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Fernando Otero: X Tango The Players | |
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| Fernando Otero's Music is unmistakably bonded to the expressive roots of the language of Buenos Aires. These elements are the Tango and its predecessors, the Milonga, either in its southern style, slow and melancholic, or in its agile urban dance form, as well as the Murga. With all of these influences, he has created a very personal style and a unique language initially outlined in his first solo album entitled "X-TANGO" (1990) and later developed in works like "REVISION," "ESCENAS," and "SIDERATA."His music is well received by audiences and critics alike both in Europe, and South America. He has performed in more than thirty countries, some of the venues that he has played include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Glen Gould Studio(Toronto), and Teatro de la Villa de Madrid. Fernando Otero was born in Buenos Aires, in a family of musicians receiving his first singing and piano lessons from his mother, Elsa Marval, a renowned Opera singer and pianist. He grew up absorbing the influences of traditional tango and folklore, as well as classical music, and jazz. From the beginning he studied piano, harmony, and composition until he began his master classes of orchestration and conducting with Domingo Marafiotti *resident-conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires).His special interest in argentine folklore brought him to the study of the characteristic instruments lie the Bandoneón in most of his compositions. Combining the elements of the popular music of his nation, improvisational solos, piano cadenzas, traditional and contemporary composition techniques, Fernando arrived to his own music.The following is a quote from Dominique Denis in his review for L'Express de Toronto: "In X-Tango, composer-pianist Fernando Otero Liberates the tango from the kind of rigid romanticism perpetuated in the Broadway-style productions that have become the main tango reference for so many people. Without betraying the fundamental passion of the tango, Otero pushes the boundaries of the idiom, both structural and orchestral. This allows him to convey the dichotomy at its very core ú highly civilized yet somehow untamed. A courageous and mature work, X-Tango is for those who dare to follow the tango down new paths, in these post-Piazzolla years." Fernando Otero's recording, "X-Tango", is the next generation of tango writing and performing. Following in the tradition established by the phenomenal Astor Piazzolla and his "Nuevo Tango", Fernando Otero is creating Tango or the New Millennium. Using elements of tango, jazz fusion, and pop music, he creates a new rhythmic and harmonic language which he executes brilliantly, along with his excellent musicians. This is a tightly-knit, well-constructed collection of players who have outstanding individual performing and ensemble capabilities. "Sublevados" is a fitting opening with its pulsating rhythm being the central element "Tercermundo", a slow work with its haunting use of bitonal harmonies, creates an otherworldly ambience. "X-Tango", the title track, makes extensive use of major and mior 6ths and 7ths. It appears to be based uopon I-IV-V harmonies at first, then it quickly departs from this intro into an intricate use of jazz harmonies within its tango structure. Each player has his chance to show his improvisatory abilities to great effect, especially the facile Fernando Otero and Bandoneónist. "Ausencias:, perhaps the most poignant slow piece on this CD, is very expressive in its beautifully-played duet berween the violin (Fernando Suarez Paz) and piano, evocative of a warm Buenos Aires night.The fast milonga, "Danza IV," is built upon a wonderfully original bass riff using the "Devil's Interval", i.e. tritone.The next work, "Senal (signal)," pays homage to Piazzolla, as do several other works on this CD. This particular track is enhanced by the use of vocals in a piece that is surprisingly tonal. Once again, Nuevo Tango is celebrated in "En Apariencia," especially in its form, which is fast-slow-fast, and in its 3-3-2 rhythmic pulse. Beginning with its ethereal intro is "Voy a sonarte," incorporating synthesized special effects with the traditional tango instrumentation. The main body of this work is the most "pop" oriented of this CD without sacrificing its uniqueness. "Psiconaútica" picks up the pace once again with its relentless rhythmic drive and intensity. Another milonga, "Danza III" makes a great creative use of tritones and 13th harmonies along with other dissonances, giving this work a feeling of tension and urgency. The final work of this CD, "Arbolitos," is the only one to make use of time. This nostalgic valse leaves us wanting more, yet it is a fitting conclusion to this fine CD of musica ciudadana of Buenos Aires ú or what we could now call "X-Tango." -Carlos Franzetti Music Composed and arranged by Fernando Otero All pieces published by X-Tango Music, BMI-USA Produced by Fernando Otero & Pablo Lopez Ruiz | ||
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