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The story began about three years ago when I met Daniel, a brilliant young Chilean pianist who was keen to explore playing tangos with me. We had no sheet music, so I remember going to Allan's music shop to search for a 'Tango Album'. I managed to find a popular selection which included tango clichés like Jealousy, and Hernando's Hideaway, but fortunately I also found Cumparsita, Choclo, Caminito, Chique and other classics. That was enough to get us started. We also began to transcribe music from our favourite CDs, listening to the great bands, and our wonderful friends Kerry, Ross and Sandra and others would scour the music shops in Bs As for sheet music to bring home. I now have hundreds of tangos in my collection, enough to keep us going for years to come. The band grew with the addition of Joel our first double bass player, and of course the wonderful contribution of Carla on flute, and finally Roland on second violin. For a while we searched for a suitable piano accordion player, alas in vain. This may yet come about one day, but in the meantime, we have decided that the most essential ingredient to capture above all is the energy and style of tango, rather than rely on conventional instrumentation. Early tango ensembles in fact had a great variety of instruments, including flute, and other woodwinds, and did not always have the familiar sounds of the bandoneon. In 2004 we went to Buenos Aires and listened to every band we could in the 6 weeks that we spent there. I had a wonderful opportunity to play live as well, and soon became known as El Tangoroo, the Aussie tango violinist. We were also fortunate to make contact with an exceptional musician, who agreed to write arrangements specifically for our group. We now receive a steady stream of tangos, milongas and vals, from Bs As, which are full of intensity and inventiveness. Tango Paradiso has already made its presence felt throughout the tango community with many interstate visitors and teachers remarking that we are probably the best tango band in Australia and New Zealand. We think the ensemble has never sounded better, and we look forward to presenting an ever-expanding programme of great tangos. Individual CVs MOSHLO has performed on the violin, both in Australia and overseas. He was a member of the Australia Chamber Orchestra, as well as other chamber music ensembles. Over the last few years he has developed an interest and a passion for the tango. His European background gives him a natural affinity with the music, which enables him to communicate the gamut of feelings which are the heart of tango. CARLA THACKRAH, was principal flautist with the Australian Opera and Ballet, as well as the Sydney Symphony and other Australian orchestras for many years before branching out into composition and film making. Her experience, and brilliance as a solo performer, adds a unique sound to the band. More info about Carla is available at amcoz & before there was tango there was Wind Song & go to ambient/carla t earthgods [recorded with Moshlo] ROLAND ADENEY most enjoys collaborating with fellow artists, be they musicians, poets, a cast of actors or acrobats. He composes and performs acoustic violin, mixed and electronic music for theatre, shows and recordings. CHRISTIAN GANTE, pianist extraordinaire, is a Masters graduate from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. He has won numerous prizes, including the National Yamaha Australia Piano Competition. He has been a soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and has an active performing, teaching, and recording career. ANDREW SHAW is an astoundingly versatile bass player, performing and recording straight-ahead and contemporary jazz with artists such as Trevor Hart, Dale Barlow, Katie Noonan and Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music; flamenco and gypsy with Sars and Jaleos Flamenco; contemporary music theatre with Lyndon Terracini through to the standard classical repertoire. JOHN VARNEY is a noted Double-Bassist, arranger and bandleader in his own right and brings to Tango Paradiso the knowledge of a doctorate in Latin-American music. A graduate in classical Double Bass from S.Cecilia Conservatorium, Rome, Italy, he is well placed to combine the discipline and virtuosity of this training with the flexibility of a background in jazz and popular music performance. MARINA VARNEY, Colombian-born vocalist Marina Varney is well known to Brisbane audiences for her performances with the ensembles and bands Colombia Linda, La Gran Salsa, Cachicamo, Jaleos Flamencos and now she is emerging as one of the Australia's finest women singers of tango. TANGO PARADISO DANCERS is a group of tango dancers who perform regularly with Tango Paradiso as well as other events around Australia. All dancers have studied in Buenos Aires, the home of tango, where they have learnt the authentic styles of dance - including traditional Canyengue, Milonga and Salon Tango. |