Quetzal

Quetzal: Worksongs

by C. Michael Bailey
September 25, 2003

Quetzal is a leading Chicano band from the Los Angeles area. Produced by Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin, Worksongs shares the same quiet dignity characteristic of Los Lobos’ best work while expanding the Latin American stylistic palette. In this way the band is quite unpredictable, but any output is of the highest quality.

Worksongs is almost divided evenly between Spanish and English lyrics. Those songs sung in Spanish, "Planta de los pies," "Limones Agrios," and "Luna Sol," all tend toward the ...

Quetzal: Sing The Real

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2002

The Los Angeles, CA-based nonet, “Quetzal” (the ancient Quetzal bird that continually resisted captivity) brings its distinct flavor of Afro-Chicano type musings to the forefront on Sing The Real. Maybe the elusive nature of the bird typifies the non-conforming demeanor of this band’s alchemistic blend of rock, jazz, and Latin genres, along with a few Mexican serenade type interludes. From the onset of the opener titled “The Social Relevance Of Public Art,” the violinists’ render sonorous and somewhat impacting choruses. ...