Valerio Longoria – Caballo Viejo / Arhoolie CD-336

Description

Arhoolie CD 336

Valerio Longoria – accordion & vocals and his conjunto.

1. Me Vas A Olvidar
2. El Canoero
3. Pa’ Que Me Sirve La Vida
4. Por Retenerte
5. La Repetida
6. Alza La Cara
7. Jacinto Ramos
8. Caballo Viejo
9. Negra Traicion
10. Ojos Verde Mar
11. El Polquerito
12. El Arrancate
13. El Zoquetal
14. Alas Quebradas
15. El Troquero
16. Esa Mujer
17. El Lucero
18. Estoy Perdido
19. Negro Destino

REVIEWS

“Traditional conjunto gleams on Mr. Longoria’s `Caballo Viejo.’ Though Mr. Longoria who now lives in San Antonio is known as an innovator among other things he helped introduce Columbian Cumbias to conjunto the music he and his band play is much more traditional than that played by younger conjunto bands which trade accordions for synthesizers. Yet Mr. Longoria still keeps an eye on more commercial pop music.

Mr. Longoria has played from Miami to Chicago to Canada anywhere that Texan and Mexican migrant workers go looking for jobs. To make sure he’s invited back Mr. Longoria like any band that works bars has diversified. On the record he and his group Mr. Longoria on accordion his son Valerio Jr. on bajo sexto (12-string guitar) another son Flavio on alto sax and Valerio 4th on drums play rancheras cumbias boleros polkas and redovas reflecting the makeup of Texas in the early 1800s: Americans Mexicans and German immigrants. Though he can sing in English the songs mostly about love are all in Spanish; but his audience Americans understand them just fine.”

(Peter Watrous — New York Times)

“Valerio Sr. is a superb and lyrical master of his accordion (a 3-row melodeon as per the regional norm) and duets with son Flavio’s sax display formidable technique and understanding. He also rattles off a clutch of finger-lickin’ instrumentals with the band stripped down to let the accordion shine. Add to that his vocal talents shared by both sons and the facility with which Flavio and grandson Valerio IV swap sax and drum kit for a turn at the accordion and it’s clearly a fairly remarkable ensemble.”

(Brian Peters — Folk Roots)