Flaco Jimenez Fiesta (Live in Bremen) Review by Gary Hill
This really does feel like a fiesta. If you enjoy Mexican music that's partly traditional and partly based in jazz and rock and roll you'll love this. There has always been a bit of a country music element to a lot of Latin sounds, so it's not a surprise to find that here. What is a surprise to me is that Flaco Jiminez plays the accordion. That's one of two instruments I hate (bagpipes being the other one) Somehow it really works well here.
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Track by Track Review
Disc 1
Gitano Legitimo
The bass opens this. As the cut slowly evolves it becomes a cool fusion number. It's a slowly shifting and growing thing. The vocals move slowly, too. They are more spoken than sung. There is some real jazz in this, too. It just oozes cool, really. The faster paced jam later in the track is quite effective. That serves as a great ending.
She Never Spoke Spanish to Me
This cut feels like it's part Jimmy Buffett and part classic Mexican music.
Tonight Is the Night Another that's more traditional Latino music, this is a catchy little tune. I like it quite a bit.
Soulmates This instrumental that seems to merge Mexican music with jazz is a lot of fun.
Did I Tell You Much more of a traditional Latin-styled song, I like this one a lot. It's not anything particularly unique, but it's just fun and so classic in texture.
Dinero This high energy number shows off both traditional Latin sounds and some jazz. It's another that's just plain fun.
You Got Me Wondering A rather catchy cut, this is as much pop music as it is Mexican music. It's quite accessible, really.
Love Me Do Here we get a cover of the Beatles song. This is a good time. It gets some of that Latin treatment, and even some jazzy stuff. Overall, though, it's just a great pop rocker.
La Muana More full on Mexican in nature, this is another catchy little cut.
This Could Be the One There is a big chunk of something like The Band on this number. Add in a little bit of that Spanish music and you'll be in the right neighborhood here.
Who Were You Thinking Of Here's another that reminds me a lot of Jimmy Buffett. In fact, I hear that even more on this energized tune. This is a catchy little cut.
Disc 2
Ay Te Dejó en San Antonio
One of the tunes actually sung in Spanish, this is more traditional fun.
Mi Corazon There is a mellow, almost country music element to some of this. It's very much a love ballad. It's a nice touch.
Hey Baby Qué Pasó This is a cut that's partly in Spanish and partly in English. It's bouncy and fun. I like it a lot. This has a real Mexican cowboy music kind of vibe to it.
Ay No Digas A very bouncy cut, this is so much fun. It's high energy Latin music.
Together Again Since this cut was originally from Buck Owens, you can expect a country edge. It's there merged with the Latin element. This is a slower number. It's not what I'd call a highlight, though. I dig the jazzy kind of break later in the piece, though.
La Felicidad A fun, energized cut, this has a bit of a singalong. It's more traditional Mexican music.
He'll Have to Go This is a familiar cut. It's an old chestnut that works well.
Marina More bouncy Latin fun, this is a good time for sure. It's energized and catchy.
Wooly Bully Here we get a particularly fun rendition of this old rock and roll classic.
Goodnight Irene This old school tune gets a nice live rendition here. It's not any kind of surprise, but it's a lot of fun. It has some definite country in the mix at times. There is a singalong, too.
