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Calexico and Their Musical Acquaintances

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Calexico is a Tucson-based band that plays an incredibly diverse style of music that incorporates rock, country, jazz, and Spanish influences as well. The brainchild of  guitarist and vocalist Joey Burns and drummer John Convertino, their performances are heartfelt and they never fail to get the crowd moving.

 

One of their most impressive strengths is finding, collaborating, and performing with many other talented musicians, like those on this list.

 

Nick Luca

A multi-instrumentalist perfomer in both Calexico and Iron and Wine, Nick Luca is also an music engineer and producer. 

 

Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta

From Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta's Facebook Biography: Indie-Mambo is a great characterization for the twelve plus members band Y La Orkesta. Originally from Tucson, Arizona Y La Orkesta’s members are primarily from two local bands The Jons and Seven to Blue. Y La Orkesta slam dunk the resurrection of Perez Prado’s sound, Sergio’s greatest influence that fearlessly created Mambo by combining traditional Cuban rhythms with the swing of American Jazz, and Big Band harmonic sophistications.

  

 

Salvador Duran

An artist, singer and Flamenco/Latin guitarist, Salvador Duran frequently performs with Calexico and Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta. He often plays at the Hotel Congress patio on Thursdays.

 

DePedro

From DePedro's National Geographic music page: DePedro - a name chosen because it sounded "kind of Mediterranean, kind of Spanish" - is the musical project of singer and guitarist Jairo Zavala. His first solo project DePedro,is the culmination of years of writing and playing songs for others, including Spanish star Amparanoia, Spanish instrumental surf phenoms Los Coronas and as the touring guitarist for Calexico, not to mention as frontman and founder of Vacazul and 3000 Hombres, both renowned bands in the respective Spanish rock and blues scenes.

 

Naim Amor

A Parisian musician that came to Tucson in 1997. He has collaborated with Calexico, releasing an album with them called "Tete A Tete" as the group ABBC and has also had an album co-produced by Joey Burns, called "Sanguine."

 

Giant Sand/Howe Gelb

A rock band from Tucson, fronted by Howe Gelb. Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico were once part of the band's rhythm section.

From Gelb's Biography pages: Giant Sand emerged in 1983 and released that group's debut album, Valley of Rain in 1985. In the 25 years since, he has released an estimated 40 albums or so as Giant Sand, The Band of... Blacky Ranchette, OP8, Howe Gelb solo releases and other collaborations.

 

Written by Katrina Arrington You are reading Calexico and Their Musical Acquaintances articles

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