Following on from his father
Santiago Jimenez' own successful run as a conjunto musician in San Antonio,
Flaco Jimenez put together a conjunto of his own in the '50s, eventually becoming one of the most famous figures in Tex-Mex music (also known as Musica Nortena in Mexico). Based on the polkas and waltzes Mexican performers refashioned as rancheras, the Tex-Mex conjunto style features accordion, the 12-string bajo sexto guitar, bass, and drums.
Flaco immediately staked his claim in the music with a distinctly imaginative and lively accordion style, finding the ideal backing from equally able Tejano musicians, including his father and his son
David. For this excellent 1985 recording,
Flaco teams up with noted bandleader and bajo player
Toby Torres, bassist Henry "Big Red" Ojeda, and drummer Isaac Garcia. The group works through a variety of song forms, including rancheras, boleros, danzons, and polkas. Along with a fine rendition of the ubiquitous "El Barrilito" ("Beer Barrel Polka"), other highlights include a version of
Jimenez Sr.'s "Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio," the sensuous danzon instrumental "Juarez," and the
Toby Torres vocal feature "Un Viejo Amor." Throughout,
Flaco's playing comes off as both astonishing and very enjoyable, especially on the live recording "Traigo un Recuerdo." With ten extra tracks on the CD, this
Flaco Jimenez release makes for substantial and fine listening. ~ Stephen Cook