Over and out

Only over this semester have I begun to notice how much Mexican culture has an impact on life in the United States. Yeah, I've been aware of how important Mexican food is in my life, as well as how certain Spanish words have found a home in my lexicon, but I've never really noticed how influenced music and art is in regards to Mexican culture.

Members of Ozomatli. Photo courtesy of MySpace.

Musicians like Calexico, Ozomatli and even Jennifer Lopez utilize Spanish language and sounds in the songs, whether the bands member's are of a Hispanic descent or not.

"Grate-Kommee-Nuke-Ater." Photo courtesy of Alfred Quiroz.

Artists like Alfred Quiroz and Ingrid Aspromatis are inspired by the vivid colors of Mexican art, with Quiroz more understandably so since he comes from a Mexican family. This only shows though that anyone can find ideas and subject matter through other cultures.

The proximity of Tucson to the Mexico border can probably be attributed for the mezcla of Spanish and English cultures, as well as the impact of Mexico on the U.S. There are many places in town that cater towards an artistic, Hispanic audience, or bring in performances that conjur up images of Mexico.

"Forever Tango." Photo courtesy of Broadway.com.

Centennial Hall is home to UApresents, a University of Arizona organization that seeks out international performing arts to bring them to campus. One of the upcoming shows at the hall is "Forever Tango," featuring an all-Argentine cast of 14 dancers and 11 on-stage musicians. The show will take place Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$51. For more information call the ticket office at 621-3341.

The Rialto Theatre is never shy of bringing in acts that mix some Latin flavor into their sound. Aside from Ozomatli hitting up the venue on Monday, Dec. 10, guitarist Esteban will play his classical guitar on Saturday, March 1. Tickets are $25-$41. For more information call the ticket office at 740-1000.

"Spanish Eyes," by Esteban:

Members of Del Castillo. Photo courtesy of MySpace.

Although the future of the Solar Culture was up for grabs after an article in the Arizona Daily Star on Aug. 26 cited the problems and possible dangers with the warehouse's old conditions, leaseholder Steven Eye is still bringing in eclectic bands to play. Catch Del Castillo, a Latin rock band from Austin, Texas, with country group Ryan Bingham and the Road, and local flamenco musician Salvador Duran, this Friday, Nov. 30. Tickets at $10 for this all ages show.

"Suenos Madrigales," by Del Castillo:


Although this blog might not be around in the future, it has been a pleasure writing and bringing readers information on local groups that you just might not have heard about!

A whole lot of love

"Love in the Time of Cholera," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, was released in 1985. It follows a love triangle between Fermina Daza, Florentino Ariza and Juvenal Urbino and ultimately the idea that love conquers all. Daza and Ariza were involved when they were younger but were broken up by Daza's father and her own self-revelation that their relationship was naive. Ariza maintains being heartbroken, although he proceeds to sleep with over 600 women in order to express his broken heart. Urbino, a physician, is who Daza goes on to marry and remains faithful to until his death bring her and Ariza back together.

John Leguizamo, left, and Giovanna Mezzogiorno star in 'Love in the Time of Cholera.' Photo courtesy of New Line Cinema.

The screen-adaptation was just released on Friday, with Javier Bardem as Ariza, Benjamin Bratt as Urbino and Giovanna Mezzogiorno as Daza. It was filmed in Colombia, where the book takes place, and is an awkward attempt to bring the novel to the big screen. While the book flourished and thrived with detail, that same detail brings the film down to a bore.

Makeup used to age the actors over the 50 years is unbelievable and not well-executed. Although the film does execute a faithful interpretation of the novel, there is too much of a focus on the relationships and no real recognition of the historical context of the time - a context that lended itself to how the relationships panned out. The performances were also lackluster; Mezzogiorno and Bardem lacked the chemistry that Marquez's characters so strongly survived off of, and Bratt didn't have the acting capabilities to hold Urbino on his own.

The film's soundtrack is effective though, utilizing sounds heavy on strings and drums, creating a war and love struck time. The addition of Latino pop musician Shakira to the soundtrack is the only flaw. All of the other songs lack vocals, so the addition of Shakira's thick, undecipherable accent to three songs is hard to interpret.

The film is currently in theaters. The book and soundtrack are available on Amazon for $14.95 and $9.99.

A mixture of styles

The multi-talented, multi-genre Ozomatli is hitting up Tucson in less than a month to promote its latest album, Don't Mess with the Dragon. The band fuses Latin, hip-hop and funk to create a sound that is truly its own.

The different styles the band uses is due to its multi-ethnic background, comprised of musicians that are of Asian, Hispanic and European descent. Ozomatli takes its name from the word for the Aztec astrological symbol of the monkey. The monkey was seen as the God of dance, fire, harvest and music.

The band gained notoriety on the Los Angeles club scene in the late '90s, and started to rake in more fans after it released the self-titled debut in 1998. The band members met through the Peace and Justice Center of Los Angeles.

Ozomatli's second album, Embrace the Chaos, was released on September 11, 2001. The band member's involvements with the anti-war movement led the group to add musical influences from North Africa and the Middle East to its own repertoire.

The band's 2004 release, Street Signs, garnered them a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.

Ozomatli tends to tackle many political issues in its music. From immigration in "Temperatura" to the state of the United States in "Don't Mess with the Dragon," nothing goes untouched for the band, something that relays well through its live performances.

The band will play the Rialto Theatre on Monday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the all-ages show. Don't Mess with the Dragon is available on Amazon for $18.98.

The music video for "Can't Stop," off of Ozomatli's latest release, Don't Mess with the Dragon:

All album covers courtesy of Amazon.

Figueroa brings respect to Mexican cinema

A scene from "La Perla," a film that Figueroa worked on as a cinematographer. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

The Puro Mexicano Film Festival is currently underway at The Loft Cinema.

The festival is a tribute to Gabriel Figueroa, regarded for his films that drew certain aspects of German Expressionism and the exterior composition that he applied to the movies he worked on (over 200). Figueroa received an award for Best Cinematography at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946 for "Maria Candelaria," won a Golden Globe Award in 1949 for "La Perla," and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1965 for "Night of the Iguana."

All films at the festival will be shown on new, 35-mm subtitled prints of eight of Figueroa’s films.
The festival began on Friday, and so far has shown "Enamorada," "La Perla," "Vamanos con Pancho Villa" and "Macario." There are still three days left in the festival though, with the following films being shown:

Today's showing is of "La Virgen Que Forjo Una Patria," directed by Julio Bracho.
The movie follows the Virgin of Guadalupe on her journey to become the “Mother of All Mexicans,” and Miguel Hidalgo, the priest who began the fight for Mexico's independence.

Tomorrow is "Dias de Otono," directed by Roberto Gavaldon.
The film tells the story of the downfall of a scheming young clerk who tries to swindle her way into the heart of a young chauffeur.

On Wednesday, "Distinto Amanecer," also directed by Bracho, will be screened.
The movie is about a henchman that has to guard a collection of valuables while attempting to rekindle a love with his newly engaged ex.

On Thursday, the last night of the festival, "Nazarin," directed by Luis Bunuel, will be shown.
The film follows Father Nazarin, a priest whose humbly-led life is met with hostility.

All films are shown at The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5.

A scene from "El Fugitivo," directed by John Ford, cinematography by Figueroa. Figueroa's skill is apparent with the visual strength in the last minute of the film.

Take a look at these recent releases

The University of Arizona's Spanish and Portuguese department is offering a celebration on November 1 at 4:30 p.m. for the release of Spanish and Portuguese Professor Lanin Gyurko's book "Lifting the Obsidian Mask: The Artistic Vision of Carlos Fuentes." The celebration will take place at the UA Bookstore, 1209 E. University Blvd., and will include a mariachi performance and a Day of the Dead altar that will honor authors that have passed away. Food and drinks will be served, including pan de muerte (Day of the Dead bread).

Gyurko was born in Connecticut and received his bachelor degree from Yale University and his graduate degrees in romance languages from Harvard University. Since 1984 he has been the director of the Mexican and Mexican American Literature and Culture Program in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the UA. In 2002, he was given the Orden de los Descubridores Award by Sigma Delta Pi, La Sociedad Nacional Hispánica.

Carlos Fuentes is a Mexican novelist and essayist that first gained fame for "La región mas transparente," a novel about Mexico City and the mixture of cultures that reign there - Spanish, indigenous and mestizo. His novel, "Gringo viejo," was the first American bestseller by a Mexican author, even though Fuentes is very critical of the control and influence the United States has on Mexico.

Take a look at Carlos Fuentes on Charlie Rose as he discusses Mexican literature and politics:

Gyurko's book is available on Amazon for $75.

Juanes, a Colombian pop musician, just released La Vida Es un Ratico. The musician is known for his activist and humanitarian works - he established the Mi Sangre Foundation to help victims of anti-personnel mines (mines that don't need a person to trigger them) and was named in 2005 by Time Magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people. Juanes has also been honored for his work with United for Colombia, a non-profit organization that raises awareness about land mines in Colombia.

Ratico is littered with political commentary - whether it be the violence in Colombia that he speaks of in "Minas Perdidas" or the plea for peace he asks for in "Bandera de Manos." Regardless of the serious content, Juanes keeps Ratico pop-oriented and listener-friendly.

Check out the music video for "Me Enamoras," his first single off of La Vida Es un Ratico:

The album is available on Amazon for $20.98.

The party doesn't stop

The All Souls Procession began in Tucson in 1990 with a performance piece created by a grieving local artist, Susan Johnson. Seventeen years later the procession is only one event in a month devoted to the celebration of the dead. This year the procession is sponsored by a local organization, Many Mouths One Stomach, a collective of individuals who collaborate to celebrate "festal culture," or the expression of human necessities. The procession and the events leading up to it are similar to the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico which occur because of the belief that the soul is leaving to another life. Calaveras, drawings of skeletons, have become one of the most identified symbol of the Day of the Dead celebration, especially that of Catrina, a high-society woman.


List of events:

Friday, Oct. 26 - Tohono Chul Park After Dark and Exhibit, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte
Admission is free to this event that features the pyrotechnic theater group, Flam Chen, and the Dambe Drum Ensemble. There will also be ghost stories for the kiddies and a showcase of creepy, crawly bugs for your amusement.

Thursday, Nov. 1 - All Souls fine art photo exhibit, Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
The exhibit is submitted to by photographers of all skills and will be judged by Terry Etherton of the Etherton Gallery. The submission deadline has already passed, but it won't hurt to stop by to check it out.

Friday, Nov. 2 (through Nov. 8) - The Puro Mexicano Tucson Film Festival: A Centennial Tribute to Gabriel Figueroa, The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard
The festival will consist of eight films by Gabriel Figueroa, an award-winning cinematographer from Mexico. Friday night will consist of an opening reception at 6 p.m. with a showing of "Enamorada" at 7:15 p.m. Tickets to the opening night party and screening are $10, each individual film is $5 and a festival pass is $40.
(Also on Friday) - Dance of the Dead, Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
This fundraiser for Many Mouths One Stomach will feature performances by W.O.M.B, The Mission Creeps and Tom Walbank on stage, with drummers and belly dancers out in the parking lot. Tickets are $10, or $8 with a costume.


Saturday, Nov. 3 - The Procession of Little Angels and the personal altars vigil, Jacome Plaza, Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue
Like the All Souls Procession, but for little kids! There will be art activities at 3 p.m., a story performance by Stories that Soar (a performance troupe that acts out stories written by kids) at 4:30, workshops at 5, with the procession beginnging at 6:45. After the procession is the personal altars vigil, consisting of altars created by locals and set up to give honor to the dead. The Ocotillo Poetry Slam will speak their words at the plaza.

Sunday, Nov. 4 - The All Souls Procession and grand finale, Epic Café, 745 N. Fourth Ave.
The procession begins at 6 p.m. with the grand finale of the burning of the urn taking place at the Franklin Street Docks at Franklin Street and Stone Avenue.

Thursday, Dec. 6 - All Souls Film Festival, The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard
The film festival will screen films that show how individuals deal with death. The festival is still taking submissions, so hurry up and get that film made!

Photos all found on Flickr.

'Brave' falls short

I've never been a Jennifer Lopez fan. Her films, like the humorless "Monster-in-Law" and the degrading "Maid in Manhattan" always seem trivial to me and her songs don't fare much better. "Waiting for Tonight" was never a hit for me, even if it did reach the top-ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Jenny from the Block" reeked of lameness - with as much money as Lopez has, there is no way she is the same girl. That brings me to the diva horror stories that run rapid in the press.

With all that taken into account, I was shocked to find out that Lopez herself was behind the catchy "Do It Well" that I had heard played repeatedly on the radio recently. With lyrics like "Here's my name, number/ Baby just hit my cell/ Loving everything you do/ Cuz you do it well" the song is obviously not a deep tirade on border issues, but a fun and enjoyable pop song that serves its purpose as just that.

Courtesy of Turkish Videos

This led me to have a listen to her latest album, Brave, which was released on October 9. What struck me as my biggest disappointment was her lack of Spanish-lyric songs. Granted, she released a Spanish-language album in March, Como Ama Una Mujer, I expected at least one track to be penned in the Romance language that she lacks fluency in. Lopez always speaks of her Puerto Rican background, but how can she learn the language if she never practices it?

"Mile in These Shoes" has an electronica vibe, which overcompensates for the terribly senseless lyrics Lopez belts out. " Strangers always got some mess to spread/ But I have learned to flick them off/ Can’t walk a mile in my YSLs/ I strap them on and I walk it off." So, she can't wear the five-inch shoes by French designer Yves Saint Laurent, but she still does? I don't even know what Lopez is saying in this track, but it still reigns good.

The Puerto Rican Renaissance woman hits a high note with "Stay Together," the first and best track of the album. With a '70s funk beat, Lopez almost tackles an interesting topic: remaining in a relationship, not just bailing at the first sign of conflict (of course, her marriage to singer Marc Anthony was the inspiration to this jam). "This time is in our favor/ This time comes second nature/ Heartbreaks are overrated/ Stay together/ That's the new trend." She might be a powerful lyricist, but the simplicity mixed with the powerful beats work well in the song.

The 38-year-old singer really needs to step out of the realm of pop music to try something different. Make Puerto Rico happy and import some indigenous music into your own songs. Just do something - these tracks aren't going to make a lasting impression on the music world, even if they are fun and simple in content.

Brave is available for sale on Amazon.com for $18.97.