Nine gigs in ten days mean much delicious realtime & a certain healthy neglect of the Matrix aka Mr + Mrs Internet. This trip began with Mexican riches (edible) in Sunset Park followed by a car service ride where my Ecuadorian driver introduced me, musically, to Polibio Mayorga. He lent me the disc, I will return it. Certain types of objects, experiencing them, turn you into caretakers of the object.
Polibio Mayorga – MuddUnknown (unlabeled cd-r from cab driver)
The sweet recklessness of a nationally famous composer/accordionist who has learned to rejoice in the fact that he can make his music on a synthesizer keyboard, all by himself, playing every part on his own. No, it’s not that simple…
But something about his melodic sensibilities I find extremely compelling, plus the weird keyboard settings, the way the guitary-string chords swoop in like a proletarian harp, the gnawa-esque hi-hats on certain songs, the lyrics which enter fragmentary like dub, the organ schmaltz, the confidence, and so on.
“Como se llama este tipo de musica?â€
“I guess you would have to call it… musica nacional de Ecuador†he said, our conversation in Spanish a bit difficult for me to understand – in every new world the language that comes to it forks.
Thanks so much for posting this excellent story. Your writing is awesome, and this music rocks. Can’t get those vintage sounds anymore. May I ask what the name of this song is? or where I can get this Polibio Mayorga CD?
Cheers!
roger, glad you enjoy the sounds! i was surpised nobody else commented… the guy who lent me the CD-r (it has no writing on it) didn’t know the name. Perhaps La Minga. the album has different arrangements of some of the songs* you link to via that Flash-player on your website. Better arrangements! and with some vocals too… * (“ponchito de colores” “dame un flor” “corazoncito”)
I’ve played this song to death in my car. ¡Mas! Thanks again Mr. Jace.
Thats awesome! Thanks for posting this about Polibio Mayorga. His music is truly amazing.
whoaaa. this is cool. thanks dr. j. are there more tunes like this one?
The song is called “Inocencia,” Polibio has a myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/polibiomayorga
Nice discovery! What a unique sound. I’ve been listening to Polibio for about a year now and can’t get over his creativity! Que música tan linda! Where can you get this CD?
Gracias!
ecuadorian music is awesome. I ‘ll post regularly some on my blog, not quite the stuff of the cab driver, but rare things as well, such as marimba, bombas del Chota, etc…Estoy un fan de la musica ecuatoriana y del Mudd up blog.
saludos maestro.. felicitaciones mire sus videos ..siga adelante ..exitos
desde coral gables fla
I am from Ecuador. I love Mr. Mayorga’s music. It brings so many memories!!!!
Thanks for sharing!