Tango Siempre

"You can't fault Tango Siempre, the British ensemble based around the talents of accordionist Pete Rosser, violinist Ros Stephen and pianist Jonathan Taylor. Since forming in the late 90s they've done everything right; touring, commissioning new music and pushing the limits of the idiom, while delivering performances that have the verve and passion you might expect from, well, older, less British players. Where 2005's Tangled featured tunes by several outside composers, Tangents focuses on the trio's own work and adds several guests including saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, superb on tenor, and drummer Steve Arguelles. Numbers such as Sweet Dreams evoke the spirit of Barbieri's Last Tango in Paris while remaining completely original. Tangents is beautifully recorded by Philip Bagenal, whose sound is always fiercely committed to his artists' aims, and closes on Cumparsita, an Argentinian classic" (****) - John L. Walters, The Guardian

"Since their formation in 1998, the UK accordion- violin-piano trio Tango Siempre have been invigorating the melodramatic textures of nuevo tango with their jazz- and contemporary music- influenced compositions. On this third album, the core group is fleshed out with two additional strings plus saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and drummer/programmer Steve Arguilles. Tango's bittersweet accordion melodies, violin glissandos and rumbling rhythms are still the focus, but the extra strings add to the pathos and Atzmon adds to the fire of the emotional palette." - MH, Financial Times

"This new collaboration... is simply electrifying. It's basically tango, but spiced up with jazz and electronically burnished to a high gloss: major virtuosity shines throughout." - The Scotsman

Unknown Public: UP's favourite releases this week! Tango Siempre feat. Gilad Atzmon & Steve Argüelles / Tangents / Galileo Music Tangents, Tango Siempre's newest album follows in their fluid, sparkly playing style, only this time (unlike their previous two albums), Tango Siempre perform their own compositions and incorporate special guests: BBC Jazz Award winner saxophonist Gilad Atzmon, and on drums and electronics, Loose Tubes' Steve Argüelles. Atzmon's sax adds to the music in a subtle, non-intrusive way giving the album a jazzier edge. A couple of tracks engage light electronic drumbeats but this does not encroach on the dance-club orientation of tango electronica originators: Bajofondo Tango Club and Gotan Project. "Nazareth" a piece composed by Atzmon displays his versatility on the saxophone – it flows with jazzy Middle Eastern / Turkish melodies, occasionally making his saxophone sound like a zurna. Solos by Tango Siempre are rare in the album – Ros Stephen's striking solo in "Los Pasos Gigantes" is a gem. Other highlights include "No Te Olvido" by Pete Rosser who plays the accordion in the group, "Sweet Dreams" by pianist Jonathan Taylor and "Cumparsita" a G. Matos Rodriguez piece arranged by Taylor." - John L. Walters