Concert provides int'l flair

With an infectious rhythm and enthusiasm, Sones de Mexico Ensemble Chicago brought the music of Mexico to Philadelphia during their Saturday night performance at the International House. Performing in front of more than 300 area residents, the ensemble -- a six-person folk music group from Chicago -- offered a lively show that demonstrated the diversity of styles and sounds within Mexican music. The group incorporated a host of different musical instruments into its performance. In fact, over 25 string, wind and percussion instruments, including a donkey jaw, were used as the band created the unique sounds of the different styles. The group specializes in son, a type of traditional Mexican folk music. Each region of Mexico has its own unique style of son. The band paid tribute to several of these different styles as they played a wide array of pieces from all over Mexico. Members of Sones de Mexico said they hope to increase the public's appreciation of Mexican music. "Our mission is to promote Mexican music and continue to play for different people to broaden their definition of Mexican music," group member and agent Juan Dies explained. With that goal in mind, the group regularly interjected explanations of the music, as Dies paused several times in order to describe the origins of the different pieces. During intermission, several audience members said they were particularly surprised to learn that African music influenced Mexican music. "It's indicative of the complexities of music that all societies develop," remarked New Jersey native Walter Haworth, who attended the performance along with his wife. Sones de Mexico offered audience members more than just a learning experience, however. The group, with undeniable skill, kept the audience bobbing their heads and tapping their feet in rhythm to the music. The ensemble, in their efforts to recreate the atmosphere of fandangos -- traditional Mexican dance parties -- played with an enthusiasm that the audience quickly appreciated. "It was pretty lively. I liked the parts that had instruments besides strings," said Kathleen O'Donnell, who attended the performance. One of the band members also danced during several of the numbers and impressed the audience with his quick foot work as he tapped out rhythms that were incorporated into the music. It was his dance with two machetes, however, that seemed to awe audience members the most. Striking the machetes together in time with the music, he created sparks as many in the audience gasped and applauded. During the second half of the show, the audience had its own chance to dance. At first hesitant to accept the band's invitation to come dance in front of the stage, many ultimately overcame their inhibitions and joined the band. Sones de Mexico attempted to close the evening by playing several well known pieces, such as "La Bamba." But when the ensemble finished, the crowd began shouting "Otra, otra" -- the Spanish word for "another." The group then performed a short encore. "The music is so strong," said audience member Rob Kirsch after the show. "[Sones de Mexico] is great."