Tango Stories

Tango Stories Episode 6 -- Aired August 15, 2018

Guest: Kristen Balmer

Episode 6 aired on August 15, 2018 and featured Kristin Balmer, a visual artist, tango dancer and tango teacher. During the course of our animated conversation, Kristin makes a great case for trying tango and sticking with it, even though there may be some frustrations along the way. Among other things, we learn how Kristin’s puppies came to recognize the music of Enrique Rodriguez. (Pretty impressive!)

Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:

1. "Son Cosas del Bandoneon" - Enrique Rodriguez

Tango Stories Episode 5 -- Aired August 8, 2018

Guest: Batt Johnson

Episode 5 aired on August 8, 2018. My guest was Batt Johnson, an author, actor, DJ, professor and tanguero. He is the author of the book Tango Intoxication. Batt and I talk about the unending inspiration that tango music provides the dancer and how it keeps us motivated to go back out on the dance floor again and again.

Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:

1. "La Vida Es Corta" - Ricardo Tanturi & Alberto Castillo

Tango Stories Episode 4 -- Aired July 25, 2018

Guest: Tangueras from Tango Studio, Nicosia

My guests for Episode 4 were Marianna, Lucie and Anna; tangueras who study and dance at Tango Studio, Nicosia in Cyprus. Among other topics, they speak eloquently about tango as a bridge to understanding and connecting with people and places that would otherwise remain foreign.

Note: This episode was recorded outside the studio and the audio has some minor distortion.

Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:

1."Hotel Victoria" - Francisco Canaro

2."Historia De Un Amor" - Héctor Varela

3."Poema" - Francisco Canaro

Tango Stories Episode 3 -- Aired July 18, 2018

Guest: Jerry Klein

My guest for Episode 3 is Jerry Klein (a good friend, but no relation). Jerry is a social dancer and sculptor in Philadelphia who started dancing tango at age 58. In this interview, he talks about learning to understand and “speak” tango movement like a language. He also brings some of his favorite tangos for us to listen to. 

Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:

1."Nada" - Carlos Di Sarli & Alberto Podesta

2."Buenos Aires Yo Te Canto" - Carlos Di Sarli & Oscar Serpa

3."Fruta Amarga" - Aníbal Troilo & Alberto Marino

4."Buscándote" - Osvaldo Fresedo & Ricardo Ruiz

Tango Stories Episode 2 -- Aired July 11, 2018

Guest: Gustavo Rember

A lifelong porteño, Gustavo Rember is a college professor and high school teacher as well as a gifted tango dancer and teacher. He’s also an accomplished tango performer, DJ and event organizer.

Episode 2 aired on July 11, 2018, a few days before the World Cup Final. Gustavo Rember and I seized the moment to talk about connections between tango and soccer (futbol) and to listen to some tangos written about soccer teams and soccer personalities. 

Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:

1. "Mano a Mano" - Edmundo Rivero

Tango Stories Episode 1 -- Aired July 4, 2018

Guest: Emiliano Messiez

Born in Argentina, and located in New York City since 2016, Emiliano Messiez is one of the most sought-after tango pianists in the United States.  He is the director of the Típica Messiez, the only professional tango orquesta típica in the country, and composer for the upcoming musical, Bordello.

Learn more about Emiliano at: https://www.emilianomessiez.com/

Links to Musical Examples in this episode:

1. "Uno" - Anibal Troilo and Alberto Marino.