|
Spanish Version
Mono Blanco (White Monkey)
Group.- English Version
 Internationally
aclaimed Mono Blanco band is the leader of the "renovating
movement" that the son jarocho –the traditional music of the
southern mexican State of Veracruz– is now experiencing.
Renovadores have concentrated on preserving the fandango setting (the traditional celebratory environment of the son
jarocho), as well as stressing the Afro-caribbean aspects of
their music and the preponderance of improvisation, talent and
good taste within the strict rules of the genre.
Visitors who are not familiar with the son jarocho are welcome
to click on the image for a brief introduction about the subject.
 Mono Blanco is basically a quintet but
depending on circumstances they can offer concerts with less or
more musicians.
Since their beginning in 1978, Mono Blanco has given concerts
all around their country and in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa,
Central and South America, the United States and Canada.
Although we do not have an english translation of the group´s
page
Trayectoria, please browse around
it anyway;
international performances appear in blue font.
Mono Blanco has a unique sound
firmly rooted in an ancient and rich tradition, and supported by
a group of musicians endowed with great talent and inspiration.
At this point visitors are invited to read an article
by Eugene Rodriguez.
 Aside
from their work as interpreters, Mono Blanco participates in
many activities related to the development and promotion of the
son jarocho. They organize, in particular, workshops about every
aspect of the son: making and playing jarocho instruments,
"versada" (the art of writing jarocho verses) and dance. It
should be enhanced that jarocho instruments –jaranas and
guitarras de son– produced by Mono Blanco members and apprentices –and "renovators" in general– are made according to very
old traditional methods originated in the "rural interpretation"
of barroque and rennaisance traditions. For a very brief
introduction to jarocho instruments you may visit
www.loscenzontles.com/overview.html.
The basic quintet of the band
is formed by:
 Octavio Vega Hernández: Son of Don
Andrés Vega (see below) and born in Boca de San Miguel, municipality of
Tlacotalpan, Octavio has grown in the group through a
path of his own, always honoring the hierarchy of his last name.
Apart from playing the requinto jarocho (son guitar) and
the jarana, Octavio is devoted with special interest to
play the jarocho harp. He is considered to be one of the best
soneros in the jarocho region.
Gilberto Gutiérrez: The director of
Mono Blanco and one of its founders, Gilberto was born in
Tres Zapotes in 1958. He plays the jarana and
composes sones since 1979. He has received different
scholarships, including the Rockefeller-Bancomer-CNCA and the
National Endowment for the Arts (U.S.A.). Thanks to the last one
he developed the Fandango Project in the San Francisco's bay
area, California, where he resided from 1993 to 1995. In 1996,
the Ford Foundation and the Guadalupe Cultural Center granted
him a scholarship to carry out a residence in San Antonio,
Texas, as a colaborator for the Gateway Project; there he worked
with a team of four artists who created the play De Jarocha a
Pocha - The Doloritas. He participated as advisory and
performer in the album Papa´s Dream, of the Chicano group The
Wolves and Lalo Guerrero; this album was nominated for a Grammy.
Gisela Farías Luna: Female dancers
are indispensable for the son jarocho, but there are less
singers and musicians; only a few ladies, as Gisela, master
those three aspects of the jarocho tradition. It is fortunate
for Mono Blanco, in particular, to count with such a natural and
beautiful feminine voice.
Andrés Vega Delfín: Seventy
something years old famous "Güero Vega" was born in
El Lirio, municipality of Saltabarranca. He has
interpreted the genre since he was a boy, when he joined his
father to the fandangos as generations of young kids had
done before his time. He lives in Boca de San Miguel,
municipality of Tlacotalpan, working as a farmer and
fisherman. For the architectural clarity of his improvisation,
he is one of the most renowned players of the guitarra de son.
He is a member of Mono Blanco since 1981.
Mono Blanco will appreciate your comments.
sondelmono@gmail.com
¡Greetings from Veracruz!
|
