Mento Buru from East Bakersfield, California has played around California's Central Valley since the early 1990s. Bandleader Matt Munoz explains how they, like many bands, have made a living and endured as a regional act.
Last Christmas, Mento Buru released the East Bakersfield Christmas EP, which features Christmas classics adapted to suit the band's Latin ska sound. Munoz talks about how and why they made it, along with the two Spanish-language Christmas songs--"Donde Esta Santa Claus" by Augie Rios, and "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano. We discussed his fascination with Augie Rios in an earlier episode, but this time we talk about where he found the Spanish lyrics for the song that was written in English.
Along the way, Munoz shares some of his holiday favorites, including songs by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Cheech and Chong, and Alexander O'Neal.
This week's episode also pays some attention to Earth, Wind & Fire's 2014 Christmas album, Holiday, and the 2015 Sony Legacy repackaging of it with a few extra tracks as The Classic Christmas Album. I'm fascinated by it because the band doesn't simply lend its grooves to Christmas favorites. On a number of the tracks, it either adds seasonal lyrics to pre-existing EWF songs, or it reuses familiar horn flourishes and signature parts to make their versions explicitly theirs.
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Meryl Zimmerman
Nochebuena with Patricia Vonne
A Latin Music Christmas with Arthur Hanlon
Mitchell Kezin of ”Jingle Bell Rocks,” Jim McCormick, and Bailey James
Amanda Shires, Rodney Atkins and Rose Falcon, and Julian Koster
Bonus Episode: Twelve Songs x Ranking the Beatles
Kristin Chenoweth, Ronnie Milsap, and Paul Gilbert
Jay Landers, Kristin Chenoweth, and Calum Scott on ”A Sentimental Christmas with Nat King Cole & Friends”
José James, Bruce Cockburn, and The Twangtown Paramours
Bonus Episode: Who Dat Jedi Crossover
The Fleshtones, Susan Cowsill, and Numero Records‘ ”Christmas Dreamers”
Mannheim Steamroller
Quad City DJs
”Christmas Jollies” with Bill Adler
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
A Family-Friendly Christmas with Dan and Claudia Zanes
Santa Baby
A Blues Christmas with Alligator Records
Grant-Lee Phillips
Big Freedia and Boyfriend
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