Mariachi Sol de Mexico
ESCONDIDO–The California Center for the Arts, Escondido kicks off its 2014 Holiday Concert Series featuring performances from world-renowned artists and GRAMMY nominees and winners: Mariachi Sol de Mexico: A Merri-achi Christmas, Christmas with Lúnasa featuring Special Guest Karan Casey, and The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show.
This year’s holiday celebrations will be held in both the Concert Hall and Center Theater from December 5 to 23 in downtown Escondido.
Unprecedented, unrivaled, and uninhibited, the impact of Jose Hernandez and his platinum-selling GRAMMY-nominated Mariachi Sol de Mexico on mariachi music is undeniable. After forming the group in 1981, Hernandez’s signature arrangements and charismatic trumpet playing made the band an instant and lasting success. Mariachi Sol de Mexico has performed to sold-out halls from Lincoln Center to Viña del Mar in Santiago, Chile to the White House. Hernandez’s fluent mastery of the medium has culminated in his ensemble becoming one of the foremost mariachi bands in the world.
The versatility of Mariachi Sol de Mexico has led to many unexpected collaborations, including with The Beach Boys and Willie Nelson. Within the world of Latin music, the group has played alongside stars such as Vicente Fernandez, Selena, Jose Feliciano, and a record-breaking concert tour with Luis Miguel. Their discography includes more than a dozen highly-successful albums, including GRAMMY-nominated Tequila con Limon, La Música, and 25 Aniversario. At the Center, Mariachi Sol de Mexico will present a lively celebration of Mexico’s Christmas traditions, embracing the romanticism of Mexico’s land, culture and people. The show will include seasonal songs and dance along with select Mariachi classics.
Lúnasa, an “Irish music dream team” as dubbed by Folk Roots magazine (UK), brings a Celtic Christmas celebration to the Center with GRAMMY-winning guest vocalist Karan Casey; Casey has been described as one of the most innovative and provocative voices in traditional and contemporary Irish music. Since the release of their 1997 debut album Lúnasa and the band’s first stateside tour, the all-star quintet has become one of the most popular bands on the international Celtic music scene. Comprised of Seán Smyth (fiddle, low whistles), Kevin Crawford (flute, low whistles, tin whistles), Cillian Vallely(uilleann pipes, low whistles), Trevor Hutchinson (double bass) and Ed Boyd (guitar), Lúnasa delivers music with a passion that informs every note and continues to define and redefine the genre.
With eight albums already in their discography, and recording/performing credits including many of the world’s most well-known talents, the quintet introduced a rarity in the traditional music world with the 2013 release of Lúnasa with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. A glittering collection of tunes sparked from a brilliant union of two of Ireland’s brightest musical stars, the treasured national orchestra has long prided itself on its dynamic programs and stylistic range. Lúnasa’s innovative arrangements have propelled Irish acoustic music from familiar ground into surprising and exciting new territory.
The Blind Boys of Alabama are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material by songwriters such as Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits. Founded in Alabama in 1939, the group consists of four blind singers — original founding member Jimmy Carter, Ricky McKinnie, Ben Moore, and Paul Beasely — guitarist and musical director Joey Williams, and a keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. The Blind Boys have persevered and flourished throughout the decades thanks to their singular sound, and since 2000, they’ve won five GRAMMYs and four Gospel Music Awards.
The group’s upcoming album, Talkin’ Christmas!, will feature a highly-anticipated collaboration between two American music icons, The Blind Boys and roots musician Taj Mahal. The album, available October 21, 2014, includes new versions of Christmas standards, covers of hidden gospel gems, and seven brand-new holiday songs — six of which are the first Christmas songs ever penned by The Blind Boys themselves. The new original songs include the title track “Talkin’ Christmas!”, a funky tribute to the power of Christmas featuring Money Mark on keyboards, and the compassionate “What Can I Do?,” which showcases Taj Mahal on vocals and is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell. The album also features a hand-clapping rearrangement of the usually-slower classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and an intimate, acoustic version of “Silent Night”.
For additional information on performances, visit artcenter.org.
