Rivera corrals male world of 'banda'

She brings style and spunk to regional Mexican style

05/25/2003

By Mario Tarradell / The Dallas Morning News

Jenni Rivera is one of the few, perhaps even the only, women in the male-dominated world of banda music, that regional Mexican style brimming with horns, rhythms and a booming tuba. But she's more than holding her own. Ms. Rivera, sister of banda stars Lupillo and Juan Rivera, has enough spunk and pipes to stand tall next to her male counterparts.

Every track on Homenaje a las Grandes, a tribute to the female singers who inspired her, is bursting with attitude and style. The Long Beach, Calif., native has a potent voice of raw emotion and unbridled sass. She's at once tender on her own composition, "Homenaje a Mi Madre," which salutes her mother, and rip-roaring on a cover of Gloria Trevi's feisty "La Papa Sin Catsup."

The predominant sound of the disc is banda. The tuba is prominent on all the cuts, as are plenty of brass and just enough percussion to give the proceedings kick. And surprisingly, the songs work well in their new clothes. That's no small feat considering Ms. Rivera tackles numbers by Latin pop divas Lupita D'Alessio, Rocio Durcal and Mercedes Castro.

She transforms them. "Ese Hombre," a powerful lament originally recorded by Ms. D'Alessio, retains its explosive edge even as Ms. Rivera lets the tuba carry the beat. Ditto for Ms. Durcal's "Juro Que Nunca Volvere," which has the spirit of a proud yet melancholy ranchera.

The point behind all this is obvious. Ms. Rivera emerges as a strong, independent woman not afraid to cry over love gone awry but not willing to let it consume her. This further strengthens her position as "la diva de la banda," as fans have affectionately named her. She is a survivor, not only in these songs but also in this genre.

Homenaje a las Grandes is her fourth album for Fonovisa, the leading regional Mexican imprint in the United States. The CD is her 10th release since her 1995 debut. That she has managed to prosper as a female banda vocalist is a testament to her talent. So is her ability to draw from such diverse influences as ranchera queen Lola Beltrán (a medley of "Por Un Amor" and "Cucurrucucu Paloma") and Supremes-era Diana Ross ("Where Did Our Love Go?").

That's a wide spectrum. But Ms. Rivera brings them home with south-of-the-border chutzpah.


				*La Diva de la Banda* *Rivera corrals male world of 'banda'*



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		She brings style and spunk to regional Mexican style 05/25/2003 By Mario Tarradell / The Dallas Morning News Jenni Rivera is one of the few, perhaps even the only, women in the male-dominated world of banda music, that regional Mexican style brimming with horns, rhythms and a booming tuba. But she's more than holding her own. Ms. Rivera, sister of banda stars Lupillo and Juan Rivera, has enough spunk and pipes to stand tall next to her male counterparts. Every track on Homenaje a las Grandes, a tribute to the female singers who inspired her, is bursting with attitude and style. The Long Beach, Calif., native has a potent voice of raw emotion and unbridled sass. She's at once tender on her own composition, "Homenaje a Mi Madre," which salutes her mother, and rip-roaring on a cover of Gloria Trevi's feisty "La Papa Sin Catsup." The predominant sound of the disc is banda. The tuba is prominent on all the cuts, as are plenty of brass and just enough percussion to give the proceedings kick. And surprisingly, the songs work well in their new clothes. That's no small feat considering Ms. Rivera tackles numbers by Latin pop divas Lupita D'Alessio, Rocio Durcal and Mercedes Castro. She transforms them. "Ese Hombre," a powerful lament originally recorded by Ms. D'Alessio, retains its explosive edge even as Ms. Rivera lets the tuba carry the beat. Ditto for Ms. Durcal's "Juro Que Nunca Volvere," which has the spirit of a proud yet melancholy ranchera. The point behind all this is obvious. Ms. Rivera emerges as a strong, independent woman not afraid to cry over love gone awry but not willing to let it consume her. This further strengthens her position as "la diva de la banda," as fans have affectionately named her. She is a survivor, not only in these songs but also in this genre. Homenaje a las Grandes is her fourth album for Fonovisa, the leading regional Mexican imprint in the United States. The CD is her 10th release since her 1995 debut. That she has managed to prosper as a female banda vocalist is a testament to her talent. So is her ability to draw from such diverse influences as ranchera queen Lola Beltrán (a medley of "Por Un Amor" and "Cucurrucucu Paloma") and Supremes-era Diana Ross ("Where Did Our Love Go?"). That's a wide spectrum. But Ms. Rivera brings them home with south-of-the-border chutzpah.



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