The Best of Tish Hinojosa - Live (2003)
Over time, songs seem to create their own identities and personalities. That, along with the singer evolving too, has changed the dynamics of many of my songs as we play them show after show, year after year. This CD was recorded live one summer evening in Austin, Texas, 2002, in the intimate and familiar setting of the Cactus Cafe. The songs I chose for the set were mostly decided by the list of frequently requested songs, but I also took the opportunity to do a little make-over and update of a few and introduce a little something new as well.
It was great to be surrounded by some of my familiar stage buddies: Robert Madden Dolan, Glenn Kawamoto, and of course, El Maestro, Marvin Dykhuis. It was also so nice to welcome some wonderful musicians, who had played on early recordings: Danny Levin, who played piano and wrote most of my string arrangements and played them, from “Homeland” through “Dreaming from the Labyrinth”. Marty Mews played pedal steel guitar, Arturo Garza added percussion. I was very happy to welcome Santiago Jimenez jr., who had played on “Frontejas” and came in from San Antonio to accompany us on this recording. Not wanting to play only the standard, we added a new little bluegrass style ditty and a beautiful old Mexican ballad.