It's Fiesta Week in San Antonio — my hometown's somewhat tamer version of Mardi Gras. Fiesta was created to celebrate the decisive victory of the Texas Revolution — the defeat of Santa Anna's Mexican army by the Texan forces in 1836. I've always loved the irony of Mexican-Americans in San Antonio embracing Fiesta since they're essentially celebrating our ancestors having gotten their asses kicked (though some Tejanos also fought with the Texans against their primos). Anyway, Fiesta is great fun, filled with parties, parades, food and music. This new album by Tex-Mex accordion legend Flaco Jimenez and bajo sexto master Max Baca, is the perfect soundtrack, especially this cumbia — the kind of music that fills the air throughout the city this week.
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