FRANCISCO CANARO

Francisco Canaro was born in Uruguay and moved to Argentina when he was a young boy. Son of Italian immigrants, he became a well known violinist and eventually formed one of the most renowned tango orchestras. He composed popular tangos as well as music for films.

Canaro helped to create the Argentine Society of Composers and Songwriters (SADAIC) in 1935.

JERZY PETERSBURSKI

Jerzy Petersburski was a Jewish Polish pianist and composer. He wrote much popular music and is especially remembered for his Tangos - including Tango Milonga which was written in 1928. During World War II, Petersburski served with the Polish Air Force and following the war he was evacuated to Persia. He then lived in Cairo, where he worked for Polish Radio. He then lived in Brazil and finally settled in Argentina from 1948-1968 working with 'Radio El Mundo' in Buenos Aires. He spent the final years of his life in Poland.

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA
and Tango Nuevo

Astor Piazzolla was Argentine musician and a virtuoso on the bandoneón. Piazzolla created a new tango which combined elements of jazz and classical music and he is considered an important twentieth century composer. From 1925 to 1936, Piazzolla lived in New York, where he received his first bandoneon. He played both bandoneon and the piano as a young boy, and was inspired by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After his family returned to Argentina, Piazzolla began playing with tango orchestras, and at the age of 17 he moved to Buenos Aires. Piazzolla formed his own orchestra in 1946 and began to experiment with the tango style in his own original compositions.

He was the target of criticism from those who were offended by the way in which he was experimenting with tango traditions. He formed the Quinteto Nuevo Tango (1960),which included a violin, electric guitar, piano, double bass, and bandoneón. He composed many works for his ensemble but also wrote works for orchestra, big band, bandoneon, cello and flute. His music gradually became more popular and he also influenced a new generation of musicians who have continued his tradition of TANGO NUEVO.

Libertango

Watch this electric performance of Libertango performed by Astor Piazzolla and an eclectic group of musicians including guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, jazz flute and drums, which shows how far Piazzolla had pushed the tango style.

PEDRO GIRAUDO

Pedro Giraudo (bassist and composer) has won the 2018 Latin GRAMMY Award for Best Tango Album, “Vigor Tanguero,” with his Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet. Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, he is among the most compelling tango artists today. After two decades performing with the most important interpreters of tango, Pedro Giraudo debuted his own Tango Orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing in July 2015 and since then has become an active cultural ambassador of this beautiful and passionate music of his native Argentina.

As a composer and arranger, Giraudo leads his own jazz and tango ensembles and has been hailed by critics as one of the most creative and daring bandleaders on the scene today. His compositions combine his love of classical forms, Argentine tango and folk music, and the spontaneity of jazz improvisation. The band, which boasts some of New York’s finest musicians, has performed regularly in the most prestigious jazz clubs in the New York City area, including the Jazz Standard, Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Blue Note, Joe’s Pub, as well as abroad.