Tango Legends
by Vayo Raimondo
I’ll just quote directly from his website: “The feeling and mood of these pieces are what is important whether you understand the lyrics or not. The phrasing, inflections, tempo, and musical accompaniment are all consistent with the expression of the lyrics. In my singing I direct my voice to a listener who is near me. There must be enough dramatic power in the voice, and in the music itself, without reliance on volume for expression.”
Vayo Raimondo hails from Uruguay, and recorded his latest CD in that country’s capital Montevideo. The traditional tango style on this CD has a very intimate “outdoor café” feel to it. It takes me to Europe even though this dance style is famous for its origin in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, like Ragtime in the states, it got its hold in houses if ill repute before finally gaining respectability some time later.
Tango Legends, named for Raimondo's teacher and mentor, “tango legend” Toto Damario, is a throwback to the dance’s early days. Raimondo sings in Spanish, accompanied by a bandoneon (a sort of reedy accordion), guitar, and bass, performed by some of Uruguay’s most famous tango musicians. He picks tunes from from Tango's "Golden Age" of the 30s and 40s.
I think he’s made good on his quote. This CD has a very strong live “You are there” feel to it; I can picture him walking from table to table at that café, enchanting the ladies and enraging their husbands. Raimondo has an easy manner about his vocals, he glides his way through a song and invites you to pay closer attention.
Now, okay, I don’t know enough about tangos to say “hey this is great or not so great” as far as tangos go. To the untrained ear these songs all have the same basic sound to them, and this could make this CD of 19 songs a bit too-much-at-once for someone new to the genre.
Actually I’ve never been anywhere where someone’s put on CD of tangos. I think for most of us it will expand our definition of what a tango is and take us on a journey to a low-tech art from from a land and time that for many of us is very far away. And who knows? It might just help you get the girl.
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