1945 Music notes
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 03:27:44 -0400
From: Keith Elshaw <keith@TOTANGO.NET>
Subject: Music notes
Buenas dias, muchachas;
I do send my greetings to one and all and in particular a special wink to my
friends I have actually met through this list.
For me, it's been about 9 years of Tango-L. I've sent my share of posts, but
have tried not to wear your patience as time goes by. Well, good intentions
out the window. Thought I would ramble a bit about the music I have been
living with the last few months and what it means in current moments (as I
dj 3 times a week now).
It turns out that, when I started on my serious restoration odyssey, it was
to be 2 years before I would have the opportunity to regularly play the work
for dancers. That was a lonely time (if maybe necessary). The good thing is
that I worked-up and assembled 700 tracks. But I would call that a rough
assembly. I have been fine-tuning and adding (as I collect) from the happier
perspective, if you will, of needing to fill a lot of air-time for quality
dancers recently.
LP's have been turning up that have got me newly excited about a lot of
tango. I've had some gorgeous D'Agostino/Vargas, Troilo, Di Sarli, Tanturi,
Fresedo, and others come to me in vinyl that just sound amazing after some
work. Material I was raving about a year ago has been far surpassed in my
new renderings (no, I don't really like repeating cleaning songs, but I love
it if they are better).
The more music I hear - the more I dance to it, the more my "tastes" change.
When you hear the music cleaned and sweetened, it takes on new aspects. When
your ears change, everything sounds different - from Orquesta Tipica Victor
to Piazzolla and beyond.
You know I've been on a Di Sarli and Biagi kick in particular. I'm also now
more in awe of Donato; Laurenz; Demare; Canaro (yes, one of my original favs
14 years ago has become a whole new influence); De Caro (with speed
corrections); Lomuto. Laurenz is totally under-appreciated, I feel.
It's probably fair to say that, in my own dancing, people might remark on my
milonga. It and the vals have deeply influenced my tango, of course.
I am in a phase of craving Donato and Canaro milongas. The Donato tracks
have driven me a little crazy - they are so noisy. But, I take the time and
shut off my nerves - because after a few hours of re-drawing the wave-forms,
the music that comes out is pure genius and worth all the sweat.
I have had my share of nights of playing my restorations in boomy rooms
where, frankly, you couldn't tell the difference. Here, I'm cast just like
the musicians who have endured bad acoustics, etc. It's a sin. But, what can
you do?
Now, however, I'm working in ideal conditions (Dancing Mocha Jo) 12 hours
every weekend. Saturday night and Sunday afternoon are, interestingly, two
very different times to fill nestled together ... an expanded canvass to
paint on.
With so much potential license, I test the envelopes. I expect I play more
old and more new music than anyone ... always having been eclectic in
persuasion.
And, I am into context. How can one fully appreciate the new without the
old? - and vice-versa.
The excitement about the search for the best source material is not pedantic
or anal-retentive. It's a force of nature. Let's get the best sound of these
magnificent recordings by these stunning artists and lets get people dancing
to them as good as they can be.
Send all good lp's to me care-of the Tijuana Jail! I'll get right on it.
-----------
I have been receiving so much support from around the world in the
restoration marathon. It is not possible for me to put into words what it
means or to express any kind of due acknowledgement to all these people. Nor
is it, I suppose, totally appropriate to do so here.
So, I won't send a special friendship smile to Dolores, Victor, Dan, Randy,
Michel in France, Konstantin, Lydia, Steve, Tom, Paul in London, Toby in
Edinburgh, John in Australia.
There's quite a long list - and I can't. You guys who are also on it know I
am in your debt.
--------------------
There was a story in the Montreal Gazette about tango and our scene this
weekend. For however long this link works, it is:
https://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=e4f9971b-8382-45e5-b7b7-3469dfd3e
888
Otherwise, go to https://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/ and put
tango in the search window.
------------------------
I don't "get anything" for it, but I would also like to thank visitors to my
website (https://ToTANGO.net). Page downloads are now nearing 1.5 million. I
DO get to meet a lot of nice people in person or via email because of it.
In closing, a special thank you to the wonderful people and city of
Montreal.
k
