The Sounds of Pilsen Can Now Be Heard Through a New Compilation

Jaime Guzman
Published: January 7, 2010

Rockotitlan, a music and arts collective that promotes cultural activities/events, hosted part two of their record release party for the Pilsen Soundtrack 1.0, at the Old Town School of Folk Music last night. The initial release party was held a few weeks back at Rumba at 351 W. Hubbard and the festivities continued on Wednesday with performances by two of the recording artists on the album, Son Del Viento and Fandanguero.

Each of the performing bands is heavily influenced by the traditional sounds of Veracruz, Mexico and exemplify the current efforts in the Pilsen community to maintain a sense of ethnic identity and to highlight the community's Mexican presence.

The album, Pilsen Soundtrack 1.0, has a total of seven bands: LFT, Vicios de Papa, Azul de Noche, Benjamin Anaya & los extraños unidos, Tarima Son, Son Del Viento and Fandanguero. Each band contributed two songs to the LP. In the album's insert there is a vivid description of the different styles of music that are represented by Catalina Maria Johnson, host and producer of beat-latino, a blog and radio show.

Johnson describes the variations of Son music, ranging from Flamenco influenced to Cuban and southern Mexican-centuries-old Jarocho; in other words, what has come to be knows as "JaroChicagoan" sounds. The album also has Mexico-City-influenced Chicago blues, "electronically-tinged" Bossa Nova, Latin ska and hip-hop. "Barriers have been broken down, borders have been crossed, and a better way is being found through the arts and through the music," Johnson writes.

With 200 people in attendance, Son Del Viento and Fandanguero had the crowd dancing with their own variations of Mexican and Cuban Son. The wonderous sounds of the requinto guitars, and the rhythmic booms of the cajon, were a well-known treat for many of those that made the trip from Pilsen to Ravenswood and a pleasant experience for those that are new to the sounds of Jarocho.