Conjunto Los Pochos' CD "Margie's" is available at amazon.com at the link below

Kukulcán- "Music for the Mind, Body, Soul & Feet"- Kukulcán is an East L.A. band that started back in the 70s, led by the late Ruben Luciano Alaniz and Ralph Torres.  The music is Latin jazz with indigenous overtones.  The music and musicianship is superb.  This CD was recorded in the early 90s, but is truly timeless.  Some of the special guests performing on the CD include the great Bobby Robles on guitar and Joe Rotundi on keyboards.  Bobby currently plays with Thee Midniters, The Tremelocos, and others.  Rotundi is a gifted musician who played on Ry Cooder's 2003 "Chavez Ravine" CD.  I knew Ruben Alaniz when he was a kid in East L.A. and remember seeing Kukulcán perform once soon after the band was formed.  "Music for the Mind, Body, Soul & Feet" is available on cdbaby.com, myspace.com, i tunes, napster, and bluepie.
 

"Music For the Mind, Body & Feet" Kukulcán (1994)

Los Nawdy Dawgs- "Copas Con El Diablo" is the latest release by the Tucson-based band who describes itself on its my space page as "South of the Border Pulp Fiction Latin Blues Rock."  That's a good description since the songs on this CD includes Latin, blues, and rock with a hard edge.  Virtually all the lyrics are in Spanish, even on the bluesy title track.  This collection includes "Hey Lupe," which is a Spanish version of "Hang On Sloopy."  However, the vast majority of songs are written by members of the band, mainly Jorge Landa.  They also sent me a demo of a recording they did of my dad's classic song "Los Chucos Suaves."  Their version is very different than others I've heard because they use a hard 2-beat, rather than the more usual Latin cumbia-style beat.  I assume it will be on a future CD.  For more info on "Los Nawdy Dawgs" go to www.myspace.com/losnawdydawgs and www.losnawdydawgs.net. 

 

"Copas Con El Diablo" Los Nawdy Dawgs (2009)

Their CD "Los Nawdy Dawgs" is available at amazon.com at the link below

Inkblots-  Inkblots are a four piece band from Santa Ana, CA. Their music is a variety of styles from folk, blues, to rock and roll.  Their style has elements of punk, grunge, and alternative.  They've headlined at famous venues such as the Troubadour and the Whiskey in Hollywood and performed in the Bay area, where their music has received airplay.  They play and sing with passion and their song ideas and lyrics are good.  To purchase their CD and for more info visit their website, www.inkblotsmusic.com and their my space page: www.myspace.com/inkblotsmusic.
 

"Inkblots" Inkblots (2008)

Sean Salas- The Los Angeles based singer-songwriter and nephew of El Chicano lead vocalist Jerry Salas,  has a new CD out called "Circus Life."  Sean describes his music as "eclectic Pop, Rock, a touch of the blues and dash of jazz."  It also shows influences of classic rock artists with some songs definitely showing Beatlesque styles and harmonies, particularly on my favorite cut, "Cafetime."  Jerry provided some guitar and vocals on a couple of tracks.  Visit www.seansalas.com for more info.
 

"Circus Life" Sean Salas (2009)

The Sleepwalkers- Excellent band from the San Diego area that have been active in Southern California, South Texas and Mexico since the 80s.  Their influences are rock & roll, blues, jump blues, rockabilly, country, with a splash of Tex Mex.  They've headlined many shows and have opened for artists such as the Texas Tornados, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Big Bad Voodoo Daddies, Link Wray, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Graham Parker, the Blazers, and the Blasters, among others.  They've been written about in periodicals around the U.S. as well as in Europe.  Their 1999  CD "Can't Stop Rockin,'" on Relampago-go Records, reminds me of the early Lobos in its rootsy, rockabilly style.  These guys can play, sing, write good songs, and are continuing to evolve.  Their bass player, "Action" Andy sent me an audio cassette with rough mixes of the songs they're currently recording for their next CD, and they're branching out into other genres, including some  Latin-flavored grooves.  Other members of the band are Johnny Valenzuela, vocals; Sean Styles, drums; and Gig Fortier, guitar.  "Can't Stop Rockin' is available on amazon.com at the link below.
 

Johnny Meza- A Palm Springs, California Latin jazz vocalist/keyboardist.  His "Kokopelli" CD is a mostly-instrumental jazz album with Southwestern overtones.  Johnny plays acoustic piano, Hammond B3 organ, and percussion, in addition to his vocals.  He produced the album and his wife, Lola Rossi, was executive producer and provided some vocals.  Johnny wrote all the songs for the collection but one, and composed several with Lola.  My favorite track is "Cruisin' On Palm Canyon," which is a funky instrumental piece.  I also particularly liked another instrumental called "Taquitz Canyon Shuffle."  Palm Canyon and Taquitz Canyon are both landmarks of his and my hometown of Palm Springs.  Johnny is a fine musician and good friend, who I've worked with many times here in the desert.  His CD also features some of the best musicians Palm Springs has to offer such as Pat Rizzo, who's played with Sly & the Family Stone and Frank Sinatra; bassist Jeff Stover; and great sax/flute/clarinet man Steve Alaniz, who also often plays with my band Mark Guerrero & Radio Aztlán.  Johnny Meza performs at clubs and jazz festivals, including the famous Idyllwild Jazz Festival, with his band Johnny Meza and Kokopelli featuring Lola Rossi.  For more info contact Johnny Meza at johnnymeza@dc.rr.com.
 

"Kokopelli" Johnny Meza (2003)

Rick Chavez- Excellent guitarist/composer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Rick lived in the Alhambra area on the Eastside of Los Angeles when I first met and worked with him in the early 80s.  We played in a band together for about six months and he did several sessions with me on a couple of my dad's children's albums of Las Ardillitas de Lalo Guerrero.  His latest CD, "Calor" is an instrumental album I would describe as smooth jazz, with Latin, blues, and funk elements.  Rick wrote all the songs and plays electric and nylon string guitars, keyboards, and does the midi programming. My favorite cuts are "Summer Morning" and "Two Miles to L.A."  "Calor" by Rick Chavez is available at amazon.com at the link below and www.cdbaby.com.
  

"Calor" Rick Chavez

Dean Acevedo- East Los Angeles based singer/songwriter who has two CDs out on Layla Records.  The first, "Just Another Dude from Montebello," and the latest, "Chicali."  Some of the songs on the latter CD are comic and others are not, but my favorites are the humorous ones.  The titles are self-explanatory, "Soy un Cheaple," "Jail for Christmas," and "Como Friegas Mujer."  Some of his music is in the Tex Mex style, but there are songs with folk elements and even a reggae song.  Dean is capably backed on the Tejano cuts by the Garza Family Band.  He's received airplay on Tejano radio stations throughout the Southwest and some of his songs from his latest CD have been on the MP3.COM Tex Mex and Tejano charts.  For more information visit www.laylarecords.com or e mail Dean at deansowhat@aol.com.