Posted 10.28.2009
Colorado Biz (cobizmag.com)

A musical journey of heartbreak and struggle
Taj Mahal, David Hidalgo and Los Cenzontles meld blues, rock and Mexican folk
By Mike Cote
 

LOS CENZONTLES WITH DAVID HIDALGO AND TAJ MAHAL American Horizon (Los Cenzontles/ADA)

American Horizon makes you rethink what it’s like to live in this country for those who have traveled here in search of a better life. But the stories of heartbreak and struggle – one song offers a glimpse of a Hispanic immigrant struggling to find work, for example – also celebrate through music how much richer we are as a culture because of those journeys.

For this eclectic bilingual release, Los Lobos singer and multi-instrumentalist David Hidalgo and blues legend Taj Mahal teamed up with Mexican-American roots group Los Cenzontles (The Mockingbirds), producing a collection of songs that traverses rock, blues and traditional Mexican folk styles.

Virtuoso acoustic and electric string sounds share the spotlight with the vocal harmonies of Lucina Rodriguez, Fabiola Trujillo and Hugo Arroyo. Proceeds from the sale of this musical adventure benefit arts programs for youth in Los Angeles.