Mariachi is a musical style that developed in Guadalajara in the Mexican State of Jalisco, which combines trumpets, violins and other unique string instruments, with players performing in traditional costumes and sombreros.
The Mariachi Jerusalem Band, under the musical direction of Yohanan Peretz, performs Jewish music in Mariachi style, presenting new and fresh sounds that succeed in combining the two musical styles, with the help of characteristic Mariachi instruments.
To its lively and joyful Mexican repertoire, the Band adds Jewish music classics such as Ani Eshtagea (by Ehud Manor, written to a South Mexican melody), Halleluya (of Leonard Cohen), Shalom Aleichem, and others, adding a Mexican flavor to the traditional Jewish music.
Mariachi Jerusalem is the first Mariachi band to be formed in Israel, by its Musical Director. Peretz’s intention is to introduce audiences to this special musical style. Mariachi is a Mexican traditional style in which ensembles wear costumes which include trousers adorned with metal buttons, a torero-style jacket, a special leather belt, a tie, and a wide-brimmed hat. The frequently-used instruments in Mariachi music are the Vihuela (a type of five-stringed guitar, with a composite soundbox), the Guitaron (a type of large-size guitar which serves as a bass), as well as trumpets and violins. Mariachi music is best characterized by its lively and joyful compositions, but at the same time, it incorporates musical genres such as bolero, Joropo (Venezuelan rhythm), Son, and others.
The Mariachi Jerusalem Band appears today throughout Israel and also overseas. It was the first Mariachi band to represent Israel at the International Mariachi Festival Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2022.
- Gustavo Quinones – Vocals
- Natan Rocha – Vihuela
- Rotem Tel Shachar, Lian Cohen, Sarah Peretz – Violins
- Yoad Fastman, Itamar Levi – Trumpets
- Yochanan Peretz – Guitarron
