In Afro-Cuban music, some veteran groups refuse to break up when key members die, leave, or retire; they simply hire new members and keep going year after year. Cuba's famous
Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñero, for example, goes back to 1927 but remained active in the 21st century; the group remains faithful to
Piñero's vision even though
Piñero himself died in 1968. And in Mexican banda music, a similar situation exists with
Banda el Recodo. The late Don Cruz Lizárraga (born 1918, died 1995) was leading an early edition of
el Recodo as far back as 1938, and after his death, Lizárraga's relatives kept the Mexican institution going. The 2003 release
Por Ti finds Cruz's sons
Alfonso "Poncho" Lizárraga (who joined in 1992) and
Joel Lizárraga (a 1999 arrival) in command; although both were born in the '70s, they're pretty much faithful to
el Recodo's long history. Much of the material is straight-up banda; sentimental tracks like "Delante de Mí," "Que Te Vaya Bien," "Amor Ranchero," and "Cómo Pude Estar Tan Ciego" should have no problem pleasing banda traditionalists. But at the same time,
Por Ti isn't oblivious to non-Mexican influences. "Nena" has a strong salsa/Afro-Cuban flavor -- sort of banda meets Fania-era
Ray Barretto -- and "Sube Sube Sube" favors a merengue-ish exuberance.
Por Ti does, at times, make some crossover moves; nonetheless, this CD isn't a radical departure from Cruz's legacy. When Cruz was alive,
Banda el Recodo was always a banda outfit first and foremost -- but that didn't prevent him from fusing banda with non-Mexican influences if he felt like it. So what
Poncho and
Joel do on
Por Ti -- be it traditional banda or something with crossover appeal -- is, in fact, quite mindful of their father's work.
Por Ti falls short of essential, but it's an enjoyably solid demonstration of the Lizárraga sons' ability to keep
Banda el Recodo plugging away no less than 65 years after the group's formation. ~ Alex Henderson