single with him. But this tune, produced by Jonathan Espinoza, will hopefully put her on the map once again as a solo artist. It’s a tough business and even toughter for las mujeres. Excellent drumming from Aaron Holler, too.
Isabel Marie took the stage first and offered up a set of cumbias, rancheras, and even wowed us with her rendition of Selena’s No Me Queda Mas. At 13, she has a pretty powerful voice. As a stage performer, she is poised, but at 13, she also shows off that awkward stage a teen goes through. (If a crowd applauded me, I’d be a little geek’d out, so it’s understandable.) Still, she showed range, emotion, and the ability to keep a crowd engaged for an entire show. Great job, Isabel Marie. Keep at it!
The Legendary Latin Breed was up next with Adalberto Gallegos at the helm. Hundreds of years of experience took the stage–even Adalberto was a member at age 19 in 1976. Kicking off with 1988’s Latin Breed Medley, they continued on to Yo Lo Comprendo, Todos Dicen, and even ventured one of Adalberto’s solo hits from 1990, Tristes Recuerdos and a hit that I once owned on a 45 rpm record (kids, look that up), El Cisne. Adalberto wowed us with If You Need Me, too. All of this backed up by a precision-based horn section and the bass action of Stanley Revillas and guitaristics of Steve Velasquez.
The crowd loved every performance, but there was no doubt that they were waiting for The King of the Brown Sound–Little Joe. Another band of highly experienced, highly disciplined musicians, La Familia took off in fine form with a medley of Little Joe’s best ballads–Rebelde, Recuerdas Querido Amigo, and Por Un Amor. Then came Redneck Mes’kin Boy and Mi Nena. Then came some blues music with Lonely, Lonely Nights, which Little Joe delivered impressively, backed up by amazing horn and guitar action. Bass master Mike Torres, III delivered on cumbia El Alacran and percussionist Sam Jones on My Girl. The night continued with hit after hit, including Cartas Marcadas, and the big finish with Las Nubes and Borrachera. Of course, the encore brought folks back to their seats and then to their feet with a sing-a-long of Jose Alfredo’s classic, Ella.
No doubt, by the end of a La Familia gig, one is tired but oh so happy. And after three performances by everything from new talent to two bands that have been around for five decades, one can take a Saturday morning to re-energize with some chicharrones con huevos and then return to Miller Outdoor Theater in the evening for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, Ram Herrera and The Outlaw Band, and Little Miss Dynamite Shelly Lares.
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