POP AND JAZZ REVIEWS : Durcal Confirms Her Status

Known in her native Spain as a popular actress and ballad singer, Rocio Durcal recorded six successful albums of rancheras in Mexico in the last few years, and is treated by the Mexican audience as one of the major singers in mariachi music--a real achievement considering Mexico’s pride in its native artists.

In her return on Saturday to the Universal Amphitheater after two years, Durcal not only confirmed her status in the ranchera field, but also reminded everyone that she is one of the most complete all-around performers in Latin music.

Backed by the Los Angeles-based Mariachi America and a six-member group of technically capable but passionless musicians, Durcal did more than just present classics and songs from her new “Desaires” (“Snubs”) album--she opened with show-stopping flamenco vocals and went on to tango, keeping her own Spanish accent in a way that only an artist who truly knows the essence of the music could have done.

The highlight of her ranchera set was her duet with Spanish singer Jose Carlos on “Y nos dieron las diez,” a hit popularized worldwide by the acclaimed Spanish pop songwriter Joaquin Sabina.

Durcal’s voice and stage presence are enough to put her a notch or two above the average pop star.