Al compás del mundo - programa #99 - Los Folkloristas

This week’s Al compás del mundo earns a pair of dedications. Primarily, to Las Folkloristas, a group of Mexican musicians who first came together in 1966 and who continue to the present day, delighting their public and educating them as to the breadth of folk music genres and instrumentation found in every corner of Latin America. The second dedication is to me and my sweetheart wife Claudia – we met at a concert of Los Folkloristas at the Sala Agora in Mexico City, in 1976. And yes, we too are still together. Get out your handkerchiefs and dry your eyes because there’s a story to be told as evidence that there’s a soulmate out there for everyone. You just have to make the effort to look, even if it takes you to a foreign land. And so it goes like this: I spent all of 1976 living in Mexico City, ostensibly to learn Spanish, but en realidad to loaf around, drink beer, practice my saxophone, and maybe, just maybe, look to meet a señorita. I lived in a pension (boardinghouse) owned by Julieta Bastard. Yup, that was her name – pobrecita. In my search for all things musical I learned of Las Folkloristas and a concert they were presenting in a week’s time. A whole group of us from the pension decided to go and so I went to buy tickets beforehand. Come the day of the show, one of the guys has found a ride to Oaxaca he can’t pass up and leaves me with a single ticket to return. Meanwhile, Claudia, who for a long time has wanted to see Los Folkloristas, shows up by herself as a friend has cancelled on her at the last minute. “Sorry, señorita, but the show is sold-out. No, you cannot stand in the back, it’s not allowed. I’m afraid I cannot let you in. Oh wait, someone just returned a ticket! I guess you’re in luck.” The lightning didn’t strike until after the show, as I snuck up front to record the concert and didn’t meet Claudia until afterwards. Fate and destiny and all that stuff. We still have that cassette (somewhere) but who knows if a 47-year-old cassette would still play…assuming I had something to play it on. So, a number of the songs chosen for this playlist were part of our initial meet-up and carry sentimental value for the Haases. They’re also engaging tunes, expertly played, and intended to delight and educate. - J.H. 

Run List for Folkloristas – a Mexican band playing folk music of Latin America
First broadcast 10-26-23

01 Adiós Mujer (Venezuela)

02 Maria Cumbé (Mexico)

03 Misionera (Paraguay)

04 Refalosa del Adiós (Chile)

05 K'cshampa (Peru)

06 El Paisanito (Argentina)

07 Sao Benedito (Brazil)

08 Tamborito y Tuna (Panama)

09 Belén (Cuba)

10 Arroz Con Concolón (Afro-Peruvian)

11 Jatari Quilatoa (Ecuador)

12 Male Severiana (Purepecha, Mexico)

13 A Una Rosa (Puerto Rico)

14 Carnaval Betanceño (Bolivia)

15 Chimbililí (Bullerengue, Colombia)

16 El Carnaval (Venezuela)

17 Villa de villares (Argentina)

18 Tierra Mestiza (Mexico)

Lost in the rain in Juarez.