Aztex

Short Stories

Hightone - 8016
available on Amazon

This stunning debut album by this husband and wife team of two very fine session musicians is a tribute to both their families who gave them the background and support in music, and the very fine musicians that they have played with and supported through their careers. This is the roots music of the Mexican border country. It is a blending and melding of the music of both countries that both remains true to both heritages while creating something that is new and exciting. Both grew up with strong musical backgrounds and first came together when Joel Guzman, known as El Pequeno Gigante (The Little Giant), was playing accordion with Little Joe y La Familia, and Little Joe used to call Sarah Fox up on stage to sing. They both worked for Steve Berlin, the Los Lobos musician, on the Grammy-winning Los Super Seven disc. Joel holding down most of the accordion playing and doing back-up vocals, while Sarah provided back-up vocals. This disc has 6 of the 11 tunes as originals, one contributed by Joe Ely on which he duets with Sarah on lead vocals. The highlights are too many to list but two stand out tracks for me are the very powerful "Padre Prays for Rain" on which Joel sings lead and the fervent and spell binding "Sueno Del Rio" in which the passionate vocals blend so well with the guitar, accordion, and percussion that the listener is held waiting for more. Both are stunning blends of interweaving of the best of both American and Mexican folk music. This is one stunning example of a fusion disc that blends all the roots that are so interwoven along the border. This is a disc that for the shear musicianship alone should not be missed.

 

 


aztec stories

Song, times and writers

  1. Why  Don’t You Love Me – 4:35 – Sarah Fox/Jr. Arguinzoni/Max Baca
  2. La Ultima Noche – 3:16 – Baby Coliazo
  3. Perfect Woman – 4:33 – Sarah Fox/Joel Guzman
  4. Sueno Del Rio – 4:28 – Sarah Fox/Michael Ramos/Joel Guzman
  5. Padre Pray For Rain – 4:09 – lyrics Hank Olguin: Music Joel Guzman
  6. Amorique – 4:36 – Sarah Fox/Joel Guzman
  7. Maybe, Maybe – 5:52 – Joe Ely
  8. La Jaibera – 4:43 – Mario Ruiz Suarez
  9. Pajarrillo Barranqueno (Little Cliff Dwelling Bird)– 4:56 – traditional
  10. It’s a Mystery – 3:31 – Joel Guzman
  11. El Indio/Tamaulipas – 3:29 – Juan Lopez

Produced by Steve Berlin
 
The Personnel
Sarah Fox – lead vocals
Joel Guzman – accordion, grand piano, Hammond B-3, lead and background vocals
Kevy Rojas – acoustic guitar, requinto & background vocals
Brian Sebastian – drums, percussion & background vocals
Joe Ely – special guest
 
Guest Musicians
Jr. Arguinzoni – bongos, bataa, campana & groovy soneas
Glenn Fukunaga – stand-up bass, electric bass
Rodney Pyeatt – electric & acoustic guitars
Michael Ramos –Hammond B-3, wurlizer, grand piano & background vocals
Darren Levy – jazz guitar
Manolo Rojas – cuatro &background vocal
Max Baca – Bajo Sexto
Israel Villanueva – electric bass