from The Edge on bostonherald.com
The Texas Tornados were the Lone Star State’s own Traveling Wilburys: a loose-knit supergroup of four friends who also happened to be legends, at least in roots-music circles. Formed in 1989, the lineup featured country star Freddy Fender, Tex-Mex accordionist Flaco Jimenez, rock ’n’ roll organist Augie Meyers and Sir Douglas Quintet founder Doug Sahm, who’d played all the above kinds of music and then some.
Two key members have died since the band’s last tour, Sahm of a heart attack in 1999 and Fender of lung cancer in 2006. So mark the Tornados return as a contender for left-field reunion of the year. Doug’s son Shawn Sahm has taken the reins with Meyers, Jimenez and the original backup players. They’ve released “Esta Bueno!,” an album that maintains the group’s lively spirit and includes the last recordings of both Fender and the elder Sahm.