All Songs Considered: “Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri: Why Their Music Mattered”

Host: Robin Hilton (NPR)
Guests/Co-hosts: Felix Contreras, Ana Maria Sayer
Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of NPR’s “All Songs Considered,” presented as a special edition of Alt Latino, delves into the transformative impact of two legendary musicians: accordionist Flaco Jiménez and Latin jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri, both of whom recently passed away. Hosts Felix Contreras and Ana Maria Sayer pay tribute not only by sharing personal stories and musical selections but also by reflecting on why these artists were so pivotal within their respective musical and cultural traditions. Along the way, the hosts discuss trends in genre blending, spotlight emerging Latinx and global artists, and explore the ongoing reinvention of traditional sounds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening and Banter

• The episode opens with playful banter about Felix Contreras being awarded the Hispanic Heritage Award, sharing the stage with major Latin artists like Rauw Alejandro and Cheech Marin.
  Quote:

  "I hope people don't get us mixed up that night. You're gonna steal the show. I hope Rauw knows what's coming for him."
  — Felix Contreras (01:13)

Rediscovering and Remixing Heritage Sounds

Orchestra Afro Brasileira

• Ana spotlights the re-release of Orchestra Afro Brasileira’s "Eri Anos" and its new remix album, which has pulled in current Brazilian artists to reinterpret classic tracks from the group, known for fusing Western big band music with African percussion and religious tradition.

• They play samples, including a remix by the artist Roger and a track featuring Camilo Lara, emphasizing how this music bridges generations and remains ripe for reinterpretation.
  Insight:

  • The remix album is emblematic of a trend: younger artists are using tradition as a foundation for innovation, as seen in related movements (corridos tumbados, Neojaropo, etc.).
    Quote:

  “All to say, this is happening as we're seeing this resurgence and reinvestment and reinterest in old sound… People are really prepared and excited to hear this kind of blend.”
  — Ana Maria Sayer (05:36)

  Notable Moment:

  • Felix’s excitement over listening to classic and remixed tracks side-by-side highlights the enduring richness of these foundational recordings.
    Quote:

  "Again, the whole idea of this, like, finding this obscure band and just, you know, makes me want to go back and listen to the original recordings because I just want to dissect them."
  — Felix Contreras (09:29)

Spotlight: Musical Crossroads and New Voices

Dr. Nativo feat. Rocco Pachucote

• Felix introduces Guatemalan-Cuban musician Dr. Nativo, whose forthcoming album blends spiritual and social justice themes, ska, and the rock en Español sensibility of collaborator Rocco Pachucote (from Maldita Vecindad).

• Discussion focuses on genre cross-pollination and the ongoing evolution of Latin music across borders and generations.
  Quote:

  "His track is called Caminantes, or it means walkers, and he says it's an ode to those who walk across borders, histories and generations in search of justice, healing, and peace."
  — Felix Contreras (12:29)

  Comparisons Drawn:

  • Dr. Nativo’s music is likened to Manu Chao’s genre-blending style, but with originality and spiritual urgency.
    Quote:

  "It reminds me of Manu Chao and Mano Negra from Spain... But, like, not copying him. Like, taking it to the next level, right?"
  — Felix Contreras (12:59)

Bicoco

• Ana raves about discovering Bicoco, a Spanish-Cameroonian artist whose debut EP pairs nuanced vocals with Cameroonian percussion and subtle electronic touches. She plays “The Other” and “La Mano,” marveling at the complexity and layered nature of the production.
  Quote:

  "It feels chaotic, but then you really sit down and spend time with it and you're like, oh, no. Every single part of this is, like, perfectly laid."
  — Ana Maria Sayer (17:04)

  • Felix appreciates the agelessness and universality of new Latin music, countering skepticism about contemporary music having nothing “new” to offer.
    Quote:

  "If you can't find new music out there, man, you know, can't help you because this stuff is out there."
  — Felix Contreras (17:26)

Day 2K

• Ana introduces Day 2K, a Tijuana-born musician now in LA, whose album "Mayday" seamlessly melds R&B, hip-hop, soul, and jazz with Spanish lyrics—reflecting both the porousness of cultural borders and the influence of US hip-hop on emerging Mexican talent.
  Quote:

  “To me, what we're hearing coming out of Mexico right now... is this generation that has grown up very naturally with a lot of these Americans, rap, hip hop, R&B... all of these artists... but just with lyrics in Spanish."
  — Ana Maria Sayer (22:06)

  • Felix underscores the album as evidence that the US-Mexico border is "just a line in the sand" when it comes to the transmission of musical culture.
    Quote:

  "It's another reinforcement of the idea that the border is just a line in the sand. The back and forth of people, commerce, production, culture. It's a free flow, man."
  — Felix Contreras (23:33)

Main Segment: Tribute to Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri

[Starts at ~23:56]

Flaco Jiménez

• Felix shares insights into what made Flaco Jiménez the touchstone of conjunto Tex Mex accordion: technical virtuosity, improvisational genius (“those runs”), and the ability to imbue polkas and ballads with deep emotion.
  Quote:

  “The magic for me, for Flaco, was in these instrumental breaks in between the vocals...They’re playing as fast as Charlie Parker did in bebop in the 40s, just all over the place...”
  — Felix Contreras (25:27; 27:00)

  • Flaco’s contribution framed as both foundational and innovative: a musician rooted in tradition who always pushed boundaries, which inspired musicians, fans, and musicologists alike.

  Notable Moment:

  • Felix’s personal admiration and awe, having met Jiménez, summed up with warmth and respect.

Eddie Palmieri

• The discussion transitions to Eddie Palmieri, whose pioneering work in Latin jazz and salsa redefined the boundaries of the genre, earning him the first-ever Grammy in a dedicated Latin category (1976).
  Quote:

  "He was just out there changing and challenging and expanding the genre...Eddie's music was like, you know what? I'm just gonna do things my way. And then his music ended up becoming just as popular."
  — Felix Contreras (28:01)

  • The hosts play “Una Rosa Española,” noting Palmieri’s musical daring — including quoting the Beatles’ “You Never Give Me Your Money” — as a testament to bicultural life and fearless creativity.
    Quote:

  "By quoting the Beatles like that. It’s a musical declaration of the bicultural life that most of us Latinos lived then and continue to live right now.”
  — Felix Contreras (29:58)

  Memorable Moment:

  • Palmieri’s performance energy: “...even at the end when he starts banging the keys with his elbows, which he used to do because he got so carried away...”

Tribute Summary

• Felix weaves together the themes, underlining that Jiménez and Palmieri were both products of two distinct, yet interwoven U.S. Latino experiences:
  Quote:

  “Their lives and their music were a celebration of our differences, right. And their life's work is another example of how the music is the most profound expression of culture in the hands and hearts of musicians like Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri. May they rest in eternal glory.”
  — Felix Contreras (30:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the continual reinvention of tradition:

  “This remixed album is coming at a really interesting moment to me, because… reimagining old sounds… has become one of the biggest trends we’ve been following.”
  — Ana Maria Sayer (05:10)

• On musical universality:

  "It's ageless. I mean, because there's so much there for anyone of any age. It's... not exactly club music... but it's still musically so intensely interesting and fascinating and layered and so rhythmic."
  — Felix Contreras (17:26)

• On the power of musical border-crossing:

  “It's another reinforcement of the idea that the border is just a line in the sand... Culture. It's a free flow, man. This is a great example.”
  — Felix Contreras (23:33)

• On the lasting legacy:

  “…the music is the most profound expression of culture in the hands and hearts of musicians like Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri.”
  — Felix Contreras (30:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Remixing Orchestra Afro Brasileira: 01:48 – 10:14
• Dr. Nativo and genre-mixing in Latin music: 10:14 – 13:31
• Bicoco: Spanish-Cameroonian emerging artist: 13:38 – 18:14
• Day 2K and the blending of Latin & US hip hop: 20:19 – 23:50
• Tribute to Flaco Jiménez & Eddie Palmieri: 23:56 – 31:12

Overall Tone & Language

The episode is warm, exuberant, and deeply informed, with Felix and Ana Maria's conversational rapport bringing both humor and passionate insight. Their tributes are reverent but never somber, emphasizing musical legacy as a living, evolving force. The hosts’ language is vernacular, often playful, yet always respectful of artists’ contributions.

Closing

With a blend of discovery, nostalgia, and cultural analysis, this episode stands as both an homage to musical innovators who have passed and a celebration of those on the cutting edge of Latin and global music. Its core message: tradition, reinvention, and border-crossing both unite and diversify the Latin musical experience—with the stories of Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri at its heart.