Tango Stories Episode 25 -- Aired January 30, 2019Guest: Nastasja Vojnovic & Bruno GiuntiniEpisode 25 of Tango Stories aired on January 30, 2019 and featured young violinist Nastasja Vojnovic talking about her upcoming concert as part of the Fishtown Salon Concert Series. We were joined by WhatsApp from Buenos Aires by Composer/Violinist Bruno Giuntini, two of whose pieces Nastasja would premiere at the concert.Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"El Calandrio" - Bruno Giuntini, Derrotas Cadenas"Corrientes y Montevideo" - Bruno Giuntini, Derrotas Cadenas"Cronocléptico and Cara y Seca" - Bruno Giuntini, Performed by Nastasja Vojinovic and Zhanara Makhmutova at the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School Fishtown Concert Series on February 9, 2019

Tango Stories - As heard on USALA Media

Episode 25 - Tango Stories - Nastasja Vojnovic & Bruno Giuntini

Tango Stories Episode 24 -- Aired January 16, 2019Guest: Mariano CastroEpisode 24 aired on January 16, 2019 and featured pianist Mariano Castro. I originally knew him as the pianist of Narcotango. Now, Mariano arranges tango and other genres for symphony orchestras and performs around the world as a soloist.For more information about Mariano Castro: https://www.marianocastro.roLinks to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Invierno Porteño" - A. Piazzolla arranged by Mariano Castro, Filarmonica de Stat Targu Mures"Vi Luz y Subí" - Narcotango

Episode 24 - Tango Stories - Mariano Castro

Tango Stories Episode 23 -- Aired January 9, 2019Guest: Hembra Episode 23 broadcast on January 9, 2019 and featured Hembra, a singer-songwriter duo from La Plata, Argentina. They came into the studio for an interview and to record gorgeous live music at USALA. To learn more about Hembra and their music, you can find them on YouTube, Facebook and Spotify. Note: This episode is in Spanish. Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Canción" - Hembra"Hembra" - Hembra"Salvapantallas" - Original by Jorge Drexel

Episode 23 - Tango Stories - Hembra

Tango Stories Episode 22 -- Aired December 19, 2018Guest: Manuk ColakyanIn Episode 22, which aired on December 19, 2018, DJ Manuk Colakyan came on Tango Stories and brought a number of great (and strange!) stories about how various tangos got their names. He also chose absolutely gorgeous versions of these tangos for us to listen to!Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"El Entrerriano" - Anibal Troilo"Cuidado Con Los Cincuenta" - Carlos Di Sarli"Tinta Verde" - Anibal Troilo"El Once" - Osvaldo Fresedo"El Yacaré" - Ángel D’Agostino & Ángel Vargas

Episode 22 - Tango Stories - Manuk Colakyan

Tango Stories Episode 21 -- Aired December 12, 2018Guest: Pedro GiraudoEpisode 21 aired on December 12, 2018 and featured an interview with bassist, composer and arranger, Pedro Giraudo. Giraudo’s album “Vigor Tanguero” won “Best Tango Album” at the 2018 Latin Grammys! In addition to a great interview, we hear a lot of beautiful music, mostly from the award-winning album.To learn more about Pedro and his music: https://www.pedrogiraudo.comLinks to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Vorágine" - Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet"Chicharrita" - Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet"A Octavio Brunetti" - Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet"La Rabiosa" - Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet

Episode 21 - Tango Stories - Pedro Giraudo

Tango Stories Episode 20 -- Aired December 5, 2018Guest: Olga AvigailIn Episode 20, to celebrate Hanukah, I interviewed an extraordinary singer of Yiddish music, Olga Avigail. She also has a special focus on reviving and performing Yiddish tangos, which she performs with the great Polish tango band Tango Attack. I talked with her from her home in Jerusalem via whatsapp. You can learn more about Olga on her website: http://www.olgamieleszczuk.com.plLinks to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Yosl un Sore Dvoshe" - K. Broydo/F. Gordon"Ostatnia niedziela / Letstikn Shabes" - J. Petersburski/Z. Friedwald/A. Fisz"Rivkele - Rebeka" - Z. Białostocki

Episode 20 - Tango Stories - Olga Avigail

Tango Stories Episode 19 -- Aired November 28, 2018Guest: Kathleen Greene, Barnes Foundation & Emiliano MessiezEpisode 19 featured interviews with Kathleen Greene, Curator of Public Programs at The Barnes Foundation, and pianist Emiliano Messiez, director of the Emiliano Messiez Tango Quartet. We spoke about an upcoming live tango music event at The Barnes Foundation and about the founding of a new tango orchestra, the Típica Messiez, which premiered at the 9th Philly Tango Fest (May 24-27, 2019).For additional information about these Guests:https://www.barnesfoundation.orghttps://www.emilianomessiez.comLink to the Musical Example in this episode:"Danzarín" - Aníbal Troilo

Episode 19 - Tango Stories - Barnes Foundation & Emiliano Messiez

Tango Stories Episode 18 -- Aired September 22, 2018Guest: Argentinos en PhiladelphiaEpisode 18 aired on November 21, 2018 and featured an interview with Daniel Loza and Liliana Friesel Elkouss, two of the organizers of the group “Argentinos en Philadelphia",  about their yearly Argentine gala and the history of their organization.Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"El Día Que Me Quieras" - Carlos Gardel"Nada" - Mariela Marco"Naranjo En Flor" - Mariela Marco

Episode 18 - Tango Stories - Argentinos en Philadelphia

Episode 17 featured pianist, arranger, composer and educator Pablo Estigarribia, who is working tirelessly to increase the accessibility of tango music. Please tune in for a fascinating interview and absolutely gorgeous tango music by Pablo Estigarribia, the Lavellén/Estigarribia/Carbarcos trio, and singer Maria Graña with Pablo Estigarribia.You can learn more about Pablo Estigarribia and find his music at www.pabloestigarribia.com

Episode 17 - Tango Stories - Pablo Estigarribia

Tango Stories Episode 16 -- Aired November 7, 2018Guest: Elly Fernandez & Kristin BalmerEpisode 16 featured Elly Fernandez & Kristin Balmer, two tangueras and tango teachers in the Philadelphia area. In this episode they talk about a Youth Tango Retreat, an intensive two-day tango workshop for teens age 13-17, and the benefits of teaching tango to young people. It also featured beautiful music, including "Sueño de Juventud", sung by Theresia Thylin with the Ariel Iud Tango Quartet.Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Tengo Mil Novias" - Enrique Rodriguez"Cafetin de Buenos Aires" - Astor Piazzolla y su Orquesta Tipica"Sueño de Juventud" - Theresia Thylin & the Ariel Iud Quartet

Episode 16 - Tango Stories - Elly Fernandez & Kristin Balmer

Tango Stories Episode 61 -- Aired May 6, 2020Guest: Carol Horowitz Episode 61 aired on May 6, 2020 and featured Carol Horowitz, co-founder and director of Studio Tango Montréal, one of the biggest schools of its kind in North America. Tango is taught there by 12 teachers, 7 days a week, all year long! Carol has organized countless workshops and special events, including the Montreal Summer Tango Fling, a non-profit community event held each summer, and the Bailongo Montreal Tango Festival held annually in May. When schedule permits she travels to teach, perform and dj at other studios, festivals and marathons in Canada and the U.S. Refer to her website for more information: studiotango.caLinks to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Bien Milonga" - Osvaldo Pugliese"Esta Noche al Pasar" - Pedro Laurenz & Jorge Linares

Episode 61 - Tango Stories - Carol Horowitz

Tango Stories Episode 60 -- Aired April 29, 2020Guest: Dr. Wendy Magee, Part 2 of 2 Episode 60 aired on April 29, 2020 and was the second of two interviews with Dr. Wendy Magee, a celebrated music therapist, researcher and educator. In the first interview, she talked about the impact of music on the brain, the role of rhythm in coordinating daily movement (like even when not dancing), and the clinical uses of music for healing.In this episode she addresses the growing body of research on how studying and dancing tango may improve health outcomes for patients dealing with a wide variety of conditions. It is heartening and important that there is starting to be hard data supporting the benefits of tango, which previously we just knew intuitively.Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Siga El Baile" - Orquesta Romantica Milonguero"Jamas Ni Nunca" - La Juan D’Arienzo

Episode 60 - Tango Stories - Dr. Wendy Magee, Part 2

Tango Stories Episode 59 -- Aired April 22, 2020Guest: Dr. Wendy Magee, Part 1 of 2 Episode 59 aired on April 22, 2020 and featured Dr. Wendy Magee, a celebrated music therapist, researcher and educator. She talked about how music and rhythm have been demonstrated to have quantifiable, positive effects on the brain, for EVERYONE, from those with severe brain injuries, to those with age-related challenges, to all of us living with reduced stimuli during the Covid-19 quarantine and needing support to keep our brains and bodies functioning well.In the next episode, she returns to talk about the specific and growing body of research on how studying and dancing tango benefits various populations. All of this is so exciting and important. And it's nice to hear Wendy's voice and remember being together in classes and at milongas!Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Derecho Viejo" - Osvaldo Pugliese"Queremos Paz" - Gotan Project 

Episode 59 - Tango Stories - Dr. Wendy Magee, Part 1

Tango Stories Episode 15 -- Aired October 24, 2018Tango and the Parkway Dances of the 1920’sGuest: Association for Public ArtEpisode 15 aired on October 24, 2018 and featured an interview with Penny Balkin Bach, Executive Director of the Association for Public Art in Philadelphia and Caitlin Martin, Media and Communications Director for the same organization. As part of the Parkway 100 celebration of the 100th birthday of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, we talked about the huge parkway dances that took place throughout the 1920s, including a tango dance with about 10,000 attendees on July 24, 1924. After the interview, we listened to a selection of music featuring pianists Pablo Estigarribia & Emiliano Messiez.Websites mentioned in this episode:https://www.museumwithoutwallsaudio.orghttps://www.associationforpublicart.orgLinks to the Musical Examples in this episode:"La Vuelta de Rocha" - Francisco Canaro"Amor y Celos" - Orquesta Típica Victor 

Episode 15 - Tango Stories - Tango and the Parkway Dances of the 1920's

Tango Stories Episode 14 -- Aired September 22, 2018Guest: Agustin Venturino & Natalia AgueroEpisode 14 featured Agustin Venturino & Natalia Aguero, my co-organizers for Tango Experience 2019, a guided trip to Buenos Aires & La Plata, Argentina in April 2019. For more information about their upcoming workshops, refer to their website nataliayagustin.com (www.nyatango.com).Links to the Musical Examples in this episode:"Una Noche De Garufa" - Orquesta Típica Tanturi"Loca" - Los Reyes Del Tango"Buscándote" - Orquesta Romantica Milonguera 

Episode 14 - Tango Stories - Agustin Venturino & Natalia Aguero

Interviews with the dancers and musicians who are part of the worldwide resurgence of Argentine tango. Hosted by Meredith Klein.