Cenzontle is the Aztec word for mockingbird, the bird of a hundred voices. Like the cenzontle, Los Cenzontles interpret a variety of regional Mexican styles. Los Cenzontles approach their performances with joyous energy, sincerity, and depth. Among the styles that they have interpreted are alabanzas, rancheras, pirekuas, son jarocho, Banda Sinaloense, tropical songs and dances of Mexico and the Caribbean and much more.
Since 1990 Los Cenzontles has worked with performed for and received support from numerous celebrities such as Linda Ronstadt Anthony Quinn Los Lobos Cheech Marin Yolanda del Rio Flaco Jiménez Santiago Jiménez Jr. Lalo Guerrero Gary Soto and Isabel Allende.
Line-up: Hugo Arroyo – Voice, tololoche (string bass) guitarrón, jarana; Don Gardner – Clarinet saxophone; Julian Gonzalez – Voice violin zapateado; Tregar Otton – violin, tololoche, palmas; Cristian Rodríguez – zapateado, pandero bongos; Eugene Rodriguez – guitar vihuela, guitarra de son; Lucina Rodriguez – Voice, zapateado; Fabiola Trujillo – Voice
Discography:
Con Su Permiso Señores (Arhoolie CD 435 1995)
Volando en los Cafetales (Mockingbird Records 1999)
Hypnotizada (Mockingbird Records 1999)
Amor Paz y Sinceridad (Mockingbird Records 1999)
Cancionero (Mockingbird Records 2000)
De Una Bonita compilation (Arhoolie, 2000)
Cuatro Maestros with Santiago Jimenez Jr., Atilano Lopez, Julian Gonzalez and Andres Vega. (Mockingbird Records 2001)
Media Vida (Mockingbird Records 2002)
Plan de la Villa with Julian Gonzalez (Mockingbird Records 2002)
Huapango (Urtext Records 2007)
Songs of Wood & Steel (Los Cenzontles 2008)
Senn-Sont-Less (Los Cenzontles 2008)
American Horizon (Los Cenzontles 2009)
Raza De Oro (Los Cenzontles 2010)
Regeneration (South Central Music, 2012)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.