Ezequiel Peña - Mucha Honra (CD)

All Music Guide

With 2005's El de Nayarit, Ezequiel Peña went from being a banda/mariachi/ranchera recording artist to being a banda/mariachi/ranchera/norteño recording artist. El de Nayarit was not a change of direction for Peña, but rather, an expansion; the Mexican singer didn't give up banda or mariachi by any means, but he pleasantly surprised his fans by demonstrating that he could provide norteño as well and the generally favorable response that El de Nayarit received in the regional Mexican market indicated that Peña should continue making the accordionpowered norteño style part of his musical game plan, which is exactly what he does on 2006's A Mucha Honra. It would be inaccurate to describe this 34minute CD as norteñooriented because norteño does not dominate the album. Rather, norteño is an attractive, important part of a big picture that still includes banda and mariachi and Peña remains a charismatic, expressive storyteller whether he is embracing norteño on "Voy a Tirarme a los Vicios,..." "Valente Quintero" (a Rosendo Monzón Quintero corrido) and "Quisiera Amarte Menos," banda on "El Sauce y la Palma," "Ambición" and "No Volveré" or a mariachi/norteño blend on the title track. But whatever the instrumentation whether Peña is surrounded by norteño accordion, mariachi trumpets and strings, or banda's big wall of brass A Mucha Honra is a consistently pleasing addition to his catalog. Clearly, Peña did the right thing when he opted to keep exploring norteño without forgetting about either banda or mariachi. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less