Trio Ellas Are Taking the Machismo Out of Mariachi Miriam Jordan - WSJ.com
go to original October 11, 2013

Trio Ellas, left to right: Suemy Gonzalez, Stephanie Amaro, Nelly Cortez (Trio Ellas )

To most Americans, mariachi is synonymous with men in sombreros performing at Mexican restaurants and celebrations. But three women recently wowed a crowd of 1,100 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles with innovative takes on mariachi standards like "Besame Mucho."

Trio Ellas (Three Shes), who have recorded with Lady Gaga, exemplify the U.S. mariachi scene's emerging avant-garde. By fusing the traditional genre with bluegrass, flamenco and pop, the young Mexican-American women are reshaping a tradition and bringing it to mainstream audiences.

"We respect mariachi, but we are trying to mold our own music," says Suemy Gonzalez, the 30-year-old violinist who forms the group with Stephanie Amaro, 33, and Nelly Cortez, 34.

An authentic Mexican mariachi band has a minimum of eight members: trumpets, guitars, violins, a small guitar called the vihuela and a round-backed bass called a guitarrón. With just violin, guitarrón and guitar, Trio Ellas doesn't officially qualify as a mariachi.

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