Listen to our new Monday Morning Brew playlist ft. César y su Jardín (see below), BC Camplight, Oropendola, Natural Information Society, Akira Kosemura, Mark Fry (read our recent Off the Shelf with Mark), Sally Anne Morgan, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Kathryn Williams, Eve Adams, Ben LaMar Gay, Chloe Matharu, Animal Collective, The Rolling Stones, Madeline Kenney, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer, Rún, The Dwarfs of East Agouza, Nadia Reid, M. Sage, Mac DeMarco, Jens Kuross, and Terry Riley.
By total chance, I recently stumbled across Mexico’s César y su Jardín, and while their debut album, Corre y suelta a los perros (released in May), may be finding favour with listeners in Mexico, it’s probably, judging by how very little I’ve read, been flying under the radar elsewhere. The band are from the vibrant, musically rich city of Xalapa, Veracruz, and this debut offering is far more than a typical first effort; it’s incredibly ambitious, delivering a fusion of sounds from regional folk music, such as Son Jarocho, blended with the more familiar elements of Brazilian bossa nova and samba-jazz. César Croda‘s distinctive vocals and theatrical presence, along with the colourful instrumentation and great performances from guest vocalists like Cocotito de Melón, all make this one pretty unforgettable.
This debut not only showcases César y su Jardín’s remarkable talent for reinterpreting Veracruz’s rich folklore but also demonstrates their daring experimental spirit. It’s a true gem, worthy of far greater recognition. For that reason, a track from the album opens and closes this week’s Monday Morning Brew Playlist. In between, you can hear all the music we’ve been waxing lyrical about over the past week – 25 tracks in total, clocking in at 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Listen on Apple Music | Tidal | Spotify