Newfound maturity of Hinojosa's voice is audience's delight
By Jeff Guinn
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - Besides her ability to mesh country, folk and Tejano themes
in her songs, Tish Hinojosa's musical calling-card has always been her
crystal-pure voice. That's no longer entirely true.
Saturday night at the recently restored Roseland/-Marine Theatre on Fort
Worth's North Side, the Austin-based singer/songwriter seemed, for the first
time, to ease toward some high notes instead of soaring to them.
There was distinct grain in Hinojosa's tone instead of startling precision.
And this made her music all the better.
On Sign of Truth and Destiny's Gate, Hinojosa no longer sounded like a
choirgirl. Instead, there was a new maturity - a middle-aged woman was
singing about life's hard and hopeful places, and the resulting emotional
resonance surpassed anything her listeners had heard from her.
The informal setting helped, too. Hinojosa's show benefited the Fort Worth
Theatre's education and community programs. Accordingly - it's a cinch she
wasn't picking up a huge check for her night's work - she performed
accompanied only by longtime sideman Marvin Dykhus, whose wizardry on guitar
and mandolin earned repeated ovations from the crowd of about 300.
Such sparse musical support gave Hinojosa the opportunity to wrap her warm
voice around lyrics that alternated between Spanish and English. If certain
high notes quavered, the overall richness of her delivery more than
compensated.
In particular, Roses Around My Feet (featured on a recent TV episode of
Dawson's Creek and Siempre Abuelita, Hinojosa's paean to her beloved
grandmother, were beautifully presented.
The shy singer even attempted some between-song banter, with the most
laughter elicited during a frank explanation of what "throwing roses" means
when translated into Spanish.
It's possible, even probable, that Tish Hinojosa fans must now accept her in
a new career phase. But a pristine voice is - was the least of what she had
to offer.
She still has her songs, and her heart - and that combination will be plenty
good enough for a long time to come.
Jeff Guinn, (817) 390-7720
jguinn@star-telegram.com
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