Category: music

La Cantante launch party

La Cantante de Tango is now on the screens (in Brussels: Vendome, Antwerp: Cartoon’s, Gent: Sphinx, Liege: Sauveniere, Namur: Cameo2). I was at the avant-premiere and the milonga afterwards at the Bouche-à-Oreille. Three good reasons to see the movie: the music: all the songs Helena (Eugenia) sings in the movie are recorded live, no tricks, […]

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Tango Toppers: Enrique Rodriguez

Tango Topper of today: Enrique Rodriguez, responsible for the famous “Llorar, llorar por una mujer es quererla y no tenerla.” Enrique Rodríguez was a complete functional musician, besides playing bandoneon, he equally played piano and violin or brandished the baton. He was talented and was fast to easily write simple arrangements and versions of consecrated […]

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Tango Toppers: Juan D’Arienzo

Today’s Tango Topper is Juan D’Arienzo Juan D’Arienzo (1900-1976) was an Argentine tango musician, also known as “El Rey del Compas” (King of the Beat). Departing from other orchestras of the golden age, D’Arienzo returned to the 2×4 feel that characterized music of the old guard, but he used more modern arrangements and instrumentation. His […]

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Tango Toppers: Carlos Di Sarli

Today’s Tango Topper is Carlo Di Sarli. Carlos Di Sarli (January 7, 1903 – January 12, 1960) was an Argentine tango musician, orchestra leader, composer and pianist. Before starting his own tango orchestra, he played in Osvaldo Fresedo’s orchestra. He developed smooth, clean-sounding, powerful arrangements which his Orquesta típica and recorded 27 albums and 512 […]

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Tango Toppers: Rodolfo Biagi

Number three in our series of Tango Toppers: Rodolfo Biagi. Rodolfo Alberto Biagi was born in the Buenos Aires district of San Telmo on March 14, 1906 to Sixto & Ana Maria Gil Landaburu. At the age 13 he graduated from the Conservatory de la Prensa where he had originally studied to be a concert […]

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Tango Toppers: Astor Piazzolla

Number two in out Tango Toppers list, and quite a famous one: Astor Piazzolla. Ástor Piazzolla (March 11, 1921 – July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. An excellent bandoneonist, he […]

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Tango Toppers: Osvaldo Pugliese

Getting to know tango music is quite a task. While you may hear it being played everytime you dance, you don’t always know the names of the composers and performers. Who’s song is ‘Poema’? (Francisco Canaro) Who wrote ‘Llorar por una mujer (“quererla y no tenerla“)? (Enrique Rodriguez) Who plays ‘La Cumparsita’? (just about everyone) […]

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The first records in your tango collection

Even as a seasoned dancer, discovering tango music and its performers can be a daunting adventure. If you hear tango DJs talk, they seem to have this vast knowledge of composers, orchestras and individual singers with detailed preferences for specific years and recording sessions. Where does a beginning lover of tango music start? And which […]

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