Iconic bluegrass artist Peter Rowan captures the essence of the Free Mexican Airforce in his newest album, a genre-defying blend of borderland ballads, outlaw stories, and timeless Americana narratives.
'Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce' – Peter Rowan
Bluegrass Hall of Famer and versatile songwriter/performer Peter Rowan has unveiled a new album, appropriately named Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce.
The tracks serve as brief narratives—snippets of lives experienced in various contexts. Songs like “Mississippi California,” “Sunset Eyes,” and “Oh, Liberty” are alive with emotion, providing glimpses into the characters’ worlds. The listener can sense their trials and struggles. Unified by themes of outlawhood, these are distinctly American tales set to music.
Even with the collaboration of Los Texmaniacs, a Tex-Mex band, this album transcends traditional categorization. As Rowan expressed to me, “I view this not as genre music, but rather as Texas rock-and-roll. It tells the stories of the outlaw trail, navigating personal challenges and unique circumstances beyond the ordinary.”
The outcome is a lively assortment of new songs along with a few older tracks.
Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce – Peter Rowan
Reuniting for their long-standing collaboration, Flaco Jiménez contributes accordion to “The Free Mexican Airforce” and “Moonlight Midnight,” reminiscent of his performances on previous recordings. “María Elena,” a newly composed instrumental by Jiménez, sparkles with energy. As Rowan notes on the album cover, “This record is both a celebration and a tribute—to the musical culture that inspired ‘Midnight Moonlight’ and the kind people who have instilled hope in me for the future.”
Rowan reminisced, “I left Seatrain in 1970. My last performance was in San Antonio, Texas. I spent the following days wandering through the old town, meeting people, absorbing the music, the food, the vibrant atmosphere—the Alamo at dawn, churches adorned with lifelike Madonnas. That’s when I wrote ‘Midnight Moonlight.’ The song reflects the idea of finding hope even in despair, inspired by those warm nights and brilliant mornings in Old San Antone.”
The Musical Adventures of Peter Rowan:: FEATURE ::
Rowan first met Jiménez in 1975 at The Blue Hole in Wimberley, Texas. At the time, he mentioned living with “some smugglers.” After hearing from David Grisman that Flaco and his band were performing at Irene Y Fidel’s Cantina on Blanco Road, near San Antonio, he attended the show, introduced himself, and received a warm response, with Flaco dedicating every song to him. After the performance, they played mandola and accordion together in the parking lot, starting with “Never on Sunday.” They quickly became great friends.
In 1978, Jiménez played accordion on Rowan’s self-titled solo album (Flying Fish Records), and they've been collaborating on and off ever since.
Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce begins with “Mississippi California,” which erupts like a bucking bull out of the gate. Within mere moments, it becomes clear that this is not a conventional bluegrass album. I’ll leave it up to the listener to interpret its meaning—but it unmistakably bears Rowan’s signature style: an ironic tale blending sorrow and joy, infused with love, humor, and optimism.
I’ve been familiar with songs like “Oh, Liberty” since around 2021, having heard them at live performances and in earlier demos. Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce represents the culmination of years of Rowan’s performances with Los Texmaniacs, whose lineup includes Max Baca (bajo sexto), Josh Baca (accordion), Chris Rivera (drums), and Noel Hernandez (bass). This album encapsulates the energy and intensity of those live shows.
When I inquired if Rowan plans to tour with these songs, he replied, “We definitely perform some of them in my Walls of Time band. I refined these songs with Los Texmaniacs during and after our COVID tours. But they are now pursuing their own paths.”
He added, “I think Flaco’s ‘María Elena’ showcases one of his most impactful performances—his mature style. However, Flaco is not in good health. We were fortunate to capture the vitality of this music. His protégé, Josh Baca, has revitalized the accordion.”
Rowan continued, “Recording my brother Chris’s song ‘Bonita Señorita’ was a delight. I got to collaborate on the solo with Josh on electric guitar. For this album, I used a beautifully crafted mandola, a Mexican classical guitar, and an Eastman archtop.”
Peter Rowan © Amanda Rowan
Regarding the new songs recorded for this album, he stated, “My newer compositions return to
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Iconic singer Peter Rowan taps into the essence of the Free Mexican Airforce with his newest album, which weaves together a genre-defying collection of borderland ballads, outlaw narratives, and classic Americana storytelling.