The internationally aclaimed Mono Blanco is the leader of the "renovating movement" that son jarocho - the traditional music of the southern mexican State of Veracruz - is now experiencing. The people who participate in the movement have concentrated on preserving the celebratory environment of son jarocho while highlighting the Afro-Caribbean aspects of their music and the preponderance of improvisation in this genre. Since its formation in 1978, Mono Blanco has performed all around Mexico and also in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, Central and South America, the United States and Canada. Mono Blanco has a unique sound firmly rooted in an ancient and rich tradition, supported by a group of musicians endowed with great talent and inspiration. Aside from their work as performers, Mono Blanco participates in many activities related to the development and promotion of the son jarocho. They organize workshops about every aspect of the son: making and playing jarocho instruments, "versada" (the art of writing jarocho verses) and dance. It should be noted that the jarocho instruments –jaranas and guitarras de son– built by Mono Blanco members and apprentices are crafted according to very old traditional methods with roots in the "rural interpretation" of barroque and rennaisance traditions. The basic quintet of the band includes: Octavio Vega Hernandez: Son of Don Andres Vega (see below), born in Boca de San Miguel, municipality of Tlacotalpan, Octavio made a name for himself within the band, while honoring the hierarchy of his last name. Apart from playing the requinto jarocho (son guitar) and the jarana, Octavio has a keen interest in Jarocho harp. He is considered to be one of the best soneros in the jarocho region. Gilberto Gutierrez: The director of Mono Blanco and one of its founders, Gilberto was born in Tres Zapotes in 1958. He plays the jarana and composes sones since 1979. He has been granted three grants, including the Rockefeller-Bancomer-CNCA and the National Endowment for the Arts (U.S.A.). As a result of the latter, he developed the Fandango Project in the San Francisco bay area, in California, where he lived between 1993 and 1995. In 1996, the Ford Foundation and the Guadalupe Cultural Center granted him a scholarship for an internship in San Antonio, Texas, as a colaborator for the Gateway Project; there, he worked with a team of four artists who created the play De Jarocha a Pocha - The Doloritas. He participated as an advisor and performer in Los Lobos' "Papa's Dream" album, which was nominated for a Grammy. Gisela Farias Luna: Female dancers are indispensable for son jarocho, but there are less singers and musicians; only a few girls, such as Gisela, master those three aspects of the jarocho tradition. It is fortunate for Mono Blanco, in particular, to have such a natural and beautiful female voice. Andres Vega Delfin: Seventy something years old famous "Guero Vega" was born in El Lirio, municipality of Saltabarranca. He has played son since he was a little boy, when he accompanied his father to the fandangos, just like generations of young kids had done before his time. He lives in Boca de San Miguel, municipality of Tlacotalpan, working as a farmer and fisherman. Due to the architectural clarity of his improvisation, he is one of the most reputed players of the guitarra de son. He is a member of Mono Blanco since 1981. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.