Guacamaya: Chamber Music and Songs from Mexico

Scottish tenor Jamie MacDougall thinks the songs and tunes of Mexico are “up there with the American songbook”, and devotes his album Guacamaya to unearthing gems from the Mexican tradition. Agustín Lara’s Granada is the best known song in the recital, and MacDougall’s affectionate rendition is abetted by the buoyant support of the instrumental group Mr. McFall’s Chamber, complete with clacking castanets. Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita is another popular favorite which glows in MacDougall’s fondly sentimental reading, and includes a marvelously sinuous solo for the musical saw. Between the songs sits a selection of instrumental pieces, including the contemporary composer Javier Álvarez’s bustlingly rhythmic Metro Chabacano and Pablo Moncayo’s Aztec-inspired Sonata for Viola and Piano—all winningly performed.