What an evening of Mexican culture.
We drove to Chandler Center for the Arts to enjoy the cross border group Jarabe Mexicano (literally, Mexican syrup). It was more than just their concert though as the evening started with a local 5 piece student mariachi group entertaining in the lobby - terrific!
Jarabe Mexicano then took us on a joyride through a versatile songbook of Mexican folk as well as Rock & Roll, Tex-Mex, Latin Rock, and Reggae-Cumbia. There were three guitars, lively percussion from all and a "dancing" lead singer. Their wonderful harmonized vocals in Spanish and English inspired the audience to respond at fever pitch with clapping, joyful "gritos*" and dancing. The group was joined on stage twice by two pairs of colourfully costumed folkloric dancers.
Click here to experience Jarabe Mexicano!
But the party wasn't over yet ... the musicians played some more in the lobby and were joined by the costumed dancers and the audience for even more of the clapping, gritos and dancing!
*a grito is vocal interjection that takes many forms and is in honor of the shout that was said to have started the Mexican Revolution in 1810. So, it's cry, a Mexican cry, a Mexican yell.
You may have heard of ¡Arriba, arriba!and Ándale, ándale ! which are part of the cheer shouted by the cartoon mouse Speedy Gonzales. Arriba means go! or hooray for...! and ándale means come on!
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