Hailing from Xalapa, Veracruz, Son de Madera is a Mexican folk ensemble inspired by son jarocho, the regional brand of Mexican music that birthed classic compositions like "La Bamba." The band was formed in 1992 by guitarra de son player Ramón Gutiérrez Hernández, jarana jarocha player José Tereso Vega Hernández, and zapateado dancer Rubí Oseguera Rueda. With Rueda's footwork serving as the band's percussion, Son de Madera completed its lineup with the addition of bassist Juan Pérez. Looking to bridge the gap between contemporary music and old-world son jorocho, Son de Madera then made its studio debut with 1996's Son de madera, a self-titled record that made room for new and traditional sounds. Las Orquestas Del Día followed in 2004, with Son de Mi Tierra and Mexico Son de Madera both appearing in 2009. Having built an audience that stretched far beyond the band's hometown, Son de Madera began touring internationally, serving as cultural ambassadors with performances at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, NPR's Mountain Stage, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and other events. 2013's Concierto en Vivo, Glatt & Verkehrt documented a live performance in Vienna, Austria, while 2014's Caribe Mar Sincopado found the band emphasizing son jarocho's Caribbean roots.
