They have gathered some impressive musicians together for this CD release gig. Of course David Spencer is present. Something would be wrong if he weren't. Got to have this monster climbing all over anything he can find with strings on it. He starts to work his magic, and Vincente Rodriguez and Roland Sanmiquel set the bottom on congas and guitarron. Carlos Alvarez strikes up an accordion riff that Flaco would be proud of, and three violinists jump into the mix. This soup is getting good. The beat is Latin, and the room starts to buzz.
Then the sisters begin to sing, their voices intertwining like a reversable chamarra. All the songs are in Spanish and they sing them as if they grew up doing it every day of their lives — which they did: for their papa, for their tías, for their hermano, para Gloria. Gloria Morales — Ph.D., scholar of languages, and matriarch of a very talented musical family.
"We wanted to record this CD because it's where we started from ... singing Mexican songs at home with our family in Tucson," says Roberta, with a quick nod of approval from sis. It's obvious these girls are very comfortable with their latest creation — like Christmas morning when you're 12 years old and your mama loves you and Santa just left you that special bajo you've always had your eye on.
But, will the next CD have more of the proverbial punch to it like the last one, Someplace Far Away From Here, which I have almost worn out? Lisa nods, "Yeah, we stayed true to our concept of sticking with these Mexican songs that we grew up singing, but our next CD will be more 'Texas Music'. Actually, we already have enough songs for another Spanish CD that we want to do with Steve Berlin `of Los Lobos`."
On this one, the Sisters enlisted the production services of hometown heroes Michael and Ron Morales. According to Lisa, "They got it immediately. They understood what we wanted to do." The brothers also brought another local hero into the studio — Joe Reyes — to add his most excellent stink to the mix.
This adds up to Spencer, Morales and Reyes on guitars ... three masters. The overall musicianship on the record is impeccable, and it makes Para Gloria special. It should be a part of any fan's complete collection — but Somewhere Far Away should not be somewhere too far, either. Just to keep it punchy, you understand.
