How Sweet the Sound (Canyon Records CR-8120, 2011)
How Sweet the Sound is the latest album by Southern Scratch, a waila band formed by American Indian musicians from the southwestern United States.
Southern Scratch is headed by Ron Joaquin, son of legendary waila musician Angelo Joaquin, Sr. The Joaquin has been associated for five decades with the finest waila sounds.
Waila is the popular dance music of the Tohono O’odham (“Desert People”, formerly known as the Papago) of the Sonoran desert. Waila music includes a mix of southwestern, Mexican, German and Spanish influences.
Waila dances start in the evening, at sunset and last until dawn as the Desert People dance to polkas, cumbias, mazurkas, boleros, shottisches and other couple dances performed on saxophone, guitar, bass, bajo sexto, percussion and drums as well as the occasional vocals.
How Sweet the Sound is waila music at its best and celebrates the Joaquin Family legacy and the memory of Angelo Joaquin, Sr.
Buy the album or MP3 downloads and listen to music samples:
- In North America: How Sweet the Sound . Other recordings available: Waila of the Tohono O’Odham, Chicken Scratch Christmas
- In Europe: How Sweet The Sound. Other recordings available: Waila of the Tohono O’odham, Chicken Scratch Christmas
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
