QUETZAL - ProfilesArchive

About Me

In the early nineties, in a tiny cafe on the outskirts of Little Tokyo Los Angeles, Quetzal Flores, a son of two community organizers, formed Quetzal-A new experience in Chicano Music. His goal was to push the boundaries of Chicano Music as we knew it. Twelve years later Quetzal has become of one Los Angeles most important and successful groups. Proclaimed by no less an authority than Los Lobos as ready to carry the torch for Los Angeles's Chicano community, Quetzal embody the soul and the struggle at the heart of the Mexican-American legacy. Their mix of Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, Jazz, R&B, and Rock is supercharged by the dynamic vocals of Martha Gonzalez. Their commitment to using art as a tool for social change is informed and inspired by global grassroots movements. Aside from touring, the band frequently engages in organizing and participating in opening spaces for transnational dialogue. For the past five years they have been instrumental in developing Fandango Sin Fronteras, a dialogue between Chicanos from California and Jarochos(musicians from Veracruz, Mexico). They are currently finishing their fourth studio album to be released in June of 2006.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/9/2005
Band Website: quetzaleastla.com
Band Members: Martha Gonzalez - Lead and Backing Vocals, Congas, Chekere, Tarima, CajonCesar Castro - Lead and Backing Vocals, Jarana Jarocha, Requinto Jarocho, Leona, Pandero, TarimaJuan Perez - Electric Bass, Baby Bass, Double BassQuetzal Flores - Jarana Jarocha, Requinto Jarocho, Bajosexto, Electric GuitarQuincy McCrary - Lead and Backing Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, KeyboardAndy Mendoza - Drums, Cajon, Backing Vocals
Influences: Los Lobos, Earth Wind & Fire, The Smiths, Las Tres, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Rocio Durcal, Son De Madera, Juan Gabriel, Marvin Gaye, Journey, The Cure, REM, Led Zepplin, Arsenio Rodriguez, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Los Van Van
Sounds Like: Quetzal
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Finally something for you to listen to 1/2/08

We posted the first of many rough mixes of the work we're doing here. It called "La Madera", and it was written by Kali and Martha. Martha- cajon, quijada, chekere, campana, tarima, voz, coroKali - ...
Posted by QUETZAL on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:14:00 PST

The Latest From Xalapa

Work has been going really well. Last week was jam packed with people coming in and out of our house. Djahel, who studied classical indian dance came in to lay some rhythm down on the tarima. It wa...
Posted by QUETZAL on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:40:00 PST

Xalapa Update

Finally feeling like were settled in. We found a one bedroom apartment in Zona Centro de Xalapa. We're living really close to the Art School of the Universidad de Veracruz. The mercados all around ...
Posted by QUETZAL on Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:12:00 PST

Kiko and Sofia's Wedding

Friday Night was off the hook. Kiko Cornejo and Sofia Ivanov had a beautiful ceremony in San Juan Capistrano. They walked down the isle to the Isley Brothers. The party was crazy. So many musician...
Posted by QUETZAL on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 06:09:00 PST

Japan

We just returned from Japan. It was an interesting trip filled with conflicted emotions. We performed at something they called a "Chicano/Japones Cultural Meeting". Prelude:For many years now there...
Posted by QUETZAL on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:52:00 PST