TRIO BUEN TIEMPO or The Good Time Trio

Performing Saturday, May 5, 2012 2:00 p.m. concert - FREE to ALL

Danny Rocha (guitarron, guitar, vocals)

Joe Barragan (guitar, mandolin, vocals)

Rick Rodriguez (requinto, button accordeon, vocals)

The group is a Mexican “trio,” which typically consists of 3 acoustic guitars – at least one of them a smaller “requinto.” However, this group incorporates the “guitarron,” which is the bass guitar used by mariachi groups, and at times the button accordeon used by Norteño and Tex-Mex groups. A Mexican Trio is best known for its romantic Spanish ballads, but also plays many other musical styles from Mexico and Latin America in general.

All three members of Trio Buen Tiempo are self-taught musicians and all have played in a variety of musical groups including classic rock bands, oldies bands, smooth jazz combos, Mexican trios and even church choirs.  Danny was also formally trained to play the guitarron as part of a mariachi at East Los Angeles Community College and has played electric bass in various other bands.  Joe plays the Spanish guitar and the mandolin in the trio, but has also played electric guitar in other groups and has a strong jazz influence.  For this group, Rick plays the requinto (a smaller, higher pitched Spanish guitar) and accordeon, but has played a variety of other instruments including keyboards and percussion.

All three grew up listening to and were influenced by mariachi music and the romantic songs of the Mexican trios, as well as the rock music of the 60s and 70s which included what is now referred to as “Chicano Rock” – a blending of music from two cultures, American rock & roll and traditional Latino music.

The three came together through their church, Holy Name of Mary in San Dimas, and eventually began playing together in various styles, leading up to the current configuration.  What makes this “Mexican Trio” unique is their ability to field requests as diverse as songs from “Los Panchos” like “El Reloj” and “La Malaguena,” to mariachi tunes like “Guadalajara,” to Tex-Mex tunes like “Hey Baby Que Paso,” to acoustic rock like the Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” and even some Jimi Hendrix if requested!!