Los Tres Amigos-SnuvikoI met these guys from Lompoc, a norteno band, Los Hermanos Cruz. Iasked them if they’d heard any good local music. “There are these guysover in Santa Maria, we can’t understand what they’re saying but theyplay great.They don’t speak English and they don’t speak Spanish.” Andthat’s where it all began.I was off, zig-zagging my way through an amazing labyrinth here alongthe central coast of California, searching for Mixtec music, musicthat at times seemed mythological.As elusive as the BB King record a 12-year-old boy was trying to findin Suburban Chicago, I knew what I wanted but I was profoundly limitedin how I was going to find it. “Listen for the metaphor Jim, listen”,translator Esperanza Salazar had told me about the Mixtec instrumentalmusic. Metaphor in instrumental music? Yes!For me Los Tres Amigos-Snuviko is a beautiful listening experience inpart because it is a reflection of all there is to feel and learn inthis world. Just when I think I’m getting the hang of things, LosTres Amigos-Snuviko and the 25,000 Mixtecs that live in Santa Maria isrevealed and I have to recalibrate.-Jim Pugh