Dino Saluzzi – El Viejo Caminante (ECM Records, 2025)
On El Viejo Caminante (“The Old Wanderer”), bandoneon maestro Dino Saluzzi reunites with his guitarist son José María Saluzzi and Norwegian guitarist Jacob Young for an exquisite, intimate, virtuosic, cross-generational and deeply captivating trio session. The musicians brilliantly combine Argentine folk, tango, jazz, and personal reflection in this superb, quietly expressive set.
The project grew from duo concerts by Young and José in Argentina in 2022. After hearing the pair in Buenos Aires, Dino invited Young back the following year to record as a trio. “It fills me with joy,” Saluzzi said of the project, adding that the musicians’ different approaches produce “something beautiful.”
The repertoire spans originals, revisited pieces, and standards. Young contributes “Dino Is Here,” a portrait piece that leans toward tango’s flexibility, with a modal center designed to give the bandoneon space. Dino revisits early works, including “Tiempos de ausencias” and “Y amo a su hermano,” and presents the title track as a solo feature.
The album also includes “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “My One and Only Love,” and Karin Krog’s “Northern Sun.” Meanwhile, José’s “La Ciudad de los Aires Buenos” is envisioned as an overture.
“Buenos Aires 1950” reflects on Dino’s years in the Orquesta de Radio El Mundo. At a trio concert before the session, he described his lifelong instrument: “Sometimes it makes me cry, sometimes it speaks to me, but it never finishes telling me everything.”
Saluzzi, born in Campo Santo, launched his ECM discography with the 1982 solo album Kultrum and has collaborated widely with musicians across various genres. This includes projects with Charlie Haden, Palle Mikkelborg, Pierre Favre, Enrico Rava, Tomasz Stańko, John Surman, and cellist Anja Lechner.
José Maria Saluzzi, born in 1975, first recorded with his father at 15 on Mojotoro, later stepping forward as a guitarist on Responsorium and Cité de la Musique, and contributing to Juan Condori and El Valle de la Infancia.
Young, born in Lillehammer in 1970, studied in Oslo and at New York’s New School with Jim Hall and John Abercrombie. His ECM releases include Evening Falls, Sideways, Forever Young, and Eventually, and he appears on Manu Katché’s Third Round.
Saluzzi, who turned 90 in May 2025, continues to pursue musical and personal growth across genres. “I always strive to make contact with new ideas outside my normal element,” he shared.
Buy El Viejo Caminante.
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.