His First and Last Recordings

by Santiago Jimenez, Jr., Don Santiago Jimenez, Sr.

Overview

Contrasting early and later recordings by an artist has worked well for Arhoolie with its Norteno series, although the difference in this case is not nearly as drastic as with the Esteban Jordan set. Unlike Jordan, who followed a kind of adventure in modernizing traditional music and bringing in many outside influences, the senior member of the Jimenez clan (not counting grandfather Patricio, a turn of the century accordion star) stuck to the traditions pretty much his entire career. The biggest contrast here turns out to be in recording quality, a factor that can sometimes make great differences in how one perceives music. The recordings from the '30s are typical of the kind of revolutionary North Texas fusion music of that day and age, in this case the combination being Mexican ranchera songs and German accordion techniques. Although the accordion cuts through any and all primitive recordings, other instruments in the ensemble such as the wonderful bajo sexto are only present in some of their frequencies. On the modern recordings, one hears every nuance in the playing and the complex rhythms set up by secondary sounds, such as strings slapping against soundboards and picks tapping against the fretboard, that combine to create a sound that is tantalizing. The soulful singing and good-natured feeling to the music makes it a pleasure to listen to no matter how much or little of the Spanish lyrics are understandable to the listener. ~ Eugene Chadbourne

Product Details

Release Date:	05/12/2009
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297041420
Rank:	115555

Tracks

1. La Duena de la Llave
2. La Tuna
3. Eres un Encanto
4. Antonia de Mis Amores
5. El Satelite
6. Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio
7. El Primer Beso
8. Las Godornises
9. Vive Feliz
10. Los Gallineros
11. Zulema
12. Que Bonito Este Querer
13. Dices Pescao
14. La Tuna
15. La Luisita
16. Atotonilco
17. Marfa
18. Gran Polka Moderna
19. Calabazas a Mi Negra
20. Comadre, Tengame el Ni¿¿o
21. Sal Si Puede
22. Vengo a Ver Unos Ojos
23. El Aguacero
24. La Madera
25. Tenmela Hay

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Don Santiago Jimenez, Sr.   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Accordion,Bajo Sexto
Santiago Jimenez   Primary Artist
Santiago Jimenez, Jr.   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Accordion
Flaco Jimenez   Bass,Vocals,Bajo Sexto,6-String Bass,Vocals (Background)
Santiago Morales   Bass,String Bass
Juan Viesca   String Bass,Bass

Technical Credits

Wayne Pope   Artwork
D.A.R.   Composer
Ben Tavera King   Liner Notes
Santiago Jimenez   Composer,Performer
Don Santiago Jimenez, Sr.   Performer,Composer
Chris Strachwitz   Editing,Engineer,Producer,Liner Notes,Photography