ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT
Eva Ybarra
La Reina Del Acordeón
Dramatic, passionate, and captivating, Eva Ybarra moves her audience to gritos from the heart. Known professionally as La Reina Del Acordeón, Ybarra takes her fans through a blend of conjunto, mariachi, and to the edge of jazz with a passion that translates across generations. Her powerful voice and soul-playing accordion style have made her a legend in conjunto music. Ybarra is an NEA National Heritage Fellow, was named 2022 Texas State Musician, and is a multi-time Hall-of-Famer.
IN THE Press
“Eva Ybarra plays her accordion with such passion that it can feel like fury. Smashing the instrument’s buttons and stretching her arms out wide, then quickly contracting, Ybarra bends air to produce rich vibrations of sound. One of her original ballads, “El Eco De Mi Voz, ” is a booming, dramatic affair: When she starts to sing, in her low, thunderous belt, the music is all the more powerful. ” - Nic Yeager
“Eva Ybarra, the undisputed grand dame of the conjunto accordion...” - Hector Saldaña
— MySA
“As really the only widely-recognized female conjunto accordionist and bandleader, Ybarra is a true trailblazer, bringing a fiery passion to her playing, writing, and singing, all the while making technical genius at her instrument look exasperatingly natural, easy even. There’s not a single stubborn old vato who would deny Ybarra’s greatness, especially not to her face.” - James Courtney
“Since getting her start as a young girl in San Antonio icehouses in the 1950s, the accordionist has carved out a lasting career with her progressive style and forceful singing. Today, Ybarra is recognized as one of conjunto’s most accomplished players…” - Matt Joyce
“Eva Ybarra is willpower personified, with the added benefit of pure talent.” - Michael Hoinski
“Regarding conjunto music and accordion, names like Flaco Jiménez and Ramón Ayala come to mind before the few-and-far-between recognized female artists in the industry. Time to change that tune. Make way for royalty when la Reina Del Acordeón, or the Queen of Accordion, steps into the fray. Eva Ybarra is one of the few females in the industry that gives the boys a run for their money – a true mastermind of the craft.” - Amanda Lozano
“Simply put, Eva Ybarra is a masterful and criminally overlooked accordion player, composing many pieces while others are content to regurgitate standards. She can play a myriad of styles that fall under the umbrella of American folk music (all of the Americas, Yanqui!). Most importantly, she has her own style and voice, something that only the most superb of musicians can claim.” - Travis Bufkin
Photos
Credit: Iliana Vasquez
Credit: Iliana Vasquez