From jazz and Tejano to norteño and ska, 'El Tiny' returns with a takeover from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 for Latin Music Month.
Los Texmaniacs' music is a living history lesson. The conjunto sound is driven by the button accordion, a mid-19th century instrument that made its way to the U.S.-Mexico border by way of German, Czech and Polish immigrants. But this music is also just perfect for twirling on the dance floor to songs about true love, heartbreak, folk heroes and reflections on life.
In this band, everything goes back to Flaco Jimenez, the late Tex-Mex accordion master whose rootsy sound came to define conjunto. Los Texmaniacs band leader and bajo sexto player Max Baca had a long-standing musical partnership with Jimenez — they played the Tiny Desk together in 2012. And accordionist Josh Baca, Max's nephew, studied at the feet of Jimenez.
As Los Texmaniacs kick into "Boom and a Bang" at El Tiny, we're reminded just how close conjunto is to both Cajun music from Louisiana and the blues-driven rock and roll of Texas. The polka that closes out this set, too, is just another example of how this musical hybrid of cultures became a cultural tradition on both sides of the border.
SET LIST
- "Ay Mama"
- "Boom and a Bang"
- "Herido"
- "Déjalo (Let It Go)"
- "Como Te Quiero"
MUSICIANS
- Max Baca: vocals, bajo sexto
- Josh Baca: vocals, accordion
- Noel Hernandez: bass, background vocals
- Chris Rivera: drums, background vocals
- Felix Contreras: güiro
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producer: Felix Contreras
- Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
- Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
- Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
- Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
- Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
- Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
- Translator: Nuria Net
- Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
- Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton
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