Las Cafeteras

Las Cafeteras is a son jarocho group from East Los Angeles, California, active since 2005. It begins as a group of student friends who take son jarocho classes together at the Eastside Cafe in the El Sereno neighbourhood, and it develops into a bilingual ensemble that uses music for storytelling, community building and teaching. The group draws on the Afro-Caribbean-influenced folk tradition of son jarocho from Veracruz while also incorporating ska, punk, hip-hop, marimbol, spoken word and urban-contemporary elements.

Style and repertoire

The band plays traditional son jarocho instruments such as 10-string jarana and four-string requinto guitars, and its arrangements also include marimbol, percussion and other roots instruments. Its performances and songs combine respect for tradition with updated language and political themes. The group is noted for a politically engaged approach, with lyrics that address Chicano identity, borders and racist laws.

Recordings and songs

Its CD It's Time includes La Bamba Rebelde, a reworking of the Mexican folk standard “La Bamba” with new lyrical material and contemporary references. On that track, the group presents the song as a rebel version tied to East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley identity. The release reflects the ensemble’s view that music should respond to current social conditions.

Members

Members named in the band include Daniel French, Annette Torres, Denise Carlos, Hector Flores, David Flores, Leah Rose Gallegos and Jose Cano. French plays jarana and sings; Torres plays marimbol and performs zapateado percussion; Carlos plays jarana segunda and sings; Flores plays jarana tercera and sings; David Flores plays requinto; Gallegos sings and plays quijada del burro; and Cano plays Native American flute.

Live work and collaborations

Las Cafeteras opens shows for Lila Downs and takes part in the annual Encuentro de Jaraneros jarocho festival in downtown Los Angeles. It also appears on a Dia de los Muertos celebration at Hollywood Forever Cemetery alongside Ozomatli, La Santa Cecilia, Very Be Careful and Tribu.