TANGO AND JAZZ FUSION AT THE GENTING INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
TANGALGO is a three man ensemble with its musicians coming from Scotland, Italy and New Zealand.
They play an unusual and very unexpected fusion of jazz improvisations with the dramatic and very flashy tango.
The original tango originated in Spain or Morocco. It was introduced to the Americas by Spanish settlers, picked up African rhythms, South American milonga (a very relaxed dance form from Argentina and Uruguay) and Creole influences, and made its way home again to Spain.
In the early 19th century, the woman danced the tango by herself. Later it became a two-person dance which suggested flirting between the partners.
The tango as a ballroom dance came up from the lower social classes in Argentina especially Buenos Aires and Montivedio.
It is said that the tango was initiated by the gauchos or horse riders of Argentina. Because they worked whole days with horses in the wild, they would come to the bars for relaxation. Not having bathed or cleaned up, they would be fairly fragrant. This resulted in the ladies leaning away from the man while dancing, with their noses tilted into up seeking fresher scented air.
Added to that, the woman would place her hands at the man’s hips, nearest his pockets as she was looking for payment.
The man would dance with his knees slightly flexed because of his constant gait on horseback. Also, he would do the tango moving in small circular steps because of the crowded situation at the bars he frequented.
The music of Tangalgo, while seductive and passionate and full of wonderful internal textures, conveys a sheer joy in the moment of performance and is so honestly happy at its core, that this band is going to be one of the darlings at the festival.
They work with original scores that they admire as well as adding their own compositions.
The band formed in 2003 in Edinbugh. They are Phil Alexander at the piano, Mario Caribe on the double bass, and John Rae who lives in New Zealand at the drums.
Tangalgo will perform at the festival on the first night together with Malaysian band James Boyle & The Ragged Tigers, Shanghai Jazz Ensemble from China, Sakesho with Andy Narell playing Caribbean jazz and the Gangbe Brass Band from Benin.
Tickets for a one day Adult pass is priced at RM100 while a 2-day pass is available at RM150.
They can be bought online at www.genting.com.my or call 03-2718 1118 from April onwards.
The website will also have information on packages that have been tailored for the event.
Dancing the tango, the partner most not only feel the music, he must also projects and connects with the audience. Projecting and connecting? This is definitely Tangalgo.
