Jake Hoot’s naturally jovial spirit fits a song like “La Bamba” like a glove. A Mexican folk song turned rock ‘n roll standard by Ritchie Valens in the 1950s, Hoot injects his own vocal growl into the first stanza before letting the song’s breezy rhythm take him for a ride.
Big horns flood his vocal, yet he keeps driving the entire ship forward until it’s joyous climax. “Para bailar la bamba / Para bailar la bamba se necesita una poca de gracia,” he bellows. It’s just a feel good song, and we all could use more of it these days.
Listen to “La Bamba” below.