Music knows no fences. This is the creed of the Frontera Jazz Quartet, a hard-hitting group from the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. The band developed in December 2006 as an outgrowth of tenor saxophonist Joe Chapa’s Group, a Valley native and pro musician since age fifteen. In 2006 veteran guitarist Clay Moore relocated to the Valley from Minneapolis, MN, and by September was playing full time in Chapa’s group. After many gigs and late night discussions Chapa and Moore agreed they could accomplish more as co-leaders, and the Frontera Jazz Quartet was born. The other two members are bassist Matt Johnson and drummer Frank Lugo, who joined the band full time in May 2007. The name the Frontera Jazz Quartet was carefully chosen to reflect the group’s unique take on music and culture. All four musicians have lived on the US-Mexican border for many years (Moore grew up in El Paso, TX), and this shared experience informs the music and the musicians’ attitudes towards playing. This influence is obvious in repertoire such as Moore’s "Abejita Mia" (My Little Bee), Chapa’s "Lagrimas Negras" (Black Tears), and a reworking of Mexican pop star Rigo Tovar’s "Matamoros Querido". Along with these regional influences the group has the advantage of being among the only jazz players in the area, sometimes performing as many as five gigs per week, which has honed their distinctive sound.
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