Customer Reviews

QuinTango

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Is it any wonder that President Clinton chose Quintango to entertain the President of Argentina at a state dinner in the White House? A musician himself, the President didn't have to look any further than this stellar Washington based ensemble.

This quintette of classicly trained musicians is really passionate about the tango as an art form. You can hear it in their playing. They even travel to Buenos Aires on a regular basis to make sure that their music is authentic and current. Their choice of selections is impeccable and will satisfy even the most ardent of Tango lovers. If you love tango, you will love this album.

Even the packaging and art work of this album are superb. Don't pass up this album if you are a tango aficionato. It is a "must buy."

They say that tango provides you a sense of where you were. For me, "Quintango" brought me back to where I began. The piece I love most is Carlos Gardel's "Por Una Cabeza," known to many as the tango from the movies "Scent of a Woman" and "True Lies." Until I listened to this disk, my favorite rendition was by the ensemble "Tango Project." I still like the Tango Project arrangement, but I like Quintango's version much better. The orchestration is superb, and it is just slightly longer in length.

The second disk I had purchased was the sound track recording of Sally Porter's movie "Tango Lesson." I will not detract from that disk because I really love the collection. However, the Quintango arrangment of Piazzola's "Libertango" is excellent. Another Piazzola favorite is "Oblivion," a selection that tends to be more of a favorite of fantasy tango dancers rather than salon dancers. Some instructors say you can't really dance to "Oblivion" -- it may not be on the play list of your favorite tango DJ, but I can dance to this version.

The play list shows a lot of the traditional favorites of tangueros. This is a comfortable feeling and a pleasant sound. There is a wonderful feeling of interaction with the ensemble that is more characteristic of what you may find in a jazz combo than what you would think of for an ensemble of classically trained musicians. They play off each others strengths to develop a most delightful product. There is something positive to be said about an ensemble led by a tanguera. While we like the vintage tango on this disk, the arrangements of these pieces by Quintango are delicious to my ear.

Yes, this is romantic, lush, sometimes wildly authentic Tango music for those who favor the orchestral - as opposed to the vocal - component of this ouevre. Most Sud Americanos do not share this attitude, automatically linking a Tango with a song and not an art form. So why not a solid five stars? One reason only: The lack of a bandoneon, the essence of the Tango. It is no surprise that Astor Piazzolla was also a first-class artist of the bandoneon with its whining, moaning and yearning sounds that an accordian can approach but not replicate.

The arrangements are wonderfully inventive yet true to the spirit of the works. The artistry is incredible - this is not a gang of guys meeting in someone's apartment for a little jam session. They are serious musicians who seem to take both the music and its interpretation seriously. Rush out now for this CD and don't forget the equally excellent "Secrets", their other CD.

This is an ecxelent collection of the most famous Tangos in orchestal version. The sound is very good also to dance this rithm.