POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Mariachi King Adds a Jewel to His Crown

Vicente Fernandez put another jewel in his long-held crown of mariachi king at the Universal Amphitheatre on Saturday, and his talented son Alejandro showed that he’s the logical inheritor of his father’s legacy.

The concert, the first of two nights at the Amphitheatre, was fast-paced and engaging. A stage decorated as a Mexican quinta , complete with burning firewood, plants, hay and a saddle, helped create the Guadalajara mood--but the lighting operator did not: Periodically throughout the show the crowd was blinded by spotlights, to the extent that a stage assistant had to cover one of them with a charro hat.

Backed by Guanajuato’s efficient but unspectacular Mariachi Internacional Chapala, Vicente--a recording artist since 1968--performed some of his classics and a few not-so-old tunes, including a mariachi version of “My Way,” the song long identified with Frank Sinatra.

Concentrating on songs from “Piel de Nina” (“Skin of a Girl”), his second and latest album, Alejandro Fernandez showed in his opening set that he is an impressive vocal interpreter in his own right. Vocally, his shorter segment was even more rewarding than that of his father.

Nevertheless, Vicente Fernandez, 54, was the crowd favorite. “As long as you keep applauding, I’ll be here,” he said. Which means he’ll be around for a while.