Flaco & Max: Legends & Legacies

Flaco & Max: Legends & Legacies

This meeting of conjunto masters lives up to its billing. The legend in this case is Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez, the reigning patriarch of the genre, which was created in Texas in the mid-1800s. Over his 70-year recording career, Jiménez has left an indelible stamp on both conjunto and the three-row button accordion, having inherited his style from his father and grandfather. Max Baca, 30 years younger than Jiménez, is a virtuoso of the bajo sexto, a deep and resonant 12-string guitar. He’s also a member of Los Texmaniacs. The quartet is rounded out by Jiménez’s son David on drums and Oscar Garcia on bass. Legends & Legacies covers the history of conjunto, including classics once recorded by Jiménez’s father decades ago. Overall, the album is a mix of energetic polkas and slower country songs (canciones rancheras), all performed to perfection. As expected, the musicianship is remarkable, with both men firing off joyous, improvisational fills while sharing vocal harmonies. Jiménez injects rippling melody fills between verses, while Baca incorporates sly blues and bluegrass riffs into his blazing lead lines.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada