DEL CASTILLO DELIGHTS HOMETOWN CROWD AT LATIN JAZZ FEST

With the conclusion of the 14th Annual Latin Jazz Festival, George Ramirez, the event's founder, could announce for mayor and win in a landslide. "It's a wonderful time," said Danny Loff, the inspiration behind Sombrero Fest and still its guiding force. "If George threw his hat in the ring, I would beg for the privilege of being his campaign manager." Ramirez changed this year's lineup from two outdoor concerts and two Jacob Brown shows to three of the former and one of the latter. "Economics dictate everything and breaking even once, let alone twice, on our Jacob Brown extravaganzas is always a tall order," confessed a fatigued Ramirez who sat in his office with a weary but satisfied smile on his drawn face as he sipped green tea. "The Adams Street shindig on Thursday wasn't part of the original card, but the response was overwhelming and proved a great impetus to the Adams Street Entertainment District concept." Local painter Feliciano "Chano" Maracas suggested that Ramirez run for mayor. "George has the vision that Brownsville needs," Maracas said. "I think our town is very lucky to have a man as dedicated to the good of the community as George has been. He's got my vote." Joe Kinney, Cobbleheads' much-loved owner who was celebrating the exciting news that the doctors had declared his wife cancer free, pointed his finger from his beer booth on 12th Street toward the stage on 13th St., and remarked, "Have you seen anything more beautiful in your life on this perfect October night. The historical buildings create this open-air hall. I wish GBIC would get its shit together, quit wasting our money on cheap labor industry and place downtown as its number one priority. GBIC gives me $500,000 and I'll open a first-class bar & grill in one of these elegant structures that would really put downtown on the map. Let's elect George for mayor and turn Brownsville into the most beautiful city in Texas as well as the sexiest spot on the entire U.S./Mexico border." Ramirez has experimented with various locales on Brownsville's northside, but the festival has a home at Shenanigan's for its Friday night venue. "You start outside and you finish inside where the majority of the musicians gather for a jam," said "Delta" Dave Handelman, the Doc Scully Blues Band fixture. "The crowd was big and boisterous. George should give serious consideration to dedicating Friday to a Brazilian beat. It was certainly a success this year. More seriously, I hope George gives serious consideration to running for mayor because he would certainly be a success." Ramirez is at his best informal, but even a bum dreams of donning a tux one more time and Saturday at Jacob Brown is that one chance to strut dressed to the nines. Tony Gray, State Rep Rene Oliveira's administrative aide, finds any excuse to escape Austin and join the eminent Dr. Anthony Zavaleta at the educator's table. "I love the ambiance," said Gray. "I skipped college for the real experience of waiting on tables in Miami and George does an outstanding job of recreating that tropical flavor. Of course, having the incomparable Poncho Sanchez makes the task much easier. Changing the subject, as much as I lament Tony failing in his attempt to become mayor those many years ago, I would have even greater regrets if George didn't run. I have been around hundreds of politicians and most of them lack the two basic qualities that George has in abundance--sincerity and vision." On Sunday, after Del Castillo completed its set at the Capitol Theater Street Party, Ramirez climbed onto the stage, his tall figure tilting with age, and under the growing shadows of the abandoned and stark El Jardin Hotel, pleaded with the crowd like a man wishing this moment of love would last forever: "Don't go! It's not over! We still have the world champion salsa dancers and the Valley's premier Latin jazz band." And like George, we wished the night wouldn't have ended either. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This article first appeared in G.F. McHale's Brownsville Literary Review. Photos courtesy of Eddie Sanchez via Facebook).