Brimming with fun and filled with life, Fiesta Mexicana delivers music, folktales, Mexican history and language lessons. This remarkable two CD set features the multitalented members of the Sonnes de Mexico Ensemble: Victor Pichardo, Juan Dies, Lorena Iniguez, Juan Rivera, Zache Pichardo and Javier Saume.

And if, for some reason, that skillful group of collaborators weren't enough, Dies and his Sonnes de Mexico Ensemble not-for-profit organization are visited by the likes of the legendary Ella Jenkins (lead vocals on Cuando Se Quiere De Veras), the pied piper of family music - Dan Zanes (solo vocalist on Tixtla) and the incomparable Sunny Sauceda on button accordion in El Raton Vaquero. Victor Garcia guests on trumpet; Steve Eisen on flute as well as alto, tenor and baritone sax.

Juan Dies and his Chicago-based group are deeply committed to developing quality educational programs in story and song; the richness of the storytelling and historical narratives serve as fine complements to the variety of acoustic folk music. Listener/learners are treated to a sumptuous historical tour of Mexico through music, story and song. Disc one is in English, disc two is in Spanish.