I went the other night to the premiere screening of the documentary Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano at the KCET lot on Sunset Blvd. This was the first time seeing the whole doc together in its final form and let me tell you it is an entertaining and comprehensive testament to the life and work of this wonderful musician. It is really a must-see for those interested in the evolution of the blending of Mexican and American culture in the United States and the role Lalo Guerrero played in it.

Ry Cooder, the slide guitar wonder and producer of Buena Vista Social Club, figures in prominently in the doc. Cooder was a big fan of Lalo and even produced an album together with him.

I myself am a big fan of Cooder and think that the score he composed for Paris Texas is one of the best and most original scores ever produced.


With Ry Cooder

Lalo Guerrero aires on KCET Thursday October 12th @ 8 PM and Sunday October 15th @ 10:30 PM.

Dan Guerrero's hilarious "Gaytino!" is performing right now at tthe Diversionary Theatre in San Diego. It runs until October 1. Come hear my music and see Dan's incredible performance.



“A master story teller, Guerrero takes us on a rollercoaster ride…"  LA Stage Magazine
“Fun…highly energetic presence….charming.”  Variety
“Blessed with charm, stature”  Los Angeles Weekly

Lalo Guerrero the Original Chicano
Produced by Dan Guerrero and Nancy de Los Santos
Original Music Score by Joseph Julian Gonzalez

Thursday October 12th @ 8 PM and Sunday October 15th @ 10:30 PM. 

Voces is a thirteen part series hosted by Edward James Olmos and showcasing the best of Latino culture.

You can get information about Voces and airings in other cities on their website. 
www.voces.tv

I've talked at length about the fine choral conductor Antonio Espinal and his wonderful group - The Harmonies Girls Choir. They just returned from their world tour of Mexico, Austria, and the Check Republic. I attended their "farewell" concert September 9, 2006 for four of the young girs which will be leaving the group to attend college. A couple of them will be pursuing degrees in music.




I just noticed on their website that they will be performing next summer at the SAINT-DENIS-BASILICA, in SAINT-DENIS, FRANCE. Way to go!!

I heard Sunday night that Steve Irwin, aka the Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a stingray in Northern Australia in the province of Queensland. Having just performed in Sydney, I kind of have an affinity with Australia right now and also for the Crocodile Hunter which I enjoyed watching on TV with my little boy.



After the performance at the Sydney Opera House, my wife and I took a 4 hour flight to Cairnes so that we could snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. A good friend of mine, Zach Staenberg, who was the film editor for La Pastorela and The Cisco Kid - two movies that I scored, had spent a few years of his life in Australia cutting The Matrix, for which he won the Academy Award. He had become a bit of an expert on all things Australian, and recommended that we not stay in Cairnes but take the shuttle to Port Douglas, which is about another hour and twenty north.

This area of Australia is very tropical and has several beautiful rain forests and an aboriginal park. Even though it was in the middle of Australia's winter the weather was really quite mild (as opposed to Sydney which was kinda cold). Port Douglas is a lazy beach city with lots of tourist who are really after one thing - to experience the Great Barrier Reef. I barely was able to make reservations on one of the many commercial boats once we got there. Its takes about an hour and a half by boat to reach the reef. And this is no ordinary boat ride - it is pretty rough. I would not recommend it to any one with a weak stomach.

Ah, but The Great Barrier Reef. It is incredible!!! It might be one of the most beautiful natural things I have ever seen. It is so amazing to be in the water with your mask and then to look down and see a whole other world of brightly colored coral, plant-life and all sorts of amazing fish. It was truly an amazing experience.




From what I've read it looks like Irwin died somewhere close to here. May he Rest in Peace.