Los Jardineros The Best of Los Jardineros (Yazoo Records 7018).

• Author: Holston, Mark
• Position: Sound recording review

Vicente Fernandez The Living Legend (Norte/Sony 8287) Suni Paz Bandera Mia (Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40532)

These three packages speak of noble traditions deeply reflective of the times and cultures in which they were born and evolved. All pay full respect to the traditions and artists presented, complementing the music portion with extensive notes, translation of lyrics, photographs, and other rich graphic and editorial detail.

Los Jardineros were the premier traditional Puerto Rican group of their era based in New York City, which became home to tens of thousands of island natives following the possession of the former Spanish colony by the U.S. in 1898. The collection's twenty-three tracks were rescued from rare 78 rpm recordings made between 1929 and 1932. The group includes both vocalists and accomplished instrumentalists who shine on clarinet, trumpet, string instruments, and percussion as they perform such period styles as the fox trot, bolero, danza, decima, and plena. A fascinating and revealing slice of the Puerto Rican rural life-style is captured on works like "Don Juan Tenorio" (Sir John the Seducer) and "El Pregonerito" (The Little Town Crier).

Although there are many pretenders to the throne of Mexico's king of ranchera, there's no question that, after a four-decade-long career, almost one hundred albums to his credit, a raft of awards, and over fifty million albums snatched up by loyal fans, Vicente Fernandez continues to reign supreme. With his trademark sombrero, courtly manner, and operatic vocal style, Fernandez embodies the style that reflects the soul of rural life in much of central and northern Mexico. Presented in a lavish box set, The Living Legend includes three CDs--three dozen tracks in all--that were hand-picked by the singer himself and organized into three themes: Mexico lindo y querido, A tu salud, and Mujeres divinas. Equally enticing is the...