jarana

After Pepe decided to get some sleep, I went back to the Patio Muñoz for about an hour to participate in the Fandango, with Ramon Gutierrez of "Son de Madera" playing his incredible "jarana".

Posadas, pastorelas y la rama

Wax is the lyricist, lead vocalist, and plays a mean jarana -- a ukelele-sized eight-string instrument common to son jarocho.

Rob Kirkpatrick: The David Wax Museum: The Best Band You Might Not Know

But how many also boast the quijada, the jarana and the requinto?

Michael Giltz: CDs Of The Week: Ladysmith Black Mambazo and David Wax Museum

Ozo's arsenal includes several Latin American string instruments (jarana, charango, tres), an Indian tabla and a Persian piano-like celeste.

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Fortunately I live just up the street from "El Patio Muñoz" which is a vecindad (communal living area) where half of the rooms are inhabited by people who have rented there for generations and the other half by artisans, on of whom is Ramon Gutierrez, director of the group "Son de Madera", as well as an excellent jarana (like a ukaleili?) and incredible musician.

Son Jarocho

Some had fat, cheesy keyboard riffs straight out of '70s funk; others had mariachistyle jarana guitar.

Se Habla Rock And Roll? You Will Soon.

He is an excellent musician (plays Mozart on the jarana!) as well as a reknowned maker of jaranas and other stringed instruments ( "laudero").

Encuentro de Jaraneros y Decimistas, Tlacotalpan, Veracruz

It was Jorge who introduced me to the maker of my first jarana.

La Bamba explained: the music of Veracruz

The women are in brightly embroidered white dresses called huipiles, and the men in white pants and guayabera shirts as they dance the jarana to the strains of a Yucatecan orchestra.

Mérida

If you're looking for creative pastimes, the Patio Muñoz, almost in front of my studio, offers painting, sculpture, jarana (Mexican small guitar) and jarocho (Veracruz) dance classes.

Xalapa, Veracruz: my Mexican city of dreams