Everybody dance now: ¡Waila!

 

The American Indians

Play Waila 

2006

Tracks:

Tracks 1-12 were recorded and originally released in 1974 as Canyon Records LP "The American Indians Play Chicken Scratch", C -6120. Performed by: Alex Gomez (sax), Justin Francisco (sax), John Manuel (accordion), Clarence Flores (drums), Celestine Flores (drums), Jerry Flores (guitar), Simon Cruz (bass guitar).

01. Cactus Song (3:42)
02. Coolidge Two-Step (3:39)
03. John Special (2:49)
04. Come Home Tonight (2:38)
05. Pisinimo Polka (2:08)
06. El Capitan (3:03)
07. Palo Verde Stands (2:31)
08. Blackwater Polka (2:53)
09. The Sunset (2:48)
10. San Xavier Polka (2:38)
11. Topawa Two-Step (2:40)
12. Desert Polka (3:21)

Tracks 13-24 were recorded and originally released in 1976 as Canyon Records LP "Waila ­ Social Dance Music: The American Indians Album 2", C-6155. Performed by: John Manuel (accordion), Justin Francisco (alto saxophone), Simon A. Cruz (bass guitar), Jerry Flores (guitar), Clarence Flores (drums), Celestine Flores (drums).

13. Eloy Two-Step (3:19)
14. E.M.C. Two-Step (2:44)
15. Taverna (3:02)
16. Oh My Darling Clementine (2:13)
17. Arrowhead Two-Step (4:03)
18. Fernando Polka (3:02)
19. J's Tune (1:43)
20. Old Timer Two-Step (3:17)
21. Cry Babe (4:15)
22. White Dove Polka (3:45)
23. Song From Way Back (3:17)
24. Coolidge Polka (2:19)
  
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This collection brings together two classic recordings by The American Indians, one of the most innovative bands in the saga of waila, the lively social dance music of southern Arizona's Native peoples. Also known as chicken scratch, waila features the intricately intertwined melodies of saxophone and accordion propelled by the rhythms of guitar, bass, and drums playing polkas, two-steps, and cumbias. While staying true to the traditions of waila, The American Indians played with a highly original flare making them legends of chicken scratch.

Reviews:

The hybrid American Indian musical form known officially as waila and to its friends as chicken scratch combines Latin cumbia rhythms and German-Mexican polkas and two-steps in an irresistible and unique style. This twofer collects many of the best known songs of one of the form's most inventive outfits, the American Indians, whose ingenious interpretations of the genre have made them legendary. - Allmusic

***

Quick--name several traditional Native American instruments, Drums, flutes, rattles, gourds, even the voices of singers would probably appear on most people's lists. Yet, The American Indians Play Waila, a recent release from Canyon Records, features saxophones, accordions, guitars in its renditions of the traditional Native music of the Southwest. Waila, a popular musical genre among the Native people of Southwest Arizona, reflects the Spanish influence on indigenous residents of the region. With its lively, energetic combination of high-volume sounds, waila inspires listeners to participate in social dances. Polka, Two-Step, and other styles of social dancing blend into fun, when played waila-style. Frequently referred to as Chicken Scratch, waila crosses genres and generation. As a result, waila has gathered fans from a wide variety of age groups, tribal affiliations and dance styles. This cd celebrates the many facets of waila. The American Indians Play Waila shares the talents of these Tohono O'odham (Papago) musicians. The band plays and composes waila tunes, which demonstrate the artists' passion for this music. Standout songs include, Come Home Tonight, Song from Way Back and Old-Timer Two-Step. Dancers will enjoy the variety of two-steps and polkas. These include Arrowhead Two-Step, Desert Polkas, and White Dove Polka. The American Indians Play Waila provides more than an hour of upbeat musical fun, that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to dance. --By Dawn Karima Pettigrew - Whispering Wind / Issue #257 / Vol 37 #1
 

***

The social dance music of the Tohono O'odham reservation in western Arizona - Waila, or Chicken Scratch - owes more to the polkas, schottisches, and mazurkas of Europe and the Norteno music of Mexico, with whom the reservation shares a 60-mile boundary, than to the sounds of Native America. Recorded in the 1970's The American Indians Play Waila, and Waila, featuring tunes by El Conjunto Murrietta, Mike Ennis and Company, Los Papagos Molinas, and Elvin Kelly y Los Reyes, provide an introduction to this accordion-dominated Lawrence Welk-meets-Flaco Jimenez sound. --By CHa - Dirty Linen-Folk & World Music / November 2006

 

***

We weren't hip to it at the time, but was Ry Cooder aware of 'chicken scratch' when he named his Chicken Skin band? I wonder. Two great albums recorded by the American Indians group in 1974 and 1976, and reissued here on a single CD as The American Indians Play Waila date from around the same period as Cooder's band. Canyon only recorded their first waila/ chicken scratch album in 1972 although this Tohono O'odham (Papago) social dance form from southern Arizona had been around since the late 19th century. The music has very strong links to the Spanish/ German sounds of border music and Tex-Mex. Originally the bands consisted of fiddles and stringed instruments, but accordeons were soon adopted and by the 1950's, bands were adding saxophone as a lead as well. This is rocking, driving instrumental dance music from a basic line-up of accordeon, sax, electric guitar and bass, and two drummers. The band had an innovation of putting a wah-wah pedal on the accordeon (check tunes like Cry Babe) and the two drummers specialised in different rhythms (chotis and polkas). But this wasn't the Greatful Dead - this was dance music! (But it does have good sleevenotes.) --By Phil Wilson - fRoots - Local Music From Out There / Aug. '08

***

Everybody dance now: A review of The American Indians Play Waila
News From Indian Country

              
Quick – name several traditional Native American instruments. Drums, flutes, rattles, gourds, even the voices of singers would probably appear on most people’s lists. Yet, The American Indians Play Waila, a recent release from Canyon Records, features saxophones, accordions, and guitars in its renditions of the traditional Native music of the Southwest.

Waila, a popular musical genre among the Native people of Southwest Arizona, reflects the Spanish influence on Indigenous residents of the region. With its lively, energetic combination of high-volume sounds, waila inspires listeners to participate in social dances. Polka, Two-Step, and other styles of social dancing blend into fun, when played waila-style.

Frequently referred to as “chicken scratch,” waila crosses genres and generations. As a result, waila has gathered fans from a wide variety of age groups, tribal affiliations and dance styles. This CD celebrates the many facets of waila.

The American Indians Play Waila shares the talents of these Tohono O’odham (Papago) musicians. The band plays and composes waila tunes, which demonstrate the artists’ passion for this music.

Standout songs include “Come Home Tonight,” “Song from Way Back,” and “Old-Timer Two-Step.”

Dancers will enjoy the variety of two-steps and polkas. These include “Arrowhead Two-Step,” “Desert Polka,” and “White Dove Polka.” The American Indians Play Waila provides more than an hour of upbeat musical fun, that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to dance.

by Dawn Karima Pettigrew

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