You know, we are truly blessed here in Texas with many different and vibrant forms of cultural expression all sparking like so many firecrackers. It's real easy to overlook real gems in all the flash. So this here space will be devoted to highlighting music's and musicians from South and Central Texas who don't get the sort of attention they deserve. You may not yet be familiar with these folks, if not, give 'em a listen. Who knows, you might find your 
new favorite kinda music.

The first person I'd like to introduce y‚all to is Brian Marshall. He's a young (22) Houston based fiddler who's released two self produced cassettes dedicated "to the preservation of Polish music in Texas." Probably few are aware of the long tradition of fiddle music among the Polish speaking immigrants of Texas, particularly in Washington and Bremond County. Brian and his father earn their daily bread playing Top 40 C&W on the South Texas dance hall circuit, but when they get a chance, they commit these 
centuries old melodies to their home 4 track studio. Their two cassette only releases, strangely enough entitled Texas Polish Music I & II, feature young Marshall singing in Polish and playing mandolin and fiddle. (You can pick up copies by contacting Frank Motley, aka Mr. Telephone Road, a former punk rock DJ turned Polish music archivist, at 7314 Evans, Houston, TX 77061) One of these days, I hope Brian records his Polish versions of San Antonio Rose and Jolie Blonde. Maybe on Vol III.

The rich legacy of Tex-Czech music still flourishes, albeit in not quite its original form, in the persons of Mark Halata and Steven Drozd. Mark is best known to Austinites for his Cliftonesque stylings with The Rounders, a Houston based roadhouse R&B juggernaut, often seen burning up the Continental and Black Cat stages. He started his career much earlier, playing solo accordion for the old Czechs hanging out at the Moravia Country Store, at the tender age of nine. You can check out his traditional side on Brian Marshall's Vol. II release. Steven Drozd, however, is another story entirely. His father Vernon was a key member of New Braunfels‚ Gil Baca Band, perhaps the most popular Czech dance 
band in Texas, Little Steven learned the polkas and schottisches well enough to play drums with the Baca band at 14. Today he displays his well honed talents with Janis 18, a bright new star on Austin's alternative rock scene. Their rockin'‚ full-on, if-it‚s-too-loud-you‚re-too-old attack may not be your personal cup of Earl Gray, but no one can deny the furious intensity of the 
unrelenting Drozd downbeat. Yet another example of the continuing tradition of vibrant music's originating from Texas.

I'm saddened to learn, belatedly, of the passing of the great Juan Viesca. The unchallenged king of the "tololoche"‚ or slap bass, Viesca's playing with Santiago Jimenez (Sr) and others in the late 40's revolutionized Conjunto. A consummate showman, Viesca would play his cumbersome instrument hiked up behind his head, behind his back and on top of the head of his poor drummer. 
In a legendary finale, he poured lighter fluid over his fiddle, set it alight and played it for the last song, extinguishing the flames by twirling the bass furiously during drum rolls. But, however impressive his stage antics  he will be remembered first and 
foremost for his tasteful and powerful performances on innumerable Conjunto records. And will be missed.

'Till next time  . . .