Many traditional Mexican styles are represented on this CD, from the older strains of son jarocho to the newer sounds of banda. The children in this ensemble have learned well from their teachers. Any rough edges left are only the pleasant soulful kind. An especial standout is
"El Corrido de Cecilia Rios,"
a corrido about the tragic murder of a young girl in the community of Richmond, CA. This song exemplifies the function of the corrido as town crier and treats a subject more familiar to the majority of Americans than the current narcotrafficking corridos coming out of Mexico today. It also reminds one of how far American folk music has traveled from its roots given that songs similar in function to the corrido used to be coined in the United States. Every track on this album is as precious as water in the desert. The soul in this recording will filter out of the pinholes of your speakers and invigorate your mind and body. ~ Megan Lynch