Musically, San Antonio Is a Special Place

Dear Editor,
    I gotta tell you, I got goose bumps seeing the mention of Esteban Jordan and the tiny Saluté International Bar in your newspaper last week [“Chac-Mool,” Music, Aug. 8]. It made me proud that some acts that are making noise in San Antonio are still appreciated outside SA and especially in The Austin Chronicle. I recall a few nights there when owner Azeneth Dominguez would share old stories about Mr. Jordan with me while sitting at the bar. In SA, Jordan is someone who is respected just as much by his peers as by his 20-something fans. As a hip-hop/dance DJ who plays regularly on the North St. Mary's strip (and tours regularly with artists like Kid Koala and Grand Buffet), San Antonio is the only place … I repeat … only place I can play a Texas Tornados record and a Randy Garibay record on top of a hip-hop beat and all the young folks know the words. It is something that is "particularly San Antonio," just like places in San Antonio such as Hogwild or Bar America are "particularly San Antonio." It reminds me of a conversation I recently had in New Orleans with Ben Jaffe, creative director of the world-famous Preservation Hall. (My tour mate, Kid Koala, sat in with the band when we toured together a few months ago.) Jaffe was talking about how not only do the youth in New Orleans know the words and culture of modern music, there is also a certain love and admiration for the old jazz tradition there. Similar thing in San Antonio.
    It's a special place.
    Thanks for the article!