Santiago Jimenez Jr. Purely Instrumental

The border country of Texas and Mexico was largely settled by German immigrants, who gave the towns names like New Berlin and brought their native instruments, such as the accordion, to play the polkas and other dances they loved. Over the course of a few generations, these new Americans and the Mexican cultures mixed, giving rise to the music known as Tex-Mex. Santiago Jimenez, Sr. was one of Tex-Mex's leading accordion players. His son Flaco expanded the genre. His other son, Santiago, Jr., kept his father's tradition very much alive. It's old-fashioned, but it's meant to be. The button accordion takes the lead, backed by 12-string guitar, drums, and bass--which is played here by a special guest, Mark Rubin of the Austin bluegrass band, the Bad Livers. As dance music, this is irresistible stuff. Before you know it, you'll be tapping your toes, and experiencing a desire to grab a partner and start gliding across the floor. And why shouldn't it get to you? This material has stood the test of time. Jimenez puts his own voice into it, but it's essentially the same thing that's thrilled three or four generations. And all those Texans can't be wrong. --Chris Nickson