Cielo, Latin Acoustic Music of the Southwest
Jorge: "In the household where I grew up it wasn't a matter of whether or not you were going to play an instrument, but rather, what the instrument was going to be."
The family had always been involved in music. Jorge's uncles played throughout the state during the forties and fifties. They played everything from big band jazz to traditional Spanish and New Mexican music.
Jorge: "Everyone in the family, would get together during the holidays, and everyone would, in turn take center stage, playing various instruments and styles". It was a natural progression for Jorge to become involved in a progressive fusion of styles.
While in high school, the musical group in which Jorge was involved got there first recording with a national label.
Jorge traveled extensively throughout the country with several fusion and R&B acts. Jorge: "I had this thing about wanting something new, something exciting. I fell in love with salsa when I saw my first "Big Band Salsa" group. The Latin rhythms, the horns, it was all very exciting. But wait a minute, these guys had no guitarist! Several years later I heard the fusion flamenco group of "Paco de Lucia". WOW, I was blown away. Traditional flamenco players were not happy with what he was doing. But I was very excited!" Jorge and his brother Estevan, percussionist, keyboards, sax player, began experimenting with other musicians, trying to find "improvisers, mind readers". Jorge: "I'm very happy with the combination we currently have. Egos are set aside for the sake of the music, for the sake of the experience."
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