Interesting Covers Made More Interesting
taoboy@cox.net
Posted On July 26, 2016
Los Cenzontles (The Mockingbirds, pronounced los senn-sont-less) is a cultural arts academy up in the San Pablo and Richmond areas, relatively close to San Francisco, whose name is now becoming better known because of their music and the big name musicians who have become associated with it. Music that infuses popular songs with Latin American instruments and rhythms. Artists such as David Hidalgo, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, and The Chieftains to name just a few who have put themselves and their music to this group. The musicians in this group explores their Mexican-American identity, through music and as is seen by the variety of the artists that have lent their talents and insights to the group it is a diverse and world ranging identity. Collaborating with Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains must have been amazing because of Paddy’s broad scope and vision of music as a uniting force.
Los Cenzontles leader and founder is Eugene Rodriquez, he grew up in Southern California with his parents and traditional Mexican American and mariachi music at family get togethers and the radio blasting out what was popular in the 60’s and 70’s with the rest of the population. Then you have the music of David Hidalgo and Linda Ronstadt who grew up in virtually the same situation, but different locales. Ry Cooder, who has always been interested in the roots of American music and did such wonderful work going to Cuba and organizing the Buena Vista Social Club, brings his expertise with integrating musical forms. The Academy serves as a meeting place, an idea center, a place to nurture and expand ideas and musical forms.
On this disc the musicians are led by Eugene Rodriguez on vocals with the music of some of the top songwriters and performers of our day; artists such as David Bowie. Randy Newman, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell to name just a few of the artists featured. Sometimes the versions played by Los Cenzontles are close to the original but at other times they take creative liberties that bring the song to new and completely unthought of levels. Listen to what they do with Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix! This is a group that is doing exactly what music was designed to do, create interplay between differing groups, ideas, and forms. Promote thinking!
by bob gottlieb
Los Cenzontles – Covers
