Search - Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan :: Danzones Con El Mejor Mariachi Del Mundo

Mexican Mariachi Successfully Interprets Cuban Dance Form

ViolinConLimon | 06/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No, these are NOT waltzes (see uninformed review below), but danzones. Both types of music are for dancing, but a waltz is in 3/4 time and a danzon is in 4/4, resulting in two very different kinds of physical response. Cubans brought danzon to Veracruz, where it took on a distinctly Mexican flavor, and where the dance remains wildly popular even today. Vargas has interpreted this music using the instrumentation of the Mexican mariachi. You will not hear a typical piano here - instead, the violins play the guajeo, as they would in a charanga format, and the vihuela and guitar replace the congas. Not many mariachi groups keep danzones in their repertoire, and the fact that Vargas recorded an entire album of this music is a testament to the group's integrity."

Vargas with strings front and center

Timothy Byrne | Seattle, WA United States | 04/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Danzon might not leap to mind as the most interesting vehicle for mariachi, but when you consider that mariachi was originally centered on the strings, the danzon is pretty decent way to hear something of what the mariachi sounded like before it became a trumpet band.

Of course Vargas is just flat out perfect. Mariachi doesn't get any better than this. The strings are in tune and vibrato is limited to phrase ends and cadences. The sound has a very traditional feel to it. The guitarón, guitaras and vilahuelas produce a wonderfully organic rythm section to keep the danzon moving. The trumpets are mostly subdued and playing a highlighting role. All in all the interpretations are very convincing.

This is Mariachi music of a lazy sunday afternoon."