Concert Review:  Mireya Ramos -Tuning Fork February 25, 2021

Lady Latin Soul. Mireya Ramos is nothing but stunning in her debut Auckland performance.

Founding member of America’s only all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache who performed at Womad 2020 last March. That seems like another planet now as the lockdown descended down upon the country that weekend.

Staying behind and you gotta dance to keep from crying…multi Grammy award nominated and winning artist. Made her mark in New York City with her blend of Latin music bleeding out into all genres. Raised in Puerto Rico. A Mexican Mariachi musician father and a Dominican mother.

First half starts with Mariachi New Zealand playing behind Mireya. Mariachi being the heartland Folk music of Mexico which dates back to at least the 17^th century. Strings and trumpet. On stage they have guitar, violin, guitarron and that instantly recognisable Mexican horn sound.

The opening is a Mariachi medley. Mireya is a multi-instrumentalist and plays violin tonight. Begins with Gypsy tones to Chamber music to high and sad. Her voice matches with a high sustained operatic soprano. Sounds rooted in the hills and vast plains of Mexico.

Following that, a mash-up of songs in honour of legendary singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. Romantic lachrymose Latin vocals which build to a Country swing and dance.

Volver Volver  has the audience joining in with the classic Mariachi squawk and cry. The violins harmonize and speed up to a quick-step.

Tatiana from Colombia comes on stage to sing Si Nos Dejan. The Mariachi’s finish with a very familiar tune, Ci Elito Lindo. A waltz with swinging violin.

returns after a short break with a crack six-piece band which includes percussion maestro Miguel Fuentes and Jazz pianist Mark Baynes. The Kings of Rhythm are conventional drums, electric bass, congas, cajon and various scratch instruments.

Immediately the congas lay out those captivating sinuous snake beats which engage the hips. Tonight’s audience sadly stay in their seats until the last number.

Original songs with soulful Latin voice. Short R’n’B lead guitar breaks punctuate.

Mireya released her first solo single in New Zealand. A cover of David Bowie’s Lady Grinning Soul. Production input from Bowie’s long-time pianist Mike Garson. A haunting lament tonight. Eugene Marshall comes on to play some soulful and theatrical sounding keyboards. Keening vocals. She’ll come; she’ll go/ She’ll lay belief on you.

Friend from Taranaki, Kim I think, joins her to sing Fever. Heavy rhythms and hand drums. A Latin strutting beat picks up the song and swings it. The band stretch out and take off. Jazz piano, gypsy melodies. They cook it with some tasty lead guitar riffing.

A superb take of Reaching for the Moon. Ella Fitzgerald’s version the starting point. Smooth expansive and soulful singing.

Mothers favourite I think is called Cielo. This arrangement inspired by Black Lives Matter movement. A slow lament which then takes off and flies with high tones.

Another original possibly called Canto is a good example of the way she weaves different genres and styles together. Mireya calls it Caribbean. A shimmering keyboard starts. Then Reggae rhythms appear like alchemy. There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air. The spirit of Marley.  Jazzy organ tones. Finishes the song on the vocal cadences of Summertime.

We get to hear the up and coming single, Climbing Fences. Written around the Ferguson, Missouri riots after the death of Michael Brown. This starts as a slow lament. Ringing guitar and rhythm engine kicks in. Blues riffs which open out into elemental solos.

Following number begins with Free Form Jazz. The rhythm merchants lay it down and what appears as Forties Big Band morphs into Disco and the sounds of early DJ Hip-Hop Latino style.

Latin swing dance brings people to their feet finally, to close.

A great show. Started on a high and never let up. Top class Latin Mariachi Soul music and it is a wonder to hear this live when you can’t do this anywhere else. A promise from Mireya Ramos to do it again soon.

Rev Orange Peel

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