Recorded live at the 1998 Conjunto Festival of the Narcisco Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito, TX. This has 19 tracks -- and 71 minutes -- of conjunto, almost unvaryingly played by small combos with accordion, bajo sexto, bass, and drums. It's a good representation of the conjunto you'd hear live in South Texas in the 1990s, though as is the music's wont, it's not heavy on variety. When
Ruben Vela drops just a hint of funk into his "Eo Coco Rayado" cumbia, that's enough to make it stand out in this crowd. The sound is good and the liner notes include a detailed, eight-page overview of the evolution of conjunto as a whole.