CD REVIEWS • CALENDAR OF EVENTS • INTERVIEWS FREE Volume 3 Number 6 November-December 2003 THE BI-MONTHLY NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS IN & AROUND THE GREATER LOS ANGELES FOLK COMMUNITY VIVA“Don’t you knowCONJUNTO that Folk Music is illegal in Los Angeles?” — WARREN C ASEY of the Wicked Tinkers FLACO JIMENEZ ROCKIN’ THE SKIRBALL BY BETTO ARCOS laco Jimenez knows where ings, of your roots, where you come from. he comes from and he’s My point is ‘life is life’ and everybody’s proud to say it: “I’m just got a heart that feels, and there’s good ones an accordion player from and bad ones. We all struggle to survive. the West side of town.” But still, if I’m a poor musician, I’m a mil- The West side of town is a lionaire in music, but not with money. The F working class area in San heart is the one that’s rich.” Antonio. For a long time, this neigh- Flaco Jimenez has a particular way of borhood carried a stigma and a bad explaining what it is that makes music so reputation, but for Flaco, and many of important in life. Every musician has their the best Tejano musicians, the West own style, their own feeling the way they side is where much of the music we play music, he says. But, “sometimes there now know as Tex-Mex, Conjunto or are musicians that are just mechanical, Tejano was born. they don’t have the ‘crying expression’ of Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez was born explaining the music, but still they’re good into a legendary musical family. His and they think their own way so I respect father, Santiago Jimenez is considered them anyway. But I think that crying is a one of the pioneers and founders of relief and it’s a therapy. And music has to Tejano music. He started recording his do a lot to really let it all out.” first songs back in 1935-36. When Flaco Jimenez performs at the Skirball Flaco was a kid he would go watch his Cultural Center, Sunday, November 23. Dad play. “He used to take me to the For ticket information call 310-440-4500 house dances, the fiestas. I loved the or visit www.skirball.org. sound of the accordion and the music. I thought it classics Flaco’s First, Ay te Dejo en San Antonio, was something that belonged to me.” Un Mojado sin Licencia and Flaco’s Amigos. Betto Arcos is an independent music promoter in Flaco was only seven years old when he start- Flaco’s life and career changed when he met Los Angeles. He is a former KPFK music director ed playing accordion. When he was around 14 a visionary musician who wanted to bring togeth- who conceived and created the daily world music years old he started listening to rock and roll, er different traditions. It was in the early 1970’s program “Global Village.” country music, and German polkas. Then he when Flaco met Ry Cooder during the shooting started mixing it up with his own style of playing. of Les Blank’s documentary Chulas Fronteras. He recorded his first album in 1954. He’s Flaco remembers this encounter vividly: “Ry was recorded hundreds of songs and dozens of in San Antonio and he invited me to record on his albums. “I don’t really know how many. I wish I album Chicken Skin Music. That’s the first one IN THIS ISSUE knew but I can’t remember. I recorded a lot of we did together. From then on, we did Showtime, EDITORIAL .................................................................. 2 78s, back when the 78s were still going. Then of we toured, and we went overseas. UNDER THE OLIVE TREE: course there were 45s, then cassettes, and now So it’s been quite a long journey in music. But SACRED MUSIC OF THE MIDDLE EAST.............. 3 CDs. But I’ve been recording ever since, with it’s been a great experience. I’m really satisfied. Interview with Yuval Ron different artists and different styles of music. So He comes up with some good stuff. He’s a real HELP WANTED............................................................ 4 KEYS TO THE HIGHWAY.......................................... 4 whatever comes my way, I try to do my best and creator of music.” Around the Bend: Cross-Harp and Beyond blend in.” He recalls the time when his first hit Flaco is very appreciative of this friendship A GATHERING OF STORYTELLERS ..................... 5 came out. “Back in the 1950’s, I did one instru- that continues to this day. Listen to Ibrahim THE VOICES IN MY HEAD ....................................... 5 mental called Hasta la Vista and it became very Ferrer’s most recent album Buenos Hermanos Story Magic TIED TO THE TRACKS ............................................. 6 popular, it was the one that broke the ice for me and catch Flaco playing accordion on a couple CD Reviews by Larry Wines in San Antonio. If I sold about 1,000 records it songs. “Thanks to Ry Cooder who was the one SCANDINAVIAN FOLKDANCE was like gold for a Tejano artist.” who introduced me to do not just the Tejano or AND MUSIC TRADITIONS ....................................... 7 A View Through a Pinhole It was not always easy to make a living play- Tex-Mex sound, I’ve played all my life in my DAVE’S CORNER......................................................... 8 ing the ubiquitous squeeze box. career, but to put my accordion and blend it with WORLD ENCOUNTERS ............................................. 9 Flaco himself had to deal with the stigma of different styles of music. That’s why I’m proud CD Reviews by Viola Galloway playing the instrument. “It’s difficult to make a to be versatile in different types of music.” This ON-GOING STORYTELLING EVENTS .................. 9 REED’S RAMBLINGS ............................................... 10 name just playing the accordion, because back versatility has been useful in the recordings he’s A Musical Community - International Guitar Seminars then when I started, the accordion was consid- done with Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and A BRIEF LOOK AT THE HISTORY ered like a party joke. It was not respected at all. Peter Rowan, just to name a few. “We did a num- OF CUBAN SON ......................................................... 11 Now it’s a different story, because now the ber one hit with Dwight Yoakam, The Streets of 1970’S ICON REVISITED ......................................... 12 Alicia Bay Laurel -- Living On The Earth accordion can go from a waltz to heavy rock- Bakersfield. With the Rolling Stones I did MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ....................................... 12 ’n’roll.” Times have changed and the way peo- Voodoo Lounge. There are so many projects I’ve A Fiddle Has A Neck and So Do You! — Part One ple perceive the accordion has changed dramati- been on, I can’t even remember. But I always ON-GOING MUSIC HAPPENINGS......................... 13 cally. Flaco is certainly optimistic. “There are a give thanks to the guys that help me out.” CALENDAR OF EVENTS ................................... 14-15 lot of players now, and young ones that handle One of his favorite collaborations is the ON-GOING DANCE HAPPENINGS........................ 16 INTERVIEW................................................................ 17 the accordion real well. And it gives me a good recording Partners. He likes it for its versatility. A Conversation with Bess Lomax Hawes feeling of watching those kids learn how to play Yet for him, it’s just a recording. “But it’s just a THAT REMINDS ME ................................................ 18 it.” CD, it’s ‘one’ of the recordings. I love perform- My Father & the Rattlesnakes UNCLE RUTHIE ........................................................ 20 Flaco has covered a lot of territory in his ing live. I love to meet new friends, and have a If You Love Me recording career. Over the course of the last four good time with my fellow musicians and make a CD REVIEWS ............................................................. 22 decades he’s recorded a wide range of music: big fiesta out of it.” PHOTO COLLAGE YEAR IN REVIEW.................. 23 cumbias, rancheras, polkas, redovas, waltzes, There is something to be said about the HOW CAN I KEEP FROM TALKING .................... 25 danzones, boleros, huapangos, and corridos, not “Tejano feeling.” Just listen to a few boleros or Folk Singer and Suspected Terrorist to mention his recordings of country music and rancheras played by Flaco on the accordion. ZOOKMAN ................................................................. 26 FOLKWORKS PICKS................................................ 27 rock and roll. Some of his early recordings are Flaco describes it as a normal human expression. SPECIAL EVENTS ..................................................... 28 available on Arhoolie Records, including the “Everybody’s got their own way of having feel- Page 2 FolkWorks November-December 2003 EDITORIAL ell, we have made and follow the directions to join. PUBLISHERS & EDITORS it through the third Did you know that Leda & Steve Shapiro W LAYOUT & PRODUCTION year of FolkWorks FolkWorks is a non-profit Alan Stone Creative Services …yup, the last issue of Volume 501(c)(3) organization? Our mis- FEATURE WRITERS 3 is done (you are reading it!), sion is to promote the Ross Altman we have scheduled the last con- Folk/Traditional Music, Dance, How Can I Keep From Talking cert of the year (Old Mother Storytelling and other related Uncle Ruthie Buell Logo Reunion, December 6th) Folk Arts. This is done through Halfway Down the Stairs and we are planning our annual publication of our bi-monthly Joanna Cazden dance weekend (Leap Frog newspaper, live concerts, a week- The Voices in my Head 2004). As we look back at the end dance festival and other Valerie Cooley, That Reminds Me... early issues of the newspaper, events to increase public aware- Viola Galloway, World Encounters we realize how far we have ness of the diverse cultural events Gus Garelick, Interviews come - from the mere size of the in the greater Los Angeles area.