QUETZAL es un conjunto implacablemente innovador, ganador de un Grammy, que narra las historias sociales, culturales y políticas de la humanidad. Al describir las influencias de la banda, el Dr. Alex Chávez afirma: "Escuchas a estudiantes de rock chicano, rhythm and blues, funk de JB, batá cubano, punk y soul de Motown. Oyes a una banda que se ha curtido organizando, que ha trabajado para luchar contra formas de opresión en las comunidades a las que están vinculados. Y en la búsqueda de forjar estos puentes creativos y políticos, escuchas a artistas que están en el epicentro del mundo transnacional del Son Jarocho". Los espectáculos en directo de Quetzal están llenos de momentos de ternura, fervor y vívida narración que transportan al público a un mundo de afirmación y pertenencia. Llevan 30 años actuando en escenarios de Estados Unidos, Canadá, Asia y México. Reconocida por notables instituciones como la Biblioteca del Congreso y el Kennedy Center, la exposición itinerante "American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music", patrocinada por el Smithsonian Institute, presentó a Quetzal como líderes e innovadores de la música chicana. Esta hazaña, unida a su álbum "Imaginaries" (2013), ganador de un premio Grammy con el sello Smithsonian Folkways, marca la importancia de su trabajo pasado y presente.  

Quetzal emerges out of a contentious moment in Los Angeles history. The 1992 Los Angeles uprising along with social movement efforts against Proposition 187 campaign (that denied medical and public services to undocumented immigrants and public education to undocumented children) were prominent catalysts. Most notably the moral philosophy of the Mayan Zapatista insurrection in Mexico spurred a hope and powerful synergy across the city as various communities utilized expressive cultures and public art as platforms from which to voice their resistance. Today the proactive strategy of Quetzal and other Artivistas is to be regenerative and resourceful in the face of adversity. In addition to performing, members of Quetzal participate in a much larger web of musical, cultural, and political engagement throughout the state and have been instrumental in catalyzing the transnational dialogue between Chican@s/Latin@ communities in the U.S and Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico. Remaining active within the community, various members of the band (Flores, Enomoto, Perez, Lopez, Greer) have been implementing the Collective Songwriting method and traditional music pedagogy in correctional facilities, schools, prisons, detention centers and college classrooms throughout California, Arizona and Washington. As an educator Gonzalez has won numerous academic awards and recently was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. Flores is the Director of Cultural Vitality for the Community Power Collective and Program Manager for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) resourcing local traditional cultural practices in the fight against displacement in East Los Angeles. In these ways their performance background, music pedagogy and transnational music movement experience is embedded in their holistic approach to music. Inspired by the Son Jarocho music genre, their latest recording titled “Puentes Sonoros” (Sonic Bridges) was released in 2022 on Smithsonian Folkways. For members of Quetzal music is a resource that lives at the essence of community cultural vitality and transformation. As an enduring and prominent force channeling the East L.A. soundscape, Quetzal continues to model how music, culture, and sociopolitical ideology come together on and off the stage.

Band Members: 
Dr. Martha Gonzalez - Lead Vocals, Percussion 
Tylana Enomoto - Violin, Vocals
Sandino González-Flores - Keyboard, Flute, Requinto Jarocho, Vocals
Quetzal Flores - Jarana, Guitars, Bajosexto, Requinto Doble
Juan Perez - Double Bass, Bass Guitar 
Mizan Willis – Percussion 
Evan Greer - Drums, Percussion