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Enrique Rodríguez - Tangos con Armando Moreno

Reliquias 529105

The orchestra of Enrique Rodríguez is one of those that tango intellectuals like to denigrate, and in fact his rehabilitation (if that's not too strong a word) was due to his recent popularity in some of the best milongas in Europe - forcing Reliquias into printing tangos that were being demanded by the dancing public on the other side of the ocean.

His orchestra was not an orquesta típica - a straight tango orchestra - but an orquesta characteristica. These outfits played not just tangos but also other ballroom and latin rhythms. The main benefit of this was that, if organising a private party, you could get away with hiring only one orchestra rather than two or three.

Rodríguez's orchestra was so successful in this that his was known as the orquesta de todo los ritmos - the orchestra of all rhythms. That's not to say he didn't play good tangos. The rhythmic conception is fairly simple, but then so is that of De Angelis or Canaro.

Pretty much ignored in the early part of the tango revival in Argentina, El Bandoneón printed a cd of his tangos in the year 2000 and eventually Reliquias followed suit. There are now 9 of his cds in the famous lime green and yellow covers, which should give you an idea of how important an orchestra his is.

His most famous and enduring partnership was with singer Armando Moreno, and it's a cd of their tangos that we present this month. Do get one of these - you'll love it. You can dance enjoyably to every track, whilst Llorar por una mujer and Yo también tuve un cariño reach the level of real greatness.

Track list

1. Naranjo en flor
2. La vi llegar
3. Luna llena
4. A media luz
5. Tango argentino
6. Un tropezón
7. El tabernero
8. La gayola
9. Suerte loca
10. Llorar por una mujer
11. Como has cambiado pebeta
12. En la buena y en la mala
13. Mi piba
14. Adiós para siempre
15. Mirame de frente
16. Tu cielo y tu
17. Adiós muchachos
18. Tu intimo secreto
19. Y así nació este tango
20. Yo también tuve un cariño

Milongueando con Juan D'Arienzo

EU 16025

This storming cd from EURO record's Archivo RCA presents 20 milongas from the king of the beat, Juan D'Arienzo, including the killer and hard to find La cicatriz. Hot stuff.

Track list

1. De pura cepa
2. Silueta porteña
3. La puñalada
4. El esquinazo
5. Meta fierro
6. Milonga del recuerdo
7. De antaño
8. La cicatriz
9. Carnavalera
10. Tirando a matar
11. Oro de ley
12. Chaparrón
13. Mucho mucho
14. Pampeana
15. Bien porteña
16. Baldosa floja
17. Munyinga
18. Engañadora
19. Me llaman milonga
20. El chapucero
21. La paparruchita
22. Prometedora

Cantan:

Walter Cabral (2); Alberto Echagüe (5-8, 11,12); Héctor Mauré (9,10); Armando Laborde (13); M.Bustos - J.Valdéz (16); Horacio Palma (19,22)

Alberto Castillo - Candombes y milongas

EMI 499 974

Yes that's right - an album consisting entirely of candombes and milongas from the enduringly popular Alberto Castillo, after his break from Tanturi. (Okay there are a few marches as well). Like your tango with drums? Then this is for you.

Track list

1. Siga el baile candombe
2. Baile de los morenos candombe
3. Charol candombe
4. Estampa del 800 candombe
5. El cachivachero candombe
6. La pulgita candombe
7. Candombeando candombe
8. Café candombe
9. El gatito es telado candombe
10. Macumba cumba marcha
11. Mariana candombe
12. Candombero milonga
13. Vestido punzo milonga
14. Bronce milonga
15. Yo soy milonga milonga
16. Candonga milonga
17. El aguatero porteño milonga
18. Es Buenos Aires marcha
19. Soltero o casado marcha
20. Año nuevo marcha

Francini/Pontier 1951/1955

EU 16027

Transition era recordings from the former stars of Miguel Caló, with impeccable fidelity.

Track list

1. Discepolín
2. Pa' que sepan cómo soy
3. Por seguidora y por fiel
4. Por una mala mujer
5. Certificao
6. Viejo smoking
7. Olvidao
8. Una canción
9. Prohibido
10. Caricias perdidas
11. Tengo un amigo
12. Azabache
13. Sin lágrimas
14. Cuando talla un bandoneón
15. Los cosos de al lao
16. Perdóname
17. Noche de locura
18. Ronda azul
19. Por una muñeca
20. Cuartito azul
21. Barra querida
22. Por unos ojos negros

Cantan:

Héctor Montes (1)
Julio Sosa (2-7)
Mario Lagos (8,10)
Pablo Moreno (9,11-14)
Roberto Florio (15,19,20,22)
Luis Correa (16-18,21)

Cuarteto Cedron: Piove en San Telmo (Canciones lunfardas)

AQUA AQ 071

Juan “Tata” Cedrón has been directing his quartet for over 40 years, continuing in Paris the work he began in Buenos Aires in the 1960s. A prolific composer and an original and influential musician, his ear for the songs and language of Buenos Aires is particularly apparent in this 2005 album which presents songs rich in the unique argot of that city, lunfardo. Italian speakers will by now have translated the title: Dust in San Telmo, but I have to be honest and tell you that I don't even understand all the titles

This is the kind of music you'd dance to if you heard it live, but on disc you're more likely to enjoy it as a listener. Jazz lovers in particular will enjoy this music - consider that Cedrón has made a successful living in Paris for 30 years, and you'll have some idea.

This album on the small Argentine label Acqua sold well and has now gone out of print, so if you fancy one this is probably your last chance.

Read an interview with Juan Cedron in the Argentine broadsheet pagina 12 (Spanish only).

Track list

1. Piove en San Telmo
2. Los adioses
3. Candombe para el que hasta ayer reía
4. A Rosalía
5. La luna que yira
6. Milongazo
7. Milonga de la mufiña
8. Virgencita criolla
9. Milonga para amar
10. Mares
11. Floreo
12. La calesita del tiempo
13. A Lola Mora
14. Fiaca