While the tenuous state of immigration in this country continues to divide us from our neighbors to the south, Che Apalache offers an interesting bridge between North and South America with music that draws upon traditional bluegrass and Latin American music. Che Apalache was formed by Joe Troop, who grew up in of Appalachian foothills of North Carolina where he became a talented bluegrass fiddler. As a gay man in the American South, he no longer felt welcome, so began traveling the world learning different musical styles, studied Spanish in Spain, spent summers in Morocco, and later moved to Japan to teach English. All the while Troop continued to play fiddle, infusing his music with elements of flamenco, jazz manouche, and swing. In 2010 he moved to Argentina where he began teaching bluegrass. Che Apalache was formed together with Argentinians Franco Martino (guitars) and Martin Bobrik (mandolin) and Pau Barjau (banjo) from Mexico. They eventually caught the ear of banjoist Bela Fleck at his Blue Ridge Banjo camp and produced their album Rearrange My Heart. The album opens with a traditional Uruguayan murga style greeting before launching into “Maria” which combines elements of candombe, flamenco, and Spanish Sephardic Jewish music. Other highlights include: the emotive Bluegrass song “Dreamer”; the a cappella gospel tune called “The Wall”; the socio-political “Rock of Ages”; the spiritual leaning title-track; the hypnotic “The Coming of Spring”; and a Bluegrass meditation on life, “New Journey.” Che Apalache’s Rearrange My Heart is an album that embodies the melting pot that the United States is with its unique combination of Latin American music and Bluegrass. This is a definite listen. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Calexico, Dustbowl Revival, Dom Flemons, The Suitcase Junket, Shinyribs