Snowy Chicago may not leap to mind as a great center of Mexican-American life and culture, but it is. A million sons and daughters of Mexico live in the Windy City.
At the heart of that community is a musical sensation called Sones de Mexico — six musicians, fifty instruments, and a big world of music.
Their latest album, up for a Grammy next month, goes from deep in old Mexico to Bach, Led Zeppelin and Woody Guthrie. Especially Guthrie, and his song for Okies sung for immigrants.
This hour, On Point: Sones de Mexico and their album “Esta Tierra es Tuya.”
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:
Juan Dies, producer and CEO of Sones de Mexico, he’s an ethnomusicologist and vocalist and plays the guitarron, bass, guitar, the Aztec slit drum, and shakers.
Victor Pichardo, music director of Sones de Mexico, he sings and plays over 50 instruments, among them the violin, mandolin, clarinet, conch shell, and donkey jaw.
Zacbe Pichardo, plays the marimba, box drum, congas, bongos, and the harp for Sones de Mexico.
Juan Rivera, sings and plays the violin, guitar, and percussion for Sones de Mexico.
Javier Saume, plays the drums, maracas, mallets, and cajon for Sones de Mexico.
Tags: Music, Sones de Mexico
[...] nominee Mexican folk band Sones de México Ensemble were guests on WBUR’s On Point last January. The Chicago-based band has earned critical kudos for its vibrant Mexican folk riff covers of Led [...]
Posted by It is a Small World After All « The ConverStation, on October 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm EDT