Internationally renowned conjunto Los Cenzontles (the Mockingbirds) dig deep into the rich vein of Latino music, presenting polished gems both traditional and original, while promoting pride and cultural understanding.

This remarkable group has pioneered revivals of Mexican roots music in California, bringing its traditions to new generations and creating a powerful new hybrid sound. Tonight's show celebrates the endless variety and imagination of Mexican music, spotlighting numbers from their new CD, American Horizons, which tells a musical story of immigration, work, and the American Dream, fusing traditional and contemporary Mexican and American instruments and styles while telling a story of hope, struggle, and gratitude.

Fronting Los Cenzontles are the dynamic duet vocals of Fabiola Trujillo and Lucina Rodriguez, with musicians including Hugo Arroyo and Eugene and Emiliano Rodriguez mixing electric bass and drums with traditional Mexican instruments—jarana, vihuela, and requinto (guitars), pandero (drum), and quijada (jawbone)—to create a powerful contemporary sound infused with the gutsy soul of Mexico's rural roots music.

The group's parent organization, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center, in nearby San Pablo, has a two-decades-old history of teaching traditional arts as a means of strengthening youth, their families, and the local community.

Los Cenzontles' new video "Soy Mexicano Americano" is featured on National Geographic's World Music webpage.

Visit Los Cenzontles' website

Listen to a track from Los Cenzontles: