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"NOCHE VERACRUZANA" - A Night in Veracruz

Written by Diana Martinez Thursday, 11 September 2008

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY based Tenocelomeh have been rehearsing steadily with Ballet Folklorico Ollin in anticipation of a special gathering of aficionados of "," at a performance that is expected to transport the audience to Veracruz, .

Noche Veracruzana, a night of folk and dance music inspired by "son jarocho" is planned for Saturday September 20th at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood.

Valley musician, teacher and event organizer Francisco Gonzalez said the performance is an opportunity to hear some of the very best jarocho musicians from Southern California and Mexico, and at the same time, the performance is also a fundraiser for Encuentro Jaranero de California to support educational activites throughout the year.

The members of the group he said are educators and musicians.

"Our goal with the other musical groups is to work together to concentrate, preserve and perform the beautiful music known as the "son jarocho."

Gonzalez is especially enthusiastic about the participation this year from the renowned group, TlenHuicani, from Xalapa, Veracruz.

"They are known around the world and have been named Mexico's best folk group.

This performance is a special opportunity to hear them and other musical ensembles from Southern California and Mexico," said Gonzalez.

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"Each group brings their unique variation of "sones jarochos" and huastecos which are based on the beautiful folk music and dance traditions of Veracruz, but you'll find that each group including the groups from Southern California have evolved to create their very own unique style."

Trio Tlayoltiyane from Veracruz, San Fernando Valley based Conjunto Tenocelomeh, Conjunto Jardin, Ballet Folklorico Ollin and others will also perform.

Many people are familiar with music but they may not be aware of "jarocho" which is a unique blend of Mexican music from Veracruz, said Gonzalez.

"Son Jarocho" is a blend of Indian, Spanish and African influences with a distinct sound, rhythm and syncopation and improvisation.

Although the "son jarocho" repertoire consists of around 80 individual "sones" based on local themes, the jarocho musicians ability to improvise new harmonies, melodies, and verses, always makes the performance of one of these sones unique.

Jarocho musicians always say they never peformtwo identical versions of the same "son."

If you ask people if they know what son jarocho music is, they are likely to say, no. But most people have heard the most popular example of son jarocho music, the song La Bamba popularized by Pacoima native, the late .

While there are folk genres from Mexico that have been lost, Gonzalez points out that this music uniquely continues to evolve because musicians in the San Fernando Valley and throughout Southern California have developed their own brand of jarocho which insures that the musical art form will continue long into the future while practicing both an old tradition and the development of new traditions with a Southern California brand of unique improvisation.

"Conjunto Hueyapan and the Herrera family at California State University Northridge were among some of the first homegrown Jarocho ensembles that emerged out of the community during the 60's. The Oxnard family taught many more jarocho musicians in the San Fernando Valley including myself...There are true Jarochos without having to be native Veracruzanos," said Gonzalez.

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