Evelyn Rubio shines on Coastal Current Newspaper cover!
PORT ISABEL — Evelyn Rubio makes playing the saxophone look effortless as she sways her shoulders to the rhythm of the music and radiates liveliness while performing.
Originally from Mexico City, Rubio has been traveling in different cities and countries throughout her career as a vocalist and saxophonist.
On May 15, Rubio released her latest album “Crossing Borders,” which explores a variety of sounds from blues and rock to jazz and country.
Upon traveling to the United States years ago, Rubio said she came across Port Isabel and fell in love with the city.
Her love for the area inspired her to create an instrumental track in her album titled “Port Isabel.”
“The song is inspired by love for love,” Rubio said. “My first time coming to the United States was with a special person. He took me here because that’s his favorite place in the world and I just fell in love with everything.”
The song “Port Isabel” was written by Rubio and recorded in Los Angeles with the Phantom Blues Band.
Rubio said the song also features Grammy Award-winning guitarist Josh Sklair, who was Etta James’ guitarist for the past 25 years.
City of Port Isabel marketing director Valerie Bates held a Facebook Live video Monday afternoon with Rubio in celebration of the song and album.
“I call it Crossing Borders because I’m trying a little bit of different kinds of music genres, but at the same time they are blended by the blues,” Rubio said. “Port Isabel is an instrumental song. You can call it smooth jazz.”
The Facebook Live video showcases a mini-performance by Rubio at the Port Isabel Lighthouse and received nearly 3,000 views within the first two days it was posted.
As part of the Facebook Live video, the City of Port Isabel is conducting a CD giveaway.
For a chance to win the giveaway, visit the Facebook live video at https://www.facebook.com/portisabeltx and comment what you love about Port Isabel.
In addition to “Port Isabel,” the album has a song called “Border Town,” which features Brownsville in its music video.
“That song talks about somebody born in a border town and we had the chance last year to shoot a music video in Brownsville,” Rubio said.
Rubio said that’s something she would also love to do in Port Isabel.
“First, because I love the place,” she said. “Second, because I think it’s important to promote it and let people see the beauty of the south.”
Rubio said it feels beautiful to be able to release her album and is excited for everyone to listen to her music.
“I have been finished with this album for a while and we were just waiting to set up everything to put it out so we decided to release it in the spring of 2020,” she said. “We didn’t know that this was going to happen, but we just decided to go ahead and keep doing the plan.”
Crossing Borders is available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play Music and can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.
“I hope everyone likes it,” Rubio said. “We have so much to enjoy here on the border.”
-Alana Hernandez from Coastal Current Newspaper