John Dyer,
Conjunto



Publisher: University of Texas Press
Released: 2005

(3½ out of 5)

John Dyer specializes in documenting the people and cultures around him. Perhaps nothing in his hometown of San Antonio is more colorful — figuratively and literally — than its thriving conjunto scene. Dyer's new book, Conjunto, is a gorgeous tribute to the vibrant conjunto community in and around the Alamo City.

As an art form conjunto reflects the unique blend of cultures in Texas. It's the music most would think of as "Tex-Mex," drawing heavily from nortenño music found south of the border, with a distinct Texas twist. Yet the roots of conjunto also extend to the German and Czech communities of south Texas — a musical outgrowth of polkas, waltzes, and accordion-based European musical forms.

With these and other multicultural influences conjunto has evolved into a unique public demonstration of a specific geography of place — rooted in south Texas, with San Antonio the unofficial conjunto capital.

Conjunto collects 60 Dyer photographs, adorned with informative captions by Juan Tejeda and essays by Tejeda and Joe Nick Patoski.

It's a work with relatively little text, yet the extant text proves troublesome at times. Editorial gaffes result in a couple repeated misspellings: Dwight Yoakum (instead of Yoakam) and the more forgivable — yet still incorrect — Texas Tornadoes (instead of Tornados).

Furthermore, the two brief essays conflict on their depiction of Valerio Longoria's accordion lessons at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The essayists agree on the importance of Longoria's teachings to the thriving nature of modern conjunto. Yet Tejeda places the start of Longoria's lessons in 1981, whereas Patoski more roundly cites "the early 1990s."

Dyer's photography suffers no such shortcomings. Buoyant full-page portraits of legends like Flaco Jimenez, David Lee Garza, Joel Guzman, and Eddie "Lalo" Torres capture both the playfulness and the passion of conjunto.

These selections from Dyer's extensive catalog are sufficiently captivating to overcome deficiencies in the introductory text.

Conjunto is a sumptuously packaged celebration of a unique Texas musical creation.

View selections of Dyer's photography.
Read Joe Nick Patoski's introductory essay.

October 12, 2005