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Showing posts from October, 2007

The greatest accordionist in the world, Esteban Jordan, has one more song to play for you

Esteban Jordan, 67 , "El Parche," who many call the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion , who plays what is simply impossible on the accordion, esta muy enfermo. The last time I heard him play, he played a shorter set, and without the electric thunder of the past. If you've ever heard him play, you will never forget it. The grammy-nominated master accordionist is our Paco D'Lucia, Hendrix, and Astor Piazzolla: Fire, cantina, and the grace of hell reside in his hands, and in those blinded eyes that have seen too much. Esteban, born in the South Texas Valley and a son of a migrant family who didn't get an education, is notoriously difficult and protective of his music and image. It's the reason you may not know who he is, but now you do. The only place to hear him in San Antonio is at Salute on Friday nights, accompanied by two of his accomplished sons and the prodigy Juanito on the drums. Lately, he's been playing less sets with longer intermissions.