Travel Tunes - Week 11

If you haven't noticed, it's New York week here at the World on Wheels.  Our travel tune this week is the old standard "New York, New York."  In researching the origin of the song, I'm suprised it's of a semi-recent vintage, being written in 1977 for Martin Scorsese's film of the same name starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro.  It was written by John Kander, with Fred Ebb doing the lyrics, and performed in the film by Minnelli. 

Frank Sinatra recorded the version most people associate with the song in 1980 for the album Trilogy: Past Present Future and again as a duet with Tony Bennett in 1993  for his Duets album.  You can here ole Blue Eyes sing it here.

Jose Hernandez is responsible for the version we're going with this week.  I used to live just around the corner from Mr. Hernandez' restaurant, Cielito Lindo, in South El Monte, California (for you real old timers there, it's the former Jolly Jug).  If you ever find yourself in the area, I really recommend it for a great, old fashioned dinner and show.

Hernandez is also known as the leader of Mariachi Sol de Mexico and is a tireless promoter for the preservation of mariachi music here in Los Angeles.  His orchestra has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl; with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and on many TV shows such as the Tonight Show.  Along with Mariachi Sol de Mexico, his restaurant showcases many up and coming mariachi groups such as Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, an all woman orchestra.

One of Hernadez' hooks is his group's sudden breakout into the song "New York, New York" as a way to break the ice with the audience.  It's an effective way to get people to listen a little more closely as he tries to persuade them to give the mariachi genre more attention.   It's also just a very good rendition of the song.  Below is Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de Mexico doing just that on the Dennis Miller Show.  Enjoy...

- Darryl

Travel Tunes - Week 5

UPDATE:  On Christmas Eve we were visiting with our cousin Henry, who told us he got to meet Mr. Fernandez just a few days ago.  Henry shares this picture he took with Vicente Fernandez at Citywalk here in Los Angeles.

Picture courtesy of Henry Melgarejo

If you've only heard the tired, out-of-tune mariachis at a place like Olvera Street, you don't know how good the genre can be.  Mariachi is a type of Mexican music from the state of Jalisco.  It can be as simple as a couple of guys with guitars or can be as elaborate as a complete symphony orchestra.  When it's good, it's darn good.
One of our great memories is the duo that played for us at El Set Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.  Very simple, but these two were just fantastic as they serenaded our party as the sun set.
By now, I'm sure you've guessed this week's tune is a mariachi tune.  It's one of the most famous songs of the type, "Guadalajara," which can easily be the official song of the capitol of Jalisco.
When I think of the first time we went to Puerto Vallarta, I'm reminded of the bus trip we took over the mountains to Guadalajara.  It starts off in steamy jungles, stops off at a bus station in a high mountain village for lunch (with some of the most nuclear salsa I've ever had), cruises through Tequila, before ending at the mammoth bus terminal in Guadalajara.  It's thrilling, scary, and beautiful.
This song reminds me of that trip.  Here is a full-orchestra treatment of the song, sung by a true Mexican national treasure with some great vocal theatrics, here's "Guadalajara" by the great Vicente Fernandez (click on the picture below, link opens new window - video is not embeddable).

Guadalajara by Vicente Fernandez

- Darryl