Sexto Sol

Sexto Sol is a project based out of San Antonio, TX. Here are some liner notes from their self-titled debut CD, written by Juan Tejeda, music instructor at Palo Alto College and accordionist for the Conjunto Aztlan: Somos las hijas y los hijos del Sexto Sol, the Sixth Sun, sol de justicia still to come...still to come Cuatro Serpiente, Nahuicoatl I first heard of the band, Sexto Sol, in 1997. Being an ex-jefe danzante conchero Azteca, and Xicano Music Program Director for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, I said: "Es todo." I was intrigued by the fact that they called themselves Sexto Sol (Sixth Sun). Mi camarada, Joe Posada, had a band he called el Quinto Sol (the Fifth Sun), but I had never heard of a musical group called Sexto Sol. The concept of the Sixth Sun, however, had been around since Aztec times, and spoke of their creation story, evolution, and mythology. Flashback to 1979. University of Texas in Austin days, el Movimiento Xicano, Conjunto Aztlan, and danza Azteca. Many of us in the dance group had traveled to Mexico to meet Andres Segura, who would become our capitan and spiritual leader de la danza, and to attend our first traditional ceremony: the cardinal point to the south para Tezcatlipoca, el Senor de Chalma. After setting up our tent in a graveyard on the side of a cerro, el jefe Segura took some of us up to Malinalco, a rather small, round, rock temple where the Aztecs initiated their guerreros jaguares and guerreros aguilas. We entered through the mouth of a serpent and in the middle was a large eagle sculpted out of stone. Along the inside edge of the wall was a sitting area with three strategically placed rock jaguar heads, one on each side of of the sitting area and one in the middle. We all sat down and it was here that I first heard the story of the four suns that had existed previous to this sun, the Fifth Sun, Nahuiollin, the sun of conscience and war, the sun we are currently living in. El Capitan Segura told us how each of these four suns had been destroyed by a great cataclysmic event and that humanity had also been destroyed except for a chosen segment that were destined to lead the human race into the new sun. He told us that this Fifth Sun would also be destroyed by grandes terremotos (large earthquakes) and that the people were going to padecer hambres (die of starvation). But, that there would be a new sun, and that the mestizo people were going to lead humanity into el Sexto Sol, Nahuicoatl (cuatro serpiente/four serpent), and that this would be the sun of justice. My cousin Armando and I went to check out Sexto Sol in early 1998, I believe, at a small club called The Reverb Lounge just north of downtown San Antonio, Texas. The band was on break when we arrived so we ordered a couple of virongas and scoped out the scene. There were mainly young people there, a few punked out with studs and green and red hair. Some were sitting on the couches and living room chairs that were on the edge of the small dance floor in front of the stage. Others were on tables, shooting pool, or at the bar. Four young Chicanos took the stage and began a guitar- driven instrumental jam that combined some interesting elements of Latin rock, punk, alternative, and heavy rock. Then they broke into another jam, again an instrumental. I later learned that these four vatos were Juan Ramos (drums), Eddie Hernandez (guitar), Jorge Lara (bass), and Nicolas Valdez (percussion). My initial impression of that first set was that they were definitely a different band on the San Anto musical scene with some noteworthy influences (shades of El Chicano and Santana), but that their long instrumental jams begged for some vocals to break the monotony. I have followed these vatos locos for the last five years, or so, and I can tell you that they have remained true to their original music; that they have evolved musically and artistically, especially with the addition of Greg Goodman (bass), Sam Villela (keyboards and vocals), and James Moody (percussion); and that they have developed a distinctive musical identity and carved a very important niche in the musical scene of San Antonio. On any given week night you can hear them perform at Salute, The Barbed Wire, Sam's Burger Joint, an exhibit opening, a fundraiser, or any number of Chicano, or other, arts events. They are an integral part of San Antonio's artistic and cultural community with a loyal base of fans that is growing. And now, put your hands together for Sexto Sol's debut, self- titled CD. It's an excellent production of some of their best material. Eleven of the twelve cuts included on this CD are original compositions. Seven of them, all instrumentals, were written by Eddie Hernandez (five of them with the assistance of Jorge Lara), and four were written by Sam Villela. The only cover tune is an instrumental remake of Cannonball Adderley's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." Sam Villela's soulful, rhythm-n-blues-laden tunes add a much-needed vocal complement to the band's repertoire. There are also some significant surprises on this CD that give it an extra special dimension. I'm talking about the integration of some of the city's best musicians as guest artists. Luis Gasca, seminal Chicano trumpeter and Latin jazz pioneer, adds his subtle and soaring muted trumpet tone to "River of Love." Joe Reveles contributes his considerable keys talent (organ and moog) to this same song, as well as "Exploracion de Pasion." Gabriel Pintor, one of the best sax men in the city and heir apparent to the Westside Horns and the Westside Sound, blows us away on "Escandalosa" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." And finally, Carlos Trevino accompanies on acoustic guitar in "Exploracion de Pasion," and Karl J. Lubbering provides vibraphones on "Monterreyna." Of course, let's not forget the powerful and flowing bass lines of Greg Goodman, the steady back beat and percolating percussion of drummer and founding member, Juan Ramos, and James Moody. "El indio," Eddie Hernandez, rounds out the band with his alternating effervescent chords and rock-me-out guitar licks. Dale shine, carnales! This is Sexto Sol at its best. An original voice that is firmly rooted to its beloved San Antonio, but with branches that extend to the global community. Fusing elements of Latin rock, punk, pop, alternative, heavy rock, rhythm-n-blues, salsa, jazz, cha cha cha y mas, they are a band for the 21st century and the Post-Chicano revolution that is taking place. Somos mestizos, multicultural, la Raza Cozmica, black, white, yellow, red, border crossers and boundary breakin' aliens of a new consciousness and new world order. Somos las hijas y los hijos del Sexto Sol, the Sixth Sun, sol de justicia, still to come...still to come..., cuatro serpiente, nahuicoatl. sounds like your class of 1974 high school prom band from the barrios of 2006 san anto!