Flaco Jimenez and Eddie Palmieri: Why Their Music Mattered

All Songs Considered

NPR

Music

4.4 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

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Summary

On Alt.Latino we often discuss the way that traditions are recognized and expanded upon. Usually it’s when we’re talking about new artists.

But this week we are spending time honoring two legends: Tex Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez and Latin jazz pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri each died within the last few weeks. They were foundational to their respective musical cultures, products of two distinct Latino cultural and musical traditions who also expanded the idea of tradition with their musical visions.

Tune in this week to see how Felix connects the dots between these two seemingly dissimilar icons — and hear some new music that also blends tradition with modernity.

Music heard in this episode:

Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, “Saudação ao Rei Nagô” and “Obaluayê”

Doctor Nativo, “Caminantes” feat. Roco Pachukote

Bikôkô, “The Other” feat. Isaiah Hull and “La Mano” feat Crystal Murray

day2k, “OBSSD” and “más q todoooooo”

Flaco Jimenez, “Lucerito”

Eddie Palmieri, “Una Rosa Española”

Audio and production for this episode was done by Noah Caldwell.

Suraya Mohamed is Executive Producer for NPR Music.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I don't know, Felix, you've been pretty coy about your recent celebrity stardom.
0:05.9	I mean, word on the street is you're being honored alongside Raou Alejandro.
0:09.3	Is that correct?
0:11.3	It might be time for you to share.
0:13.2	Yeah, it's true.
0:14.1	I am being honored with the Hispanic Heritage Award recognition Journalism in September.
0:21.6	Some of the other awardees include Raul Alejandro for music and Cheech Marin.
0:26.9	Really? Also?
0:28.1	Yeah. Wow.
0:29.0	For art.
0:30.3	It's a recognition ceremony gala that happens every year.
0:34.6	I've been in the audience many, many, many, many times.
0:39.2	And I got selected this year, so.
0:39.9	Felix, do you remember what you said to the email? Because I almost peed myself, I laughed so hard.
0:46.8	Do you remember it? No, I don't. I saw this email come through and I go, I think I put everyone
0:53.0	on, on the email and I go, Felix think I put everyone on the email and I go,
0:55.4	Lilius Contrae-Sanro Alejandro, two dashing, heartbreaking Latin men.
1:00.1	And you go, I hope people don't get us mixed up that night.
1:09.6	You're going to steal the show. hope brown knows what's coming for him
1:13.8	oh man all right let's get to the music for if you are music this is alt latino i'm felix
1:23.6	contraris and i'm anna maria seyer let the chisemes Okay, you get to begin the Chisement because you're first. Okay, so I saved this for you. Okay. Felix. I thought of you. I spent some time being like, you know what? I'm not going to bring this on last week. I was on with Issa, and I was like, this is a Felix pick. So, orchestra Afro-Basilera, which you claim you already brought on before, I don't know.
1:47.6	I don't remember that.
	...

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