Mariachi Cobre, others pack wallop at 20th Espectacular

Steve Carrillo of Mariachi Cobre performs at the Mariachi Espectacular at the Tucson Convention Center last night. The group performed to a near-capacity crowd.
FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson Citizen

DANIEL BUCKLEY
Tucson Citizen
April 27, 2002
As it has since 1983, the Bank One Tucson International Mariachi Conference Espectacular concert ended with a bang, with a gaggle of folklorico dancers in confetti-colored regional costumes waving their skirts like angels' wings to the combined mariachis playing "Son de la Negra."
Central among last night's participants at the 85 percent full, 10,000-seat Tucson Convention Center Arena were the band that started it all - Tucson's Mariachi Cobre - and the ensemble that inspired the band to transplant the idea to Tucson in the first place - the century-plus-old Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Joining them was veteran concert regular Los Camperos de Nati Cano - now in its 17th year at the Tucson conference, along with raven-haired guest vocalist Angeles Ochoa and last year's surprise knockout, Mariachi Los Arrieros of El Paso, Texas.
The nearly five-hour show was a throwback to the conference's early days. Maybe folks thought they should keep playing until the 21st anniversary. But if the worst you can say about a concert is that it was too much of a good thing, life's tough! And this is, after all, the longest continuously running mariachi conference in America.
It was the first time back for Cobre since 1996, and the crowd was clearly in the corner of the crack ensemble that now serves as the house band of the Mexico pavilion of Disney's Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla. Clad in gray trajes (the suit of the gentleman cowboy of classic Mexican films), Cobre opened the Espectacular concert with a stunning a cappella performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that, in terms of sheer power, precision, musicality and conviction, rivaled the finest men's choirs in the world. The unexpected patriotic gesture brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience, and set the show off on a crackling note.
Cobre stepped backstage after the national anthem to let the young participants of the workshops strut their considerable talents. As emcee Jose Ronstadt pointed out, some 22,000 students have participated in the conference's workshops since its start in 1983. As the young mariachis and folklorico dancers demonstrated in their artful display, the time has been well spent, carrying over to the next generation a pride in their cultural heritage that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Another Ronstadt observation proved absolutely correct. He noted that most of the guest vocal artists have been women, primarily because the vocal quality within the mostly male mariachis participating was of such high calibre that a male soloist would be lost in the wash. Group after group, beginning with Los Arrieros and ending with Vargas, the mariachis underscored his point.

ABOVE: Members of Mariachi Cobre perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Mariachi Espectacular last night at the Tucson Convention Center. The group received a standing ovation after its performance. Mariachi Cobre, now based at Disney's Epcot Center in Florida, is a former local group that helped start the conference in 1983. BELOW: Angeles Ochoa performs an emotional song during the Espectacular last night.
FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson Citizen

Once again, Los Arrieros proved itself worthy of a place on stage with the world's finest performers in the genre, and an indispensable partner backing Ochoa. In its own set, the group set the pace with instrumental virtuosity from all quarters and a seemingly bottomless supply of first-class vocal artists. Reading from charts, the group supported Ochoa with utmost sensitivity, cradling her dark, potent alto voice without over- or underpowering.
Ochoa was in top form, her dramatic gestures adding to the operatic quality of her expressive delivery. Garbed in a white blouse and skirt with ornate navy blue trim, she delivered bell-clear tones from soft and vulnerable to blowtorch hot with apparent ease. The highlight of her first trip back to the Tucson conference since 1992 was a moving interpretation of the classic "Cancion Mixteca" that had the whole house singing along.
Cobre took the stage at the top of the second half in what can only be described as a total team effort. Seldom, if ever, has the group better showcased the full spectrum of its awesome vocal stable, with notable solo spotlight vocal work by Mack Ruiz and Randy Carrillo, who too rarely step to the microphones. But last night proved knockout performers in that capacity. Carrillo's daughter, Jenifer, made her Tucson debut with Cobre proving herself a chip off the old block. Proud, confident, expressive and limber, she sailed through a pair of mariachi classics like an old pro, lending chiseled precision to every melody and ornament.
Cobre brought out the big guns at the end, unleashing vocalists Hector Gama and Steve Carrillo in a Herculean reading of "Granada" that brought the whole crowd to its feet.
But it was as much the flawless support voices and instrumental precision as the powerful frontmen that lent the piece its captivating sweep. It was great to see Cobre back on its home turf, and in top form.
Both Los Camperos de Nati Cano and the Vargas drew from the pool of material they'd played earlier in the week in a combined concert with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, though both seemed more energized by the Espectacular crowd.
The addition of a mariachi cover of Johann Strauss' "Beautiful Blue Danube" was both a witty, yet artful, touch and a connection of the mariachi vals (waltz) tradition's Viennese roots.
There's more ahead! Get over to Armory Park, one block south of Broadway and Sixth Avenue, for the Fiesta Garibaldi - a free continuation of the mariachi and folklorico gathering that features both student performers and Espectacular headliners, along with food booths, artwork and more.