Gonzo – Live @ Piedra Negra (31-12-2010)

I came back to Singapore from Malaysia to spend New Year’s eve in the company of friends (Vortex, Ko Flow, Garuda and many others) who were lined up to play at BluJaz for a very special edition of Good Times.

On my way back Hafez from Pushin’ On told me he needed me to play some tunes at BluJaz’s newest venture, the Mexican restaurant Piedra Negra.

I was very happy to oblige, but I was also a bit apprehensive. In my experience Mexican restaurants either serve Tex-Mex cuisine from the American side of the border (which can be very good food, that’s not the point) or pseudo-latino food such as Spanish tapas, Chilean wines, etc. Basically any type of spicy meat prepared in a tortilla and served with a Corona beer is supposed to be Mexican cuisine.

So I went and checked the place out, ready to once again be disappointed (In that respect I’m quite used to being disappointed. I know how difficult it is to get proper Mexican ingredients and then cooking them with the time and know-how some of the elaborate dishes require. In fact, I’ve stopped looking for proper Mexican food outside of Mexico and outside of my mother’s kitchen. I just push cravings to the back of my mind and let them come back as soon as I’m off the plane in Benito Juarez airport).

My initial plan was to play some music on New Year’s eve, maybe try some of the food, and if it was OK for pseudo-latino stuff, recommend the place if I was ever asked for a Mexican restaurant. To my great surprise the Mexican cook greeted me warmly and presented some of his dishes, most of which are real, proper Mexican classics (flautas de pollo, tamales dulces, enchiladas, torta de milanesa, etc.). Everything tasted delicious and the margaritas, along with some cold Negra Modelo beers, were an unexpected bonus.

I should also mention that some serious work was put into decorating the place. Everything, from the exterior to the interior, seems genuinely Mexican (bright colors, mirrors, statues, aztec handicrafts, etc.). I must admit I’m very impressed by the place, and I will really spread the word around (that probably won’t be necessary as it is situated right next to BluJaz and across from the Mexican Embassy in the Gateway building).

Anyway, here’s the recording of the set I played on New Year’s eve. For a change I played mostly cumbia, salsa, mambo, bolero, bossa, and other latin-flavored tunes.

Enjoy!