El Mariachi
Mariachi music sparkles under the spotlight, several shows a night, at Cielito Lindo
By Bliss 05/01/2008
Context is everything.
That’s a meaningful concept for a writer and editor to chew over when plunging ad rates and shrinking word counts all but eliminate context in favor of snappy sound byte-type content. It’s also useful to consider in musical settings.
Take mariachi, for instance — as we did recently at Cielito Lindo Restaurant in South El Monte. Mariachis are ubiquitous in this part of the world, but experiencing them en masse in a supper club is vastly different from observing them strolling around La Fiesta Grande or serenading for tips at Chevy’s.
Historically, mariachis play weddings, birthdays, baptisms, funerals, quinceañeras, family and holiday gatherings, store openings and sundry community celebrations. They also stroll about restaurants, but at Cielito Lindo, impresario Jose Hernandez’s youthful Mariachi Sol de Mexico ensemble is presented in blue charro suits on a raised stage with microphones hanging from the ceiling. In the lobby, memorabilia under glass celebrates musical forbears such as Vicente Fernandez, José Alfredo Jiménez, Amalia Mendoza and Jorge Negrete. Diners in the full house seemed familiar with the stage setup one recent evening, and greeted one another with anticipation while bandleader Jesus Hernandez (Jose’s brother) announced an 84-year-old’s birthday.
Mariachi has always been dance music: rancheras, boleros, corridos, cumbias, danzones, valses, etc., with some polka influences. Its modern instrumentation started coming together in 19th-century Jalisco, Mexico; violins, acoustic bass or guitarrón, round-backed five-string rhythm guitar or vihuela, acoustic guitar and trumpets complement and contrast with one another, tonally and rhythmically. Mariachi Sol de Mexico’s polished lineup generally numbers four violins and eight to 11 players, most of whom sing and indulge in crowd-pleasing vocal antics. Instead of the sweetly romantic troubadour of stereotype, diners are entertained by a briskly paced theatrical production. Dancing is not a possibility for most of them; there’s barely enough space between the long rows of tables to accommodate the neatly attired waiters (no waitresses, when we were there), let alone dancers.
That places more focus on the music, much of which is arranged and/or composed by Hernandez, who has worked with the likes of Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez, Linda Ronstadt, Selena and Willie Nelson. The singing is often thrilling, particularly when Jesus takes the mic; his tone and phrasing are beautifully expressive. The songs may not be as earthy as what you can hear on Olvera Street, but the premium placed on vocal finesse and performance polish has the not displeasing effect of enhancing overall appreciation of mariachi.
Three to four mariachi shows a night, Tuesday through Sunday, plus Sunday brunch, at Cielito Lindo, 1612 Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte. Call (626) 442-1254 to inquire whether Mariachi Sol de Mexico or all-female mariachi band Reyna de Los Angeles will be performing. www.mariachi-sol.com, www.elcielitolindo.com.
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