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Austin ChronicleTexas Platters
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Alejandro
Escovedo
By the Hand of the Father (TMG)
Who doesn't
love family stories? Those
intoxicating tales that make children prowl at their elders' feet to hear
how their parents met; stories of dads who drank too hard and the mothers
who loved them even harder. Babies born and babies lost. First loves,
faded loves, eternal loves. Family stories are the foundation of Alejandro
Escovedo's marvelous new By the Hand of the Father, songs and stories
from his original theatre production of the same title. Unlike most soundtracks,
By the Hand of the Father stands on its own as a thematically driven collection,
with select dialogue from the production that enhances rather than clutters
the music. Gentle waltzes ("59 Years Waltz"), bouncy rancheras
("Mexico Americano"), and weepy ballads ("Rosalie")
deliver satisfyingly. However, it's songs like the moody "Silence,"
a masterful hybrid of urban ballad and country twang that elevates the
album from merely fine to memorable. Additional vocals and instrumentals
by Ruben Ramos, Rosie Flores, Cesar Rosas, and Pete Escovedo give finishing
touches to already well-hewn tunes. By the Hand of the Father was created
in collaboration with Theresa Chavez, Eric Gutierrez, and Rose Portillo
as a tribute to first generation Mexican-American fathers. Presented in
Austin as a work-in-progress in 1999, it had a successful Los Angeles
run in 2000, and well-received performances throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The show runs in Austin, June 27-29, at the Texas Union Theater.