Ritchie
Valens is reasonably credited with introducing American popular culture to son
jarocho music, but there were plenty of recordings of the traditional Veracruz
standard before (Xavier Cugat) and after (Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria) he
cracked the top 40 charts with “La Bamba.” It is a tune José Luis Utrera surely
knows as a scion of a celebrated family of son jarocho musicians. However, the
young Utrera opts to chart his own course north of the border. Marco Villalobos
& Daffodil Altan document his musical undocumented life in Beyond La Bamba (trailer here), which premieres
on World Channel this Wednesday, as part of its celebration of Hispanic
Heritage Month.
“La
Bamba” is indeed quite representative of son jarocho. It is a traditional form
of music that is infectiously rhythmic and wildly improvisational. If you are
not invigorated by a son jarocho “fandango” than you are just tragically lame.
How and why Utrera settled in Milwaukee of all places is never explained, but
it turns out you can even find a fandango that far north.
In
fact, Utrera is quickly adopted as the local son jarocho
prodigy/celebrity/guru, almost like a son jarocho Wynton Marsalis, but one that
holds workshops in a community center rather than the Lincoln Center. The music
remains true to Utrera, even introducing him to his future fiancée. However,
the conscientious Utrera misses his family and worries his aged grandfather
will slip away before he is able to return.
Utrera
is a nice kid, but his unassuming demeanor does not translate well on-screen. Fortunately,
that doesn’t really matter, because the music is the reason to watch the
half-hour Beyond. Utrera and his
family, friends, and students can truly play up a storm. As a film, it is
pleasant, but mostly rather serviceable, whereas as a PSA for son jarocho
music, it should definitely inspire some CD sales.
