Cape Town – A sensual blend of tango steeped in a concoction of world rhythms is what Cape Town International Jazz Festival audiences will be treated to when they hear Argentinian sextet Escalandrum perform this weekend.
Leader of the band, Daniel “Pipi” Piazzolla, grandson of renowned composer of new tango music Astor Piazzolla, says all the band members have a deep understanding of his grandfather’s music, which forms an important pillar of their own sound.
“For us in Argentina, the music of my grandfather is popular music, not classical music like in other countries. We are able to make improvisations and change harmonies, but we don’t want to lose the essence of the music.”
Escalandrum mix up the distinctive urban sounds of Buenos Aires, and have veered away from the traditional tango instruments of harmonium and violin.
They play instruments of the jazzy persuasion – Piazzolla plays drums, Mariano Sivori is on double bass, Martin Pantyreron plays bass clarinet and baritone sax, Nicolas Guerschberg is on piano, Damian Fogiel is on tenor sax, and Gustavo Musso plays alto and soprano saxophones.
“For us to go to Africa is very important because we know that the rhythms were born there,” Piazzolla says. “I learnt about African rhythms because I love the culture.”