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Discussions => Tunes => Topic started by: Mike Higgins on July 12, 2009, 10:56:31 PM

Title: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: Mike Higgins on July 12, 2009, 10:56:31 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdwIzYaQJZg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdwIzYaQJZg)

What are these incredible three rows? We don't get this in the Miner's Arms on a Wednesday.

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: Bob Ellis on July 12, 2009, 11:31:31 PM

Yep, that's Tex-Mex (also known as Norteno or Conjunto). I first came across it when I heard Flaco Jimenez playing on Ry Cooder's Chicken Skin Music album and have loved it ever since. There is a good DVD called Tex-Mex Accordion in which Flaco Jimenez and Tim Alexander teach the basics of playing in that style.

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: rees on July 13, 2009, 11:03:01 AM

Great video. They are all playing Hohner Corona II in GCF - the Tex-Mex weapon of choice.
Some players use Gabbanelli, Dino Baffetti, etc. and others play F/Bb/Eb. Flaco also has a Corona II in EAD, but the Corona II in GCF is king.

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: HallelujahAl on July 13, 2009, 11:22:15 AM

Is the nifty footwork essential to the genre?
AL

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: rees on July 13, 2009, 11:26:41 AM

Quote from: HallelujahAl on July 13, 2009, 11:22:15 AM

Is the nifty footwork essential to the genre?
AL

Oh yes.

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: jb on July 13, 2009, 12:58:40 PM

Quote from: Bob Ellis on July 12, 2009, 11:31:31 PM

Yep, that's Tex-Mex (also known as Norteno or Conjunto). I first came across it when I heard Flaco Jimenez playing on Ry Cooder's Chicken Skin Music album and have loved it ever since.

Chicken Skin Music certainly is a great album. But for my money the best recorded moments of the FJ/RC collaboration are on the subsequent live album Show Time , the highlight of which for me is not a Tex-Mex number at all, but their treatment of Woody Guthrie's Do Re Mi. Flaco throws in this blistering chromatic run-down which still gives me the shivers every time I hear it. Defo a desert island disc for me. Track down an mp3 or something if you can.

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: TomB-R on July 13, 2009, 05:37:41 PM

(Correct me if I'm wrong) but that style is played almost entirely on the pull with the right hand, and they often remove the left hand reed reed blocks for lightness and so that the bass buttons can be used as extra air buttons to close the bellows faster (?)
 ;D
Tom

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: rees on July 13, 2009, 10:39:29 PM

Quote from: TomB-R on July 13, 2009, 05:37:41 PM

(Correct me if I'm wrong) but that style is played almost entirely on the pull with the right hand, and they often remove the left hand reed reed blocks for lightness and so that the bass buttons can be used as extra air buttons to close the bellows faster (?)
 ;D
Tom

Correct, much like Zydeco with very little on the push. Thirteen air buttons - whoosh!!!

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: forrest on July 13, 2009, 11:57:03 PM

If you liked that playing, you might like this as well....... ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwFr--TG_KY

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: triskel on July 14, 2009, 01:20:54 AM

If you're interested in this kind of music, and the 3-row boxes they play it on, you should check out the Reyes Accordion and Bajo Sexto Forum (http://gilbert27.websitetoolbox.com/), where you might see the odd name you recognise, and some of us wear different hats. (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/StephenChambers/sombrero.gif) (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/StephenChambers/sombrero.gif)

(Yo me llamo "meldeonista", y "melodeon" (el jefe) se llama "elrubio"!  ;))

Title: Re: Is this TexMex? If it is I like it
Post by: Mike Higgins on July 15, 2009, 07:52:16 PM

Quote

If you liked that playing, you might like this as well....... Grin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwFr--TG_KY

Stunning, different instrument I know, but it took me back to the feeling I got from old John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers