Tango Tales: all about Argentine tango

"Tango is a child of crisis", - wrote Sonia Abadi, an astute observer of the Buenos Aires tango scene. "12 Tangos: Adios Buenos Aires" is a documentary about economic crisis, despair, resourcefulness and reverse Argentine emigration. It is told with twelve modern and classic tangos. The director Arne Birkenstock (Cologne, Germany) has a long-running "love affair" with the Argentine tango and the deep interest in Argentina. He talks about the events which inspired his documentary and the people who appeared in it. Music Director: Luis Borda. Choreographer: Gillermina Quiroga.

Alberto and Valorie wrote a definitive reference book on structure of the Argentine tango. In this show we chat about tango origins, its structure as it is danced socially today and the cultural differences in attitudes towards learning tango. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/gotta-tango/

(1/2) Astor Piazzolla is still the best known tango composer and musician in the world. Largely, the cosmopolitan sound of the tango nuevo which he started stems from his early exposure to the wide variety of music - from the European classical to the American jazz. The two-part show is dedicated to Piazzolla's formative years and the diverse musicians he learned from. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/young-piazzolla/

(2/2) Astor Piazzolla is still the best known tango composer and musician in the world. Largely, the cosmopolitan sound of the tango nuevo which he started stems from his early exposure to the wide variety of music - from the European classical to the American jazz. The two-part show is dedicated to Piazzolla's formative years and the diverse musicians he learned from.

Argentine doctor Rene Favaloro, a larger-than-life figure, invented the coronary by-pass procedure. His life was both passionate and tragic. Max Valentunizzi shared his memories of this wonderful man. Max is an amateur tango musician and a bio-engineering scientist from Tucuman, Argentina. He worked with Dr. Favaloro for many years. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/doctor-rene-favaloro/

It is difficult to put a single label on Pablo Aslan. In short, he is a jazz and tango musician who plays the double bass and lives in New York. But he is also a serious tango historian, a skilled musical coach (Argentine tango), an engaging lecturer and a keen observer of his audiences - dancers and listeners. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/pablo-aslan/

Maria Volonte became a tango singer in the early 80s, almost by accident. Currently she is one of the best known tango singers in Argentina: in 2007 she was inducted into Tango Hall of Fame. Her previous album Fuimos was awarded Gardel Prize and nominated for Latin Grammy in USA. Currently she divides her residence between Buenos Aires and San Francisco. Interview was recorded via phone on October 3, 2008. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/maria-volonte/

Before the Argentine men perfected the art of piropo (compliment), they frequently used pinching as a part of their courting arsenal. Mercifully, the custom died in the yearly 1940s. Ruth and Leonard Greenup, a pair of the American journalists, witnessed the demise of a pinch. Pretty funny story (if you are not the one to be pinched). MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/death-of-pinch/

Sax in tango? It does sound lovely! DCote sax quartet, Julian Vat, Bernardo Monk, Pablo Aslan and, of course, great Argentine master Gato Barbieri. Edited from the live show Tango Tales on Portsmouth Community Radio, Portsmouth, NH, USA. MORE INFO: http://www.tangotales.com/saxaphone-in-tango/

Brian Winter lived in Argentina from 2000 until 2004. He became heavily addicted to tango dancing and to the boozy, politically incorrect milongas of Buenos Aires. But his book is not so much about his personal (mis)adventures, as about the past and present of Argentina and tango. MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/archive/BrianWinter.htm

Brian Winter lived in Argentina from 2000 until 2004. He became heavily addicted to tango dancing and to boozy, outrageously politically incorrect milongas of Buenos Aires. But his book is more than account of his personal (mis)adventures. It is largely about the past and present of Argentina and tango. MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/archive/BrianWinter.htm

Pedro TETE Rusconi is one of the last milongueros of tango's Golden Age. He has been dancing tango for almost 60 years. His personality and style of dancing are unique and iconic. Silvia Ceriani, a writer and an artist, has been Tete's teaching partner since 1995. Her personal tango journey is fascinating. Interview with Tete, Silvia and Daniel Tonelli, the director of the documentary about Tete.

Pedro TETE Rusconi is one of the last milongueros of tango's Golden Age. He has been dancing tango for almost 60 years. His personality and style of dancing are unique and iconic. Silvia Ceriani, a writer and an artist, has been Tete's teaching partner since 1995. Her personal tango journey is fascinating. Interview with Tete, Silvia and Daniel Tonelli, the director of the documentary about Tete.

Orquesta Escuela de Tango (Training Orquestra of Tango) is a result of very determined efforts by very charismatic group of musicians. Caroline Neal's award-winning documentary Si Sos Brujo (If You Know Magic) records the birth of the orchestra. Caroline Neal talks about the near-death period of Argentine tango, its renaissance, tango preservation projects in Argentina, Orquesta Esquela de Tango, El Arranque, Emilio Balcarce, Ignacio Varchauski, Nestor Marconi, Horacio Salgan and Alfredo Gobbi. And, yes, there is the love story there, too!

Orquesta Escuela de Tango (Training Orquestra of Tango) is a result of very determined efforts by very charismatic group of musicians. Caroline Neal's award-winning documentary Si Sos Brujo (If You Know Magic) records the birth of the orchestra. Caroline Neal talks about the near-death period of Argentine tango, its renaissance, tango preservation projects in Argentina, Orquesta Esquela de Tango, El Arranque, Emilio Balcarce, Ignacio Varchauski, Nestor Marconi, Horacio Salgan and Alfredo Gobbi. And, yes, there is the love story there, too! MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/si-sos-brujo/

Orquesta Escuela de Tango (Training Orquestra of Tango) is a result of very determined efforts by very charismatic group of musicians. Caroline Neal's award-winning documentary Si Sos Brujo (If You Know Magic) records the birth of the orchestra. Caroline Neal talks about the near-death period of Argentine tango, its renaissance, tango preservation projects in Argentina, Orquesta Esquela de Tango, El Arranque, Emilio Balcarce, Ignacio Varchauski, Nestor Marconi, Horacio Salgan and Alfredo Gobbi. And, yes, there is the love story there, too!

Mariano Mores was born in 1920. He still performes - at 90! His showy style has its detractors, but, indisputably, he is one of the greatest tango composers of the 20th century. Mariano Mores wrote several tangos with lyrics by Jose Maria Contursi. Contursi's lyrics pored straight out of his broken heart. One of them, Gricel, is dedicated to the woman he loved for almost 4 decades. MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/mariano-mores/

What kind of music was played at milongas of Golden Age - recorded or live, tango only or mixed? Tango purists, be prepared for some surprises! What kind of people went to milongas? What was tango fashion? How Juan Carlos Copes, the tango dancer of the century, started his spectacular career? You will hear it all. MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/golden-age/

Guitar was the first instrument of tango. I talked to the Argentine guitar master Francisco Pancho Nararro about the role of his instrument in tango and the best tango guitarists of the past and present. The show features three of the masters named by Navarro - Roberto Grela, Juanjo Dominguez and Cacho Tirao.

Guitar was the first instrument of tango. I talked to the Argentine guitar master Francisco Pancho Nararro about the role of his instrument in tango and the best tango guitarists of the past and present. The show features three of the masters named by Navarro - Roberto Grela, Juanjo Dominguez and Cacho Tirao. MORE INFO: www.tangotales.com/navarro/