Mariachi lineup a piñata full of surprises

The lineup for the 19th annual Bank One Tucson International Mariachi Conference (April 25-28 at the Tucson Convention Center) finally has been announced, and there's probably only one group on the bill you'd recognize - Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano.

But don't count this conference out by any means. This year's headliners represent an infusion of new blood fitting for the first conference of the real new millennium.

Topping the bill is a big question mark - "Herencia Mexicana." The group is comprised of the singing offspring of such notable greats of Mexican music as Pedro Infante (daughter Irma), Lola Beltran (daughter Maria Elena), Javier Solis (son Gabriele), Juan Mendoza "El Tariacuri" (son Juan Jr.) and Juan Zaizar (son Juan and daughter Laura).

At the very least, such a lineup brings expectations. But not much comes up when one searches the Internet for this group. Just a single album release that no one has yet chosen to review for Amazon.com or any of the other Internet retailers I checked. I also tried e-mailing various mariachis and mariachi experts around the country, and talked with local mariachis, in hopes someone had seen the group. Of 14 replies to my request for information on Herencia Mexicana, none had seen them, though one or two had heard of the group in passing.

Also coming for the first time are Mariachi Mujer 2000, Mariachi Los Arrieros and Mariachi Juvenil Tecalitlan. Here there were some hits with my mariachi friends. Originally comprised of the sons of many of the Mariachi Vargas' members, the latter group garnered highest praise.

"Mariachi Juvenil Tecalitlan has four excellent CDs and is one of the most underrated mariachis in Mexico, in my opinion," says mariachi researcher Jon Clark. "They also have many recordings accompanying singers.

"I'm surprised that the Tucson conference even learned of their existence, since the band has never played a U.S. festival, to the best of my knowledge. I'm impressed that Tucson would take a chance and bring a group up from Mexico that wasn't already on the festival circuit. I think the other groups on the this year's bill face some very serious competition."

Alberto Ranjel of Tucson's Mariachi Tapatio was very enthusiastic about Mariachi Los Arrieros.

"I saw Los Arrieros on our last trip to the Guadalajara festival - they are a very good up-and-coming mariachi from El Paso," Ranjel said, adding "Mujeres 2000 I saw in Las Cruces last November. I think they are technically very, very good but in my opinion they do not have the showmanship of Reynas de Los Angeles."

Clark was impressed by Los Arrieros, too.

"I heard them in San Antonio three years ago and they blew me away," he says. "Their CD was a little bit of a disappointment - however, they were much better in person."

As for Los Camperos, this group has fans in all quarters.

"I like the Camperos myself because they play from the heart," says Jaime Ballesteros of Tucson's Mariachi Tierra del Sol. "You can feel it in the music and their vocals are overpowering. They're not as sophisticated as the Cobre or Sol de Mexico but they are a gut-wrenching, barroom, belting type of singers. It really moves you."

Adds Clark of Los Camperos, "What can you say about the group that did more to popularize mariachi music than any other mariachi in the U.S.? Although their popularity has been eclipsed of late by Sol de MExico, they're the true pioneers in promoting mariachi music to non-Hispanics. They remain a very strong ensemble, although they could be criticized for being overly traditional and conservative, as we enter the 21st century."

Sounds to me like we have some interesting listening ahead, though the crowd pleasers may or may not turn out to be the kids of Mexico's famous singers. But if that name recognition brings folks in and gets them to see some lesser-recognized talents, I have no problem with that. Moreover, this shows that the conference is doing its homework and trying to bring in fresh blood. I applaud the effort and can't wait to hear how it all turns out.