Sandra Luna’s Evolving Tango

Bloomington, Indiana, USA – Times Square Records will be releasing in the
United States the new album by Argentine singer Sandra Luna. “Cinders that
burn again and again… tango is like life, and has to evolv
e,” says singer
Sandra Luna, paraphrasing famous tango lyricist Horacio Ferrer. On her first
international release, Tango Varón, Luna turns her ear to the future
while keeping one foot firmly in the tango’s colorful past. On her new album she
expands tango music, normally associated with dancing in non-Spanish speaking
countries, to a broader more expansive song form. Tango Varón features
reenergized versions of tango classics from legends like Homero Manzi and Astor
Piazzolla, to newly created tango compositions that tell the tale of
contemporary life in Buenos Aires.In 1966, long after the peak of tango’s popularity, Sandra Luna was born in
Buenos Aires’ slaughterhouse district of Mataderos. By age eleven she was
performing in local tango bars like the Boliche de Rotundo. Sandra’s exposure to
the progressive forms of Piazzolla, and a voice that recalls the timeless grace
of her forbears and her birth in the barrio, is the perfect formula to take
tango to a new generation.

Tango Varón balances a strong repertoire of traditional tango standards,
with newly written compositions that speak from modern life in Buenos Aires.
From the highly percussive approach of “Me Llaman Luna” to the more traditional
and ornate bandoneón and strings on “Que Nadie Sepa Mu Sufrir,” Luna displays
her talent and ability to work above a wide variety of textures. On “Carritos
Cartoneros,” she tells the modern tale of a homeless vagabond who came to Buenos
Aires with the promise of a first world life, only to scour the streets for
bottles and cans to earn what little money they can. The proud, machismo male is
at the core of tango’s image, but Sandra is not afraid to challenge this
assumption head on. The title track “Tango Varón” recalls the origin of ‘male
tango’ in Buenos Aires, but her insistent performance injects the track with the
unique passion of a confident woman.

Buy Tango Varón.

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.

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