Mariachi Tapatio de Jose Marmolejo – Mexico’s Pioneer Mariachis vol.2 / Arhoolie Folklyric CD-7012

Description

Arhoolie CD 7012

“Mariachi Tapatio de Jose Marmolejo played a crucial role in the evolution of mariachi music.  In the 1930s and 1940s Tapatio was the urban mariachi por excelencia setting the model for all others to follow.  It was the one group responsible more than any other for the popularization of the trumpet in mariachi music; the first mariachi to become popular in cinema and radio; the first ‘stellar’ mariachi in its own right.” – from the liner notes by Jonathan Clark

José Marmolejo – leader & vihuela; Jesús Salazar – trumpet;
Rest of personnel varies from session to session but on selections #2-5: Amador Santiago – violin: J.B. Garcia – J. Alvarado M. Beltran S. Castillo and S. Ramirez.

1. La Negra
2. De Manana En Adelante
3. Guadalajara
4. El Pajaro Cardenal
5. Ando Tomando
6. El Mariachi
7. Las Copetonas
8. El Ranchero
9. El Pasajero
10. Mis Pulgas
11. El Borracho
12. El Zopilote Mojado
13. La Rosita
14. Me Voy Para El Norte
15. El Tirador
16. La Primavera
17. El Distinguido
18. La Carrera
19. La Modesta
20. El Carretero
21. El Jabali
22. La Mariquita
23. Mi Tierra
24. El Capulinero

REVIEW

“Readable notes and great music-what a combination this retrospective offers. Jonathan Clark seems to know everything there is to know about mariachi history and to have talked to everyone who ever played it. He also has the gift of spinning an accessible tale that the newest listener can read without confusion while including fresh quotes to hold the interest of the old mariachi fan. Marmolejo’s tunes may sound vaguely familiar to you as if you’ve heard them in an indirect way. This would not be a surprise as Mariachi Tapatio was at one time the most popular in Mexico. They were featured in a number of films played on the mega-watt Mexican radio stations and made many recordings. The majority of the recordings date experts guess to 1937. The vocal style is more subdued than today but with great harmonies much more in tune than the earlier bands. Many chestnuts of the mariachi repertoire including `Guadalajara’ are included among the 24 selections. Mariachi Tapatio is credited with making the trumpet an acceptable part of a mariachi band. Until Tapatio’s popularity the people were stubborn in their support of strictly string bands. Today we think a mariachi is not complete without the trumpets. Marmolejo’s band continued for 10 years after his death playing mostly as serenaders in restaurants. During this spell Clark states they often backed up today’s most popular singer Vicente Fernandez as he sang for tips. Sadly no recordings were made of this historic pairing of one career waxing as the other waned.”

(Mary Armstrong — SingOut!)