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CD Review
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Green Bay Press-Gazette, CD Review >>
This is a gutsy, graceful and absolutely captivating CD with a sweet back story. Sones de Mexico Ensemble, a little independent Chicago folk group, earned a Latin Grammy nomination for best folk album and, astonishingly, a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Mexican Regonal Album, against megapopular commercial stars like Pepe Aguilar.
Listen, and you'll understand why. Sones de Mexico makes folk music, in this case various Mexican dance styles grouped under the term "son," alive and vivid. They play and astonishing array of instruments, from strings and brass to donkey jawbone and percussively stamping feet. Their musicianship is impeccable, with a delicious attention to detail and arrangements that bring out an astonishing range of rhythmic and sonic textures. But it's never precious or dry. Instead, "Esta Tierra" has the sweet exuberant spirit that can make Mexican regional music so appealing.
The boldest stroke is the title track, a Spanish version of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Us Your Land" that turns that classic American anthem into one for Mexican immigrants with just a slight twist of the lyrics. Sones de Mexio takes other risks, too, on a "son jarocho" arrangement of Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto" and a haunting percussive version of Led Zepplin's "Four Sticks." It sounds like a gimmick, but the band stays true to the original music and spirit while adding something new. It's a lovely surprise, folk music kept alive in a whole new way, a Mexican tradition that keeps adapting. 02/17/08 >> go there
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