Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce

Tales of the Free Mexican Airforce

Available Digitally

Bandcamp

“I left playing with Seatrain in 1970. My last show was in San Antonio, Texas. I spent the following days wandering the streets of the old town, meeting people, soaking up the music, the food, the engergy; The Alamo at sunrise, churches filled with the life-like Madonnas; That’s when I wrote “Midnight Moonlight”. The song is about finding hope, even in dispair, inspired by those warm nights and bright mornings in Old San Antone.

I first met Flaco Jimenez in 1978 when I was living at The Blue Hole in Wimberley, Texas with The Free Mexican Airforce. I had heard that Flaco and his band were playing a dance hall down near San Antonio. We went to the show, I introduced myself and he dedicated every song to me. And in the end, after he had finished his show, Flaco came out in the parking lot and we played mandola and accordian. The first song we played was “Never on Sunday”. We became friends.

Our bond grew over the years and in the early 1980’s, I met a young boy named Max Baca at our show in Tesuque, New Mexico, just North of Sante Fe. Max was maybe twelve years old, I asked him if he played the bajo sexto he was holding. He said “I’m going to play with Flaco”. And he did – with incredible skill and confidence from someone so young. Years later, Max became a force in his own right, playing with the Texas Tornados and eventually forming Los Texmaniacs.

This record is both a celebration and a homage – to the musical culture that inspired “Midnight Moonlight” and the kind people who have given me hope for the future. “

– Peter Rowan 2025 

Track List:

  1. Mississippi California [04:39]
  2. Oh Liberty [03:56]
  3. Flaco Speaks [00:50]
  4. Maria Elena [04:04]
  5. Sunset Eyes [06:48]
  6. Alligator Alley [04:14]
  7. Bonita Senorita [03:19]
  8. Valentina [04:12]
  9. Cancion Mixteca [03:54]
  10. Hasta Manana [04:14]
  11. Un Beso [05:33]
  12. Free Mexican Airforce [03:51]
  13. Moonlight Midnight [04:02]
  14. I’m Gonna Love You Like There’s No Tomorrow [04:16]
  15. Quien Sabe [01:31]
  16. Los Peregrinos [00:39]

Credits:

Peter Rowan- Lead vocals, mandola, acoustic & electric guitars

Flaco Jimenez - Acordeó on "María Elena", "The Free Mexican Air Force" and "Moonlight Midnight" 

Max Baca - Bajo-sexto & duet lead vocals on "Hasta Manana", "Cancion Mixteca"; Vocal accompaniment on "Valentina"

Josh Baca - Acordeón & harmony vocals

Chris Rivera - Drums, percussion & harmony vocals

Noel Hernandez - Electric & acoustic bass

Ray Wylie Hubbard - Special guest vocals on "I’m Gonna Love You Like There's No Tomorrow"

Recorded at The Zone Studio, Dripping Springs, Texas
Engineered by Pat Mansky (assisted by Mike Morgan)
Mastered by Pat Mansky
Produced by Peter Rowan
Executive Producer: Jon Lohman

(P) 2025 Peter Rowan
(C) 2025 Peter Rowan