(Courtesy photo)
Levi Platero, center, is the guitarist and frontman for the Plateros, the blues and rock band from To'Hajiilee, N.M., along with Murphy Platero, right, and Douglas Platero, left.
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I t's Christmas time and the bluesy three-piece, the Plateros, unveiled a surprise gift for fans during a brilliant performance Friday night in Santa Fe.
The Tóhajiilee, N.M.-based band is looking to spread holiday joy with a spur-of-the-moment CD release of Christmas music titled "Diné Christmas."
The album includes familiar Christmas tunes like "Jingle Bell Rock" and "We Three Kings," to which are added five original compositions including the title track.
"We have about eight songs recorded but we're still unsure about several others," said Murphy Platero (bass and vocals).
The Plateros consists of Murphy, his son Levi on guitar and vocals, and nephew Douglas Platero on drums. Though only 16, Levi's guitar playing is that of a seasoned professional.
His mastery awed the audience at the Santa Fe Brewing Company Pub & Grill, where the Plateros were opening for Indigenous.
"You mean to tell me he's only 16 years old?" said one patron to another.
Truth be told, all three Plateros were on fire that night, and the sophisticated Santa Fe audience was clearly won over.
The listeners, who initially seemed blasé as they awaited the night's main attraction, quickly focused their attention as Levi tore into his opening solo during Eric Johnson's Grammy-winning instrumental, "Cliffs of Dover."
At the end of the song, the listeners came to their feet cheering.
The show was highlighted throughout by Levi's guitar solos, moments in which he let his emotions pour out to stunning effect.
As his fingers moved across the frets, eyes closed, the young guitar virtuoso was already in another place, seemingly oblivious to the admiring crowd.
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Between songs, he was poised and mellow, asking, "Since it's the Christmas time of the year, would it be cool with you if we play some Christmas songs for you?"
Again the audience cheered.
The band performed "Please Come Home for Christmas," slowing the tempo to create an intimate mood on the dance floor.
All three band members took part in composing their original songs such as "Where, Where Would I Be," "When I Fall" and "I Found You."
Levi dedicated "Diné Christmas," a jovial number sure to get you in the holiday mood, to family and friends.
The band closed its performance with a jam session featuring solos by Murphy and Douglas.
The audience demanded an encore, and the Plateros obliged with their version of the Jimi Hendrix classic, "Voodoo Child"
"To me, this is one of the best moments for me," Levi said, addressing the audience before starting the encore performance. "I really look up to Mato (Nanji, Indigenous' guitar wizard) and to open the show for him means a lot to me."
"Diné Christmas" is available for $10 through the Plateros' Myspace Web site, where samples of "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Diné Christmas" can be heard as well.
Information: www.myspace.com/theplateros.