POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Los Camperos Tops Mariachi Festival

Are Los Camperos de Nati Cano the world’s best mariachi? That’s how it looked during its set at the Universal Amphitheatre’s mariachi festival on Saturday. The Los Angeles-based group deservedly earned the night’s only standing ovation for a performance that was perhaps the best one seen during these last few years of mariachi fever in L.A.

Los Camperos, one of the orchestras that backed Linda Ronstadt on her “Canciones de mi padre” album and concerts, overshadowed the other three participants because it was innovative within the mariachi tradition--for director Nati Cano, there is no need to concoct mariachi-ized versions of American pop classics or to include fashionable sounds. His is traditional mariachi music, but his arrangements and unpredictable vocal harmonies make it fresher than most.

Los Gallos de Crescencio Hernandez lost some points for including watered-down versions of “My Way” and “New York, New York,” while the all-female Las Perlitas Tapatias opted to imitate a banda . It didn’t quite work.

Renowned ranchera singer Angeles Ochoa--backed by Los Gallos--was one of the evening’s highlights, but Los Camperos’ Monica Trevino also confirmed her status as arguably the best female mariachi voice of the day.

The concert, which was closed by the fine Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, should send a message to all mariachis: Forget about Sinatra for a second, and go back to the Jose Alfredo Jimenez songbook.