My friend Beau Bledsoe, Artistic Director of the amazing nonprofit Ensemble Iberica, recently messaged me that Max and Josh Baca of Los Texmaniacs were coming to Kansas City for a show and wanted to come on the radio to honor the recently departed music icon, accordionist Flaco Jimenez. I, of course, said yes! They were delayed in getting to the station before I had to sign off but we were able to squeeze in the conversation and performance you are about to hear.
Los Texmaniacs are the Past, Present, And Future of ConjuntoMusic. Conjunto music may be a familiar sound to residents of Texas, but its worldwide appeal can be surprising. Conjunto is a uniquely American musical genre, originating in South and Central Texas, that blends European accordion music with Mexican rhythms and instruments like the bajo sexto. Combine a hefty helping of Tex-Mex conjunto, simmer with several parts Texas rock, and add a daring dash of well-cured blues and R&B riffs, and you’ve cooked up the tasty Grammy-winning Los Texmaniacs groove. Max Baca is a legend on thebajo sexto, a twelve-string guitar-like instrument, and his nephew, Josh Baca, is fast attaining legendary status on the accordion, with those two instruments creating the core of the lively conjunto sound.
I’ve been privileged to see this amazing group play inKansas City, Montreal and early next year in New Orleans alongside some of my wonderful friends in Ensemble Iberica and Making Movies. They are committed to their craft whilepreserving and protecting the music they so dearly love. Icing on the cake - Max co-wrote a song with my number onepretend boyfriend Joy Ely.
Enjoy this musical performance by and conversation with Max and Josh Baca of Los Texmaniacs!
