New Mexico artists Jim Jones, Doug Figgs and Mariam Funke have decided after to ride off into the sunset after 13 years as one of the southwest’s premier Western Music Trios. Both Jones and Figgs have had their own solo projects over the past few years, each winning awards for their work and Funke has produced a number of award winning albums. As a trio, the band won the Western Music Association’s 2014 Trio Harmony Award. With multi-instrumentalist Jim Jones, guitarists Mariam Funke and Doug Figgs, the Cowboy Way has entertained thousands.

They will continue to pursue individual projects and we’re sure that they will get together every now and then, but for now, they will be performing their last gig as a while on Saturday, February 7th, 2026 at the Best Western Rio Grande on Rio Grande and I-40. The program is free to all, but donations for the International Western Music Association/New Mexico Chapter in any amount will be appreciated. Yee Haw! Lets send them off with a blast. https://www.facebook.com/cowboywaymusic/

We are a little more than 2 weeks away from the entry process for the 2026 New Mexico Music Awards. The entry process begins on January 1st, 2026.

Just a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Be sure to read the rules and category listings for 2026 at newmexicomusicawards.com

2.Entries must have been produced and recorded primarily in the state of New Mexico in 2025.

3. Most of the single entry categories are original music only.

Best of luck and we hope to hear from you in January!

Trumpeter Ryan Montaño’s latest offering is perfect for the season. “I Heard The Bells” is his interpretation of the 1863 holiday classic “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The goal is to give the song a longer shelf life beyond the holiday season much as he Modern Jazz Quartet did with some of the music from their classic album “Plastic Dreams”

The personal on the song includes some of New Mexico’s master musicians including Steve Figueroa on Piano, Arnaldo Acosta on Drums, bassist Ben Cornelius and guitarist John Maestas originally from the Duke City but now based in New Orleans. The song was arranged and produced by Ryan and recorded by Dave McCrae at Third Eye Studio in Tijeras and mastered in NYC by Joe Yannece. Montaño also was responsible for the mixdown and designed the artwork with the assistance of photographer Dominic Montaño and graphic designers Camilo Quiñones and Christiana Kim.

“I Heard The Bells” is Montaño’s second holiday release and he plans on releasing a Christmas song every year for the foreseeable future.

Available on all streaming platforms or download or stream it here via Spotify from Ryan’s website.

New Mexico Music Award winner Lara Manzanares has released her sophomore album “Yo Soy de Ti” recorded at The Kitchen Sink studios in Santa Fe and co-produced by Manzanares and Jono Manson.

The album, her first since taking home the Best of the Year award in 2018 features an amazing lineup of musicians with Lara Manzanares providing lead vocals, acoustic Guitar, keyboard, and percussion. Mo Roberts: Drums, Percussion Justin Bransford: Electric Bass, Upright Bass Jono Manson: Electric Guitar, Tenor Guitar, Baritone Guitar, Background Vocals Felix Peralta: Electric Guitar Tanya Nuñez: Upright Bass, Background Vocals Jordan Wax: Violin, Background Vocals Brant Leeper: Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Hammond Organ Jon Graboff: Pedal Steel Karina Wilson: Violin Natanya Manson and Antonio Manzanares: on background vocals.

The album contains 11 tracks of original music and feature her penchant for storytelling and her love of New Mexico music. Lara’s story in and of itself is inspiring and her music is a reflection of that life. Order the album or find out more at https://www.laramanzanares.com/

Alan Coleman has been writing music for decades and decided it was about time to put some of them out into the universe. Hence, “Cupid’s Alley,” a collection of 10 songs written by Coleman and produced by Ron Crowder at his InCrowd Productions in Albuquerque. Studio personnel featured included Justin Bransford on bass, guitarist Claudio Toulouse, harmonica master Phil Arnold, Brant Leeper of keyboards, pedal steel player Jon Graboff, fiddler Karina Wilson, and Crowder on drums and backing vocals. Coleman provided rhythm guitar and vocals.

The music is unique in that it is modern Americana but influenced by older country and folk music. Some of it sounds as if someone has discovered some unreleased Hank Williams music. Beautifully produced and executed.

Jason’s music assisted in having the CDs produced by editing the artwork and reviewing and uploading the artwork and audio files to the manufacturer. “Cupid’s Alley” is also available on all streaming platforms.

Joel Hudson, a/k/a Purifeye is a New Mexico Music Awards finalist composing, performing, programming, tracking, engineering, and producing music from his Treehouse Studios, in Pecos, NM.

City Electric is his first full length album from Purifeye, a culmination of 2 years of writing and production described as “reaching for the spirit of the 80s and 90s alternative rock,” a nod to a time when labels on your music were frowned upon and a rallying cry and endeavor for indie artists.  The album is a mix of angsty vocals, guitars, synths, heavy drums, and drum loops leaning towards a rock, shoe-gaze, pop and folk-ambient vibes.

The breakout single, “Blood On The Streets” seems pulled directly from today’s headlines and social circumstances, and explores the doubt many now share about what this world has to offer, who and what we should believe, and questions where we are all heading. Other cuts include “How Long” and “Turn It Into Love.” All artwork on the album was created by Pecos, NM artist Vivienne Hereford formerly known as the artist Helen Gruhlkey. All of the album’s final mixes and mastering were completed by longtime associate Chris Bethea in Minneapolis, MN (Ryvoli, Penny and Sparrow).

The video for the single “Knew A Girl” is streaming on Youtube and features the artist Vivienne Hereford. Link: https://youtu.be/NO5ZU8Z8y2w.

The album is currently streaming on all platforms, Youtube, and is available for purchase on 180 Gram Vinyl and CD at Lost Padre Records in Santa Fe, NM or at the website www.purifeyemusic.com.

On Sunday, September 15th, The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame announced its class of 2025 with an amazing variety of veteran performers from New Mexico.

To be inducted into the hall in a ceremony on November 29th of this year will be saxophonist, jazz master and Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra leader Glenn Kostur, longtime performers Mariachi Tenampa, salsa legend Ivon Ulibarri, Native American flutist and Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal, Angel Espinosa, bassist extrordinaire Maud Beenhouwer, Sondra Isaminger, Mariachi Spectacular co-founder Noberta Fresquez and actress and musician Demi Moore.

Glenn Kostur has a long history of promoting jazz in New Mexico through his music and has been the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of New Mexico since 1995.

Mariachi Tenampa is celebrating 40 years of bringing traditional and ,modern Mariachi music to the southwest beginning in Santa Fe in 1971, with the late Don Miguel Ojeda Sr. Members of Mariachi Tenampa have served as instructors for many conferences across the southwest including conferences in Tucson, Albuquerque, Alamosa Colorado, Midland Texas, San Angelo Texas, Pueblo Colorado and El Rito. Several members of the group also direct school-based mariachi programs at San Jose Elementary School, Washington Middle School, Albuquerque High School, the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association Program and the University of New Mexico.

With her band Cafe Mocha, Ivon Ulibari is one of the pioneers of Salsa, Cumbia and other Latin styles of music in New Mexico. This New Mexico Music Award winning artist has been entertaining throughout the southwest for the past 30 years. Originally from Tucumcari, NM, she studied at the University of New Mexico and also serves as a teacher in the Albuquerque Public School system.

Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal of Taos Pueblo is a musician, composer, painter, master craftsman, poet, actor, screenwriter, author, horseman, and farmer. A flute player and maker, Robert’s flutes have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of the American Indian. Robert’s music can be heard in the film Prey where he added soundscapes, vocal chant, flutes and percussionist and George RR Martin’s Night of The Cooters and co-scored the soundtrack for the 4-part Hulu series Vow of Silence: the Assassination of Annie Mae. 

Angel Espinoza was born and raised in Espanola and studied music at New Mexico Highlands University and the University of New Mexico. Her career took off in the early 1990’s and in 1996 Angel was signed to Joey Records in San Antonio, TX and recorded her award winning CD, “Amor Cuanto Te Quise”. 

Maud Beenhower is the go to bassist in New Mexico. She has been playing bass for over 30 years and a staff member of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop since 2005, serving at various times as its Director from 2009 through 2014. Her current duties f include grant writing, bookkeeping, Adult Education curriculum design, and “Under the Stars” program support. Maud holds a degree from the University of New Mexico in History and French and has been a professional musician for over thirty years. She plays bass for several popular Albuquerque bands and does occasional teaching as well.

Sondra Isaminger (1956–2008) sang lead and was the front person in the pop dance group Mikado. This group traveled throughout the west coast, touring in Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and New Mexico. After passing away from cancer in 2008, her husband John founded the Sondra Isaminger Cancer Foundation commemorating Sondra by assisting cancer victims and their families with non-medical needs while they receive treatment in Albuquerque, NM.

Mariachi Spectacular co-founder and executive director of Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque Noberta Fresquez recently  received the 2022 Robb Award for Excellence. The Robb Award is presented annually by the Board of Directors of the UNM (University of New Mexico) John Donald Robb Musical Trust to a musician, individual, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution in New Mexico in Music. Beginning in 1990, the Mariachi Spectacular has brought the finest Mariachi instructors in the world to New Mexico to educate those interested in learning this most unique and fascinating music.

While known internationally as an award winning actress, Demi Moore also has a musical history that dates back to 1981, co-authoring music for the Nu Katz with then husband Freddy Moore. Born in Roswell, NM, Moore has gone on to international fame, becoming one of the highest paid actors in the world.

for more information, go to https://nmmhof.org/

New Mexico Music Award winning producer and engineer Roger Baker is looking for emerging artists to assist in their musical journey. Roger is a brilliant arranger, engineer and producer who in semi-retirement would like to give back to the music community. He is looking for singer/songwriters that can use his recording/production/arranging/keyboard skills. Roger has produced award winning music for Emerson Corley and Pat Reyes, among others.

For the right artist, Roger will offer a reduced rate for his studio services. His minimum requirements include:

1. A lyric sheet with chords.

2. Solid communication of their the style/genre and a link to a YouTube that is in the ball park of what they are trying to achieve. 

3. Artists must be able to sing in tune and play in time and repeat their song consistently in the same form if asked to play it several times. If they are planning on having someone else sing the song they should be ready to pay for a professional vocalist. 

For inquiries on how you may take advantage of this generous offer from Roger Baker, reach out to him at rogerdownstairsstudio@gmail.com

New Mexico Music Awards co-sponsor Tonewood Amp will be setting up workshops and demos statewide soon. This little marvel of engineering provides acoustic effects for your guitar without the need for an amp. It works as a stand alone unit, but can also be combined with any sound system.

Setup takes just minutes and you may be surprised with what this little box can do. You’ll never want to be without it again and you’ll want more than one. Affordability and ease of use are the key here. Attaches to your guitar without any alterations to your instrument and works now through a simple app on your phone.

This indispensable piece of hardware for musicians can add magic of to your performance.

Videos to follow soon, but for now, find out more at https://www.tonewoodamp.com/