Los Cenzontles
Richmond, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1994 | SELF
Music
Press
"They're rocking up at the little joint in San Pablo, California, where Los Cenzontles hang out. Check out this record (American Horizon) - sounds like the young folks put some heat on the old timers.” - Ry Cooder
“Seeing Los Cenzontles, Zydeco accordionist Andre Thierry and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos onstage together merging Rock, Blues, Zydeco and Mexican music (traditional and contemporary) was a refreshing and incredibly energizing experience that I'll never forget. And the Center itself is a godsend for the community's youth who learn music, art, dance and culture there from a truly dedicated staff.” - Bonnie Raitt
“… the ever-cool Bay Area Mexican psychedelic roots folk band known as Los Cenzontles. Love this band…” - Author / Journalist Sam Quinones
“Los Cenzontles didn't need much more than a tuba, a trumpet, a thudding bass drum and a pair of clarinets to turn the club (House of Blues, West Hollywood) into a raucous cantina.” - The New York Times
"Los Cenzontles’ gutsy rhythms and delightful voices reinvigorated my love of Mexican music." - Linda Ronstadt
Los Cenzontles "both honors and upends traditional Mexican music, tapping deep roots as it flowers into something completely new, and distinctly American." - The New York Times
"This sounds of this group are . . . like a creek flowing down a gentle meadow. It's music of the earth, nourishing and satisfying without complications." - San Jose Mercury News
"These musicians celebrate a great moment in Mexico's past by remembering it, learning from it, and making it their own. That's attitude." - San Francisco Weekly
“Meeting Los Cenzontles was just like meeting a medieval clan of wonderful musicians from the West Coast of Ireland. The fusion of their music with ours was something that just had to happen. It was inevitable.” - Paddy Moloney, The Chieftains
Discography
- American Roulette EP, 2014
- Mathilda, 2013 (single with David Hidalgo)
- Cortez the Killer, 2013 (single with David Hidalgo)
- American Roulette, 2013 (single)
- There's No Tortillas, 2013 (single)
- Invisible Man, 2013 (single)
- El Mexicano, 2013 (single)
- Regeneration, 2012
- Flor de Canela, 10 Anos de Dueto compilation, 2011
- La Pelota, 2011 (single)
- Valor Latino, 2011 (single)
- San Patricio, 2010 (contributing three songs with The Chieftains and Ry Cooder)
- Estado de Verguenza, 2010 (single)
- Raza de Oro, 2010
- American Horizon, 2009 (with Taj Mahal and David Hidalgo)
- Songs of Wood and Steel, 2008 (with David Hidalgo)
- Los Senn-sont-less, 2007
- El Toro Viejo Traditional Mariachi Volume IV, 2006
- Pasajero, A Journey of Time and Memory, 2004
- El Chivo Traditional Mariachi Volume III, 2004
- El Pasajero, 2003
- Pocas Palabras, 2003
- Media Vida, 2002
- Plan de la Villa, 2002
- Cuatro Maestros, 2001
- De Una Bonita, 2000
- Cancionero, 2000
- Amor, Paz y Sinceridad, 1999
- Volando en los Cafetales, 1999
- Hypnotizada, 1999
- You'll Come Flying, 1997
- Con Su Permiso, Seores, 1995
Photos
Bio
Los Cenzontles (Nahuatl for "The Mockingbirds") dig deep into cultural traditions, creating a vibrant, contemporary sound infused with the gutsy soul of Mexicos rural roots. Featuring the dynamic vocal dueto of Fabiola Trujillo and Lucina Rodriguez, lead guitarist and Grammy-nominated Eugene Rodriguez, and bassist/accordion player Emiliano Rodriguez, Los Cenzontles (senn-SONT-less) has produced 20 albums and dozens of music videos. The band has performed across the U.S., in Europe, the Dominican Republic, and throughout Mexico; they have collaborated with internationally renowned artists including Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, The Chieftains, Los Lobos, Los Tigres del Norte, Ry Cooder, David Hidalgo and Taj Mahal, among others.
What People are Saying:
Los Cenzontles "both honors and upends traditional Mexican music, tapping deep roots as it flowers into something completely new, and distinctly American."-- *The New York Times*
"Los Cenzontles' gutsy rhythms and delightful voices reinvigorated my love of Mexican music." -- *Linda Ronstadt*
"Los Cenzontles is a factory of culture." - *NPR, Morning Edition*
In addition to concert performances, Los Cenzontles offers lecture / demos and workshops for all ages. The group's core members also operate Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy in San Pablo, California. The nonprofit has been training Bay Area youth in traditional Mexican music, dance, and art since 1994.
Band Members
Links
