As a budding country star in the mid 1990s, Texas-born Mexican American Rick Treviño always found a way to blend his Latin heritage with his country leanings, even recording many of his albums in both English and Span... more »ish. His membership in Los Super Seven has allowed him to explore even more deeply his Mexican roots and has reminded music fans just how wonderful, versatile, and emotionally powerful a singer he is. Focusing on traditional Mexican folk music, Mi Son features many of his Los Super Seven cohorts, including Los Lobos' Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, and Steve Berlin (who produced). Clearly Treviño has been inspired by their penchant for experimentation, and the 10 songs (9 sung in Spanish) cut across a variety of moods. The absolutely gorgeous duets with Martha Gonzalez and Ruben Ramos and the atmospheric, ethereal "Vuelvo al Sur" prove definitively that Treviño is one of the most underappreciated ballad singers of his time, in any language. The ballads are complemented by pulsating jazzy romps, bright numbers driven by traditional Mexican stringed instruments such as tres, guitarrón, and jarana, and a poignant English-language finale. --Marc Greilsamer« less
As a budding country star in the mid 1990s, Texas-born Mexican American Rick Treviño always found a way to blend his Latin heritage with his country leanings, even recording many of his albums in both English and Spanish. His membership in Los Super Seven has allowed him to explore even more deeply his Mexican roots and has reminded music fans just how wonderful, versatile, and emotionally powerful a singer he is. Focusing on traditional Mexican folk music, Mi Son features many of his Los Super Seven cohorts, including Los Lobos' Cesar Rosas, David Hidalgo, and Steve Berlin (who produced). Clearly Treviño has been inspired by their penchant for experimentation, and the 10 songs (9 sung in Spanish) cut across a variety of moods. The absolutely gorgeous duets with Martha Gonzalez and Ruben Ramos and the atmospheric, ethereal "Vuelvo al Sur" prove definitively that Treviño is one of the most underappreciated ballad singers of his time, in any language. The ballads are complemented by pulsating jazzy romps, bright numbers driven by traditional Mexican stringed instruments such as tres, guitarrón, and jarana, and a poignant English-language finale. --Marc Greilsamer
""Mi Son" brims with life. The musicianship is outstanding, Trevino sings with gusto, the cumbias burn and the ballads smolder. (The Los Super Seven billing, added at the last minute, essentially refers to the CD's sound and production team, which is very similar to "Canto." But this is Rick Trevino's baby, all the way.)This is what producer Steve Berlin and pianist Alberto Salas should have done all along. Share their musical vision with one highly motivated singer (Trevino) and lay down an album's worth of jams. "Mi Son" runs rings around "Canto" because it's obvious that the singer and the musicians have had time to get comfortable with each other, build chemistry, and let the sparks fly. It's something that just doesn't come as easily when you bring in a new vocalist for every song. And Trevino, who picked these Mexican, Cuban, and South American classics, sings in a way that complements the musical accompaniment, instead of trying to ham it up like the overrated Raul Malo. Purists may disapprove of Trevino admitting that he's only vaguely aware of the historical significance of some of the artists who wrote and/or originally recorded these songs, but he hasn't sounded this enthusiastic in years, and my guess is that this is just the beginning of Trevino's journey into Latin roots music."
With a little help from his friends
Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 07/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tex-Mex rocker Rick Trevino's work with Los Super Seven resurfaces in the guise of a solo CD with the unmistakeable influences of his previous musical adventures. Beginning with the huapango tune "El Gustito" or as Trevino's booklet terms it "Huasteca rock" the veteran rockeros Los Lobos's influence is stamped throughout this excellent mix. Trevino is a fine vocalist aand guitarist whose crooning lends itself comfortably to various genres including Tex-Mex, "Huasteca rock," Cuban son and salsa. RT also performs a couple of duets including a gut wrenching performance with Martha Gonzalez who harmonizes quite beautifully on the bolero entitled "Vanidad." Included are the works of various other masters of Latino music including songs penned by Los Panchos, Trio Matamoros, Astor Piazzolla and a beaut by John Ortiz previously released for an album by Ruben Blades and Willie Colon entitled simply "Ojos." As stated previously the stamp of Los Lobos is throughout as they perform on several songs but never take the limelight away from RT. Of particular interest is "El Dios Eterno"(long goodbye) where Trevino sings in twangy country Tex-Mex style a song penned by Los Lobos from the Will the Wolf Survive era that has never been recoreded before. All in all this an excellent CD deserving of recognition on it's own merits regardless of the collaborations. Recommended for originality and polished musicianship, as well as having fine production values that include a terrific bilingual booklet with all the lyrics. Rick Trevino is an artist to watch, listen to now and in the future."
HE IS STUPENDOUS!!!
KETURAH DUVALL | PHILA, PA United States | 07/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OKAY, I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED A VARIETY OF HISPANIC MUSIC BUT NEVER QUITE KNEW WHAT TO BUY. LATELY WHENEVER I HEAR SOMETHING ON THE RADIO AND I LIKE IT, I BUY IT. WELL, I WAS LISTENING TO WXPN WORLD CAFE, 88.59 IN PHILLY AND THE DJ PLAYED A CD BY LOS SUPER SEVEN. I BOUGHT IT AND INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE WITH RICK TREVINO'S SONGS. HIS VOICE IS TO DIE FOR AND WHILE I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SPANISH MUSIC AND THE WAY IT HAS CHANGED,I DO KNOW THAT THIS KID IS GOOD. OUT OF THE TEN SONGS I LIKED EIGHT OF THEM. MY FAVORITE IS "ECHALE Y TAPALO". BUT HE SOUNDS VERY SENSUOUS ON "VUELVO AL SUR". I AGREE THAT HE SHOULD FOCUS MORE OF HIS MUSIC ON HIS SPANISH ROOTS. HE SOUNDS GOOD SINGING THE COUNTRY BUT IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE'S SELLING HIMSELF SHORT. I HOPE WE HEAR MORE SPANISH RELEASES FROM HIM, HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES AND LOT MORE. HE HAS TRUE TALENT AND A HECK OF A VOICE TO BOOT....."
The Education of Rick Treviņo
Stuffed Animal | Kansas City, Missouri United States | 05/31/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Muchas gracias a Los Lobos for taking Rick Treviño under their wing. With their help, he has created MI SON, his finest album to date. I call it "Tejano salsa" - sensuous Latin ballads snuggled up next to percolating dance numbers with a Southwestern flavor, delivered with a bravura this singer has never shown before . . . and Alberto Salas' arrangements are so warm and colorful . . . it's totally satisfying. If you visit Rick Treviño's official website, you'll see a message there stating that he's in the process of recording a country album. How could he BEAR to go back to singing boring country songs after doing this exciting kind of music? This boy was born to sing guarachas and boleros! I hope at least that it'll be a Tejano country album. But never mind about that - right now, Vanguard Records needs to promote the hell out of this fine release, and distribute lots of publicity photos of the sexy Mr. Treviño to the media. With his great new sound, and his new, more macho look, the once doubtful career prospects of this talented Texan look very bright indeed."