Tango Pacifico at Ivories Jazz Lounge and Restaurant

Portland, Oregon – Thursday June 21, 2012 Portland-based quintet Tango
Pacifico presents a rare and unique program featuring the music of Argentinean
tango master Astor Piazzolla. The music will be performed as originally intended
for Piazzolla’s quintet of (bandoneon, violin, bass, piano and electric guitar).
Piazzolla’s music has become increasingly ubiquitous in the concert halls of the
world, yet it is rarely performed with the intended instrumentation or with such a
high level of stylistic expertise outside of Argentina.

Tango Pacifico features members of the Oregon Symphony (Erin Furbee,...

read more

Portland, Oregon – Thursday June 21, 2012 Portland-based quintet Tango
Pacifico presents a rare and unique program featuring the music of Argentinean
tango master Astor Piazzolla. The music will be performed as originally intended
for Piazzolla’s quintet of (bandoneon, violin, bass, piano and electric guitar).
Piazzolla’s music has become increasingly ubiquitous in the concert halls of the
world, yet it is rarely performed with the intended instrumentation or with such a
high level of stylistic expertise outside of Argentina.

Tango Pacifico features members of the Oregon Symphony (Erin Furbee,
assistant concertmaster and Jeff Johnson, contrabass) as well as top-notch local
musicians (Mika Sunago, piano and John Mery, electric guitar). Additionally,
San Francisco-based phenom Adrian Jost is featured on the principal instrument
of tango, the bandoneon. Known to many as the "devil's box" for its difficulty,
there are only a small number of technically proficient artists in the U.S., Adrian
being one of these few. He will also be playing the bayan on several of the
pieces. The ensemble members have studied this music extensively including
numerous stints in Buenos Aires and have worked with Piazzolla’s longtime
friend, arranger, and cellist Jose Bragato.

Astor Piazzolla’s tango music was revolutionary and offended many in his native
Argentina. It was initially rejected and viewed as a threat to the tradition of tango
(this went as far as death threats). Piazzolla fused elements of jazz and avant-
garde concert music with traditional tango to create a new, highly original style.
This was a natural extension of his upbringing; he spent most of his childhood in
New York City where he was regularly exposed to jazz and a great deal of other
musical styles. It was during his time in the US that he took up the bandoneon
at the urging of his father who brought it home as a gift to young Astor. Upon
returning to Argentina Piazzolla eventually joined the greatest tango orchestras
of the day. He later turned his attention to serious composition including studies
in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, who encouraged Piazzolla to embrace the music
of his native country. From that point on he never looked back and has now
become the world’s most famous tango composer.

Do not miss this rare and intimate opportunity to hear some of Portland’s top
talent perform Piazzolla’s music as originally intended for his quintet and as

http://www.tangopacificotheband.com

show less