Mariachi Garibaldi can turn any room into a fiesta. Raise the bows, raise the horns then raise the roof.
Southwestern College’s world-renown mariachi looked magnifico in charcoal suits outlined with cherry colored embroidery. It sounded even better. Elizabeth Meeker’s ensemble was transcendent at the 2013 Mariachi Showcase.
Sweet violins, brilliant trumpets and the thumping guitarrón gave voice to the heart and soul of Madre Mexico. Always focused on its audience, the musicians played “Las Mañanitas,” a soaring birthday song. Encouraging the audience to sing along was unnecessary. Mariachi Garibaldi was the perfect host, passing around musical chips and salsa that were crunchy and delicious, as comfortable as dinner at la casa de los abuelitos.
Mariachi music is bold and colorful, and Las Garibaldistas painted a picture of culture like Diego Rivera painted murals. With their repertoire as their canvas and their instruments as their brushes, musicians freed the melody and rhythm of all great artists who came before.
Audience members were swept away by Mariachi Garibaldi’s saucy cover of “Volver,” accepting the implied invitation to sing passionately along with the band. Low parts were lost in sadness, then quickly brightened with smiles as contagious as the propulsive rhythm.
Mariachi Garibaldi showed once again why it is considered by Mexican professionals to be the planet Earth’s best collegiate mariachi. This community has a cultural jewel.
