Martin Alvarado

Da ist der honigsüße Tenor-Ton von Martin Alvorado. Dazu gesellt sich das Gitarrenspiel von Horacio Avilano. Gemeinsam zollen sie der der reichhaltigen Tango-Tradition Argentiniens Respekt. Das gelingt den phantastischen Musikern, die sich hörbar blind verstehen, in ganz besonders souveräner Manier. Nahezu das gesamte, sorgfältig ausgewählte Material auf dieser CD wurde in einem Stück aufgenommen. Das war zweifellos eine glänzende Idee. So konnte ein Gitarren-Tango Album entstehen, dessen Authentizität jede Sekunde nahezu greifbar ist. Unterstützt wurden sie von Juan Manuel Avilano (Guitarrón), Mariano Olivera und Hernán Fredes (beide Gitarre).

Theatralik darf beim Tango freilich nicht fehlen und wird auch hier reichlich und gerne geboten. Und natürlich hat der Tango auch etwas Nostalgisches an sich. So wird viel über verlorene Liebe, Isolation, Einsamkeit, verlorene Hoffnung, verlorene Zeit gesungen. In der letzten Zeit sicherlich eine der herausragendsten Veröffentlichungen dieses Genres. Hier ist ein Tango-Album, ganz ohne Schmuck und Beiwerk. Nichts Süßes, nichts Überladenes. Ganz so, wie es sein soll.

Martín Alvarado and Horacio Avilano
Guitar Tango: Más Allá
Riverboat, Vertrieb: Lotus - Südwind-Magazin

El tango es uno de los estilos musicales más populares del planeta. El cantante bonaerense Martín Alvarado ha recorrido todo el mundo mostrando su repertorio de tango tradicional y canción latinoamericana. En el disco que ahora publica interpreta una colección de piezas acompañado del guitarrista Horacio Avilano, además de Juan Manuel Avilano en el guitarrón. Conocedor del género porteño desde su infancia le permite abordarlo desde el respeto y el rigor, pero también desde la pasión a una música que se ha internacionalizado en el pasado siglo XX y que continúa con un vigor, actualidad y desarrollo imparable en nuestros días. Canta de sin grandes despliegues, de una manera minimalista, tratando de capturar la esencia de las palabras a las que pone su voz a su servicio. La docena de números incluidos, piezas muy populares pero también primeras grabaciones como “Petit Bar” con letra del legendario guitarrista de tango Roberto Grela o el clásico chileno “Gracias a la Vida”, han sido registrados en estudio pero eligiendo las primeras tomas, las que mantienen la frescura más allá de la perfección y la producción posterior. El álbum incluye bonus tracks, cuatro temas más grabadas en vivo en Buenos Aires en octubre de 2011.



MARTIN ALVARADO & HORACIO AVILANO
Guitar Tango: Más Allá
(World Music Network / Karonte, 2013)
www.worldmusic.net - Los Sonidos del Planeta Azul

(English below)

Kotkan kupeessa sijaitseva Pyhtään kunta saa uuden musiikkifestivaalin, kun tulevana viikonloppuna siellä järjestetään ensimmäistä kertaa Elokuun tango -niminen tangofestivaali.

Idean isä ja taiteellinen johtaja on pianisti Esa Ylönen, joka myös esiintyy festivaalilla.

Suomalaista ja argentiinalaista tangoa yhdistelevän tapahtuman ohjelmistossa on niin tangokonsertteja, tanssiteatteria, tanssinopetusta kuin levytanssitkin. Konserttimilongassa yleisö pääsee tanssimaan tango-orkesterin säestyksellä, ja sunnuntaina Pyhtään keskiaikaisessa kivikirkossa koetaan messu argentiinalaisen musiikin maustein.

Tapahtuman pääesiintyjä on Argentiinan merkittävimpiin tangolaulajiin kuuluva Martin Alvarado.

Elokuun tango järjestetään vanhassa tehdasmiljöössä, Stockforsin tehdasalueen historiallisessa Kaarihallissa lauantaista sunnuntaihin. - Helsingin Sanomat

Argentina’s finest tango artist, Martín Alvarado, will be performing in New Mills in August as part of his 23rd international tour.

The globe-trotting tango troubadour will be singing at the newly refurbished Spring Banks Arts Centre on Saturday, August 25 at 7.30pm.

He will be flying into Manchester that morning hot from his debut in Ireland at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Friday, August 24, and will heading north the following day for his Scottish debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Sunday, August 26.

His performance in New Mills forms part of his third tour of the UK which also takes in other concerts in Liverpool, Melbourne, Sheffield, Carlisle, London and Nottingham, a city where Alvarado has an ardent following after his performances last year in the successful stage show, Midnight Tango, starring the tango darlings of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace.

Philip Kendall, chairman of the trustees at Spring Bank Arts Centre, said: “We are really looking forward to having such a major tango talent perform in New Mills. It is very exciting, Martín is used to playing major venues.”

Alvarado, who counts Stevie Wonder and former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes among his inspirations to sing, added: “I am very happy to be visiting New Mills to perform and seeing a bit of the beautiful Peak District.

“I believe I have been given a gift to play and sing and reach people’s hearts. So giving it all whenever I have the chance to perform is my way to honour that gift I have been given.”

The Buenos Aires-born singer has won wide acclaim across the world for his “extraordinarily beautiful” tenor voice, and already, his phenomenal artistry is such that he is increasingly being recognised as one of the most significant vocalists in the history of tango. In Russia recently, he was described as “the new Carlos Gardel”, after the tango superstar of the 1930s.

As well as being a naturally gifted singer, Alvarado is also renowned for his commanding and charismatic stage presence and his outstanding repertoire from four albums which features work by Argentina’s most celebrated poets and composers, including rare work by the Godfather of tango nuevo Astor Piazzolla, as well as some of his own, as yet unrecorded, compositions.

His interpretations have a particularly contemporary and creative sound in the way he phrases the music and his style is increasingly a significant influence in the evolution of the genre.

At the same time, his deep love and respect for the tango tradition means the songs remain universally accessible. In his native Buenos Aires, Alvarado engenders much national pride for the way the way, in 23 international tours over the past ten years, he has become something of a cultural ambassador for Argentina’s rich musical heritage.

He discovered his talent to sing at the age of 19, by chance, while studying guitar in Buenos Aires. A few years later he travelled to Spain where he was spotted singing in Barcelona and invited to perform in Finland, where tango is a hugely popular activity.

News of his talent quickly spread and within two months of arriving there, he was performing with the Tampere Filharmonia orchestra.

Since then he has had numerous TV performances in Finland, Russia and Argentina, and collaborated and performed with renowned Finnish tango quintet Otra Vez as well as some of the leading musicians in the genre in Argentina, including the highly revered bandoneon player, Leopoldo Federico, who was a guest performer on his second album, “Asi es mi tango”, and Horacio Avilano, a prominent guitarist who worked with him on his last album “Más Allá”.

In 2008, he starred in the cutting-edge “El concierto del Nuevo Tango” with internationally-renowned conductor Patrick Gallois, Otra Vez and symphony orchestras and, separately, with Finland’s celebrated UMO jazz orchestra.

In 2009, he took part in Piazzolla’s operita “María de Buenos Aires” on its first Polish version and several times in Finland. He stars in it again in July after being invited to perform, as one of the few international soloists, for the second time, at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, one of the most prestigious chamber music festivals in the world.

He is currently working on his fifth album with Horacio Avilano and sixth album with acclaimed Finnish pianist and bandoneonist Mikko Helenius. - Buxton Advertiser

It is always nothing less than an absolute delight to catch up again with Argentinean tango singer extraordinaire Martín Alvarado when London is privileged to be included in his international tours. I say privileged with considered and considerable deliberation, for we have to bear in mind that Alvarado fills concert halls with a thousand plus capacity elsewhere, like in Argentina, Finland and Russia to name some of the countries, and is constantly exposed on radio and television in these countries. Hence, given the as yet small audiences for tango music in this country, it is indeed a great privilege to see Alvarado on the British scene.

Thus, it was a huge delight and pleasure to be able to attend Martín Alvarado's 'Asi Es Mi Tango' with Mikko Helenius at Lauderdale House in London's Highgate on Thursday, 21st March. The weather may have been freezing and miserable outside, but indoors, things soon warmed up considerably once Alvarado graced us with his rich, passionate tenor.

Alvarado had incidentally previously received his Latin UK Award (LUKAS) for 'Concert by International Artist of the Year' for last year's performance at The Forge in Camden, at a glamorous gala at the Cafe Paris in Piccadilly on 18th March. At least some little UK recognition, even if the LUKAS awards were publicly voted for and could be voted for multiple times from anywhere. Alvarado has also been signed by World Music Network (WMN), one of the larger and most significant world music labels, and an initial re-release of Alvarado's Más Allá has been slated for this summer.

Last night's performance, appropriately enough, kicked off with a glorious rendition of the old Carlos Gardel / Alfredo Le Pera classic Volver (Return) from 1934, and among numerous other classic tangos also included the classic V. Parra 'Canción' Gracias A La Vida. The evening also included a superb new, prize-winning tango, Magia de Malvon (lyrics by Marta Pizzo).

Alvarado and Mikko Helenius had first performed this together on the Roger Williams live show 'A World of Difference' on Trent Sound radio the previous week. This was the very first occasion on which Helenius played this song on bandoneón, insisting he did not need to practice it, it was all in his head! A very brave and surprising step, testifying to Helenius' genius and great musicianship. This classically trained pianist and bandoneónista is outstanding in his own right and has been working with Alvarado on his European tours for some seven years now. Helenius, as far as I am able to establish, is incidentally also the only musician able to simultaneously play the piano left-handed and the bandoneón right-handed - an amazing feat in itself.

However, Alvarado and Helenius are not only a musical match made in heaven, but have, over the years, also developed a comic routine, based around Helenius' ability to maintain a totally stoic, dead pan facial expression. (I would never play poker with this man!) This provides some wonderful light relief from all the sad songs. (Most tangos are very sad by nature, songs of the heart and about the heart, mostly broken or breaking.)

Right from the start of Martín Alvarado's 'Asi Es Mi Tango' with Mikko Helenius at Lauderdale House last night, it was almost impossible to maintain a dry eye, such is the emotional quality of Alvarado's voice and his singing. Even if you have never heard a tango before, Alvarado will take you with him and let you discover it for yourself. A well known national FM radio presenter present last night afterwards described Alvarado's performance rather fittingly as a 'tango epiphany,' and I imagine that is what the experience of hearing Alvarado for the first time would be like for almost anybody and everybody.

Shortly after the interval, special guest Juan María Solare, a classically trained Argentinean classical pianist, composer, conductor and lecturer in tango, based in Germany, joined Alvarado to accompany him for one song. After this, Solare graced us with one of his own outstanding compositions, Tengo un Tango, for solo piano. (His album Tango Monologues was also

reviewed recently.) This gave us an exquisite taste of another side of tango, that of tango as a classical composition, following in the footsteps of the great Ástor Piazzolla. One would hope to hear a lot more of Solare in this country, too.

Throughout the evening, Alvarado more than amply demonstrated why he is the most significant tango singer of our time, with a voice that could melt, if not snow, certainly every heart within hearing. Add to this his immense charm, charisma and stage presence that are simply irresistible.

Alvarado is the Gardel (the tango legend of the 1920s/30s) of modern times, the new 'El Mago' (magician), the new King of the Tango, taking the art form forward, to a who - Rainlore's World

Martín Alvarado & Horacio Avilano's Guitar Tango: Más Allá, a most welcome re-release of Martín Alvarado & Horacio Avilano Trio's 2010 Fonocal release Más Allá, with the addition of four live tracks and English language sleeve notes, will be released on Riverboat Records/World Music Network on 26th August.

Alvarado, the Argentinean premier voice of tango, the modern day Carlos Gardel (Argentina's greatest tango icon of the 1920s and 30s) but with a rich, expressive tenor instead of Gardel's baritone, is also a great innovator, taking tango to a whole new level, taking the art form forward while showing the greatest love and respect for the tradition. The cliches used to describe this extraordinary singer are getting as numerous as his performances, both in Argentina and internationally. (I have to confess to having contributed to these myself in previous reviews.) In many countries in addition to his native Argentina, Alvarado regularly performs to audiences of a thousand plus.

On Guitar Tango: Más Allá Alvarado is teamed up with highly regarded Argentinean guitarist Horacio Avilano and his trio of guitars and guitarrón (a slightly deep-bodied guitar-like instrument with a bass-baritone range - there are several instruments of this name across the Latin-American world, all different from each other). Together, Alvarado and Avilano make for a most excellent combination that is just electrifying.

As mentioned, Guitar Tango: Más Allá is a re-release, the original having been reviewed here already. However, this re-release is worthy of a new review, not only on account of the additional four superb live tracks but also in view of Alvarado's ever-increasing popularity in the UK. The latter, it is to be hoped, will see him perform in larger venues befitting his talent and international standing soon, such as London's Queen Elizabeth Hall or even Royal Festival Hall. As BBC radio presenter Max Reinhardt put it following a performance earlier this year where he had heard Alvarado for the first time, 'Everybody should hear this music!' Not the kind of comment elicited easily from the discerning, not easily moved Reinhardt.

Alvarado presents an exquisite selection of classic tangos, milongas, vals, cancións and other songs from Argentina on Guitar Tango: Más Allá. Often sad, these songs are filled with passion and romance. Deeply emotional, straight from - and to - the heart, this album has it all and presents a veritable microcosm of the songs of Argentina.

The rendering of these songs by Alvarado is never less than perfect, his voice beautifully expressing all the pathos, drama, passion and romance. Alvarado goes straight to anyone's heart and melts it, rips it out even, truly killing one softly with his songs. Without, of course, ever descending to melodrama, let alone schmaltz. Alvarado is pure class. His immense charm and charisma carry across well on the recording, and it is almost as if you had Alvarado singing privately just for you in your living room. Moreover, Alvarado makes the language barrier completely irrelevant with his exquisitely expressive voice - emotions have a universal language that, at the hands of such a masterful singer, transcends mere spoken language with ease.

The four added live tracks alone would make it more than worthwhile purchasing Guitar Tango: Más Allá even if you already owned the original release. They are as exquisite as the rest of the album and then some, with the added atmosphere that only a live recording gives. Two of these songs are already present on the studio recording, and they make for a fascinating comparison, being somehow much more intense.

In spite of the obvious differences between the studio and live recordings, Guitar Tango: Más Allá remains delightfully consistent. Alvarado and Guitar Tango: Más Allá are utterly irresistible. The sheer emotion so brilliantly conveyed by Alvarado, his charisma, and the songs themselves throw you under a magic spell that is inescapable. Once this album has finished playing, you will want to start all over again. The romance, the pathos of it all - it is almost impossible to stop. An album so exquisite and beautiful it could kill you.

Martín Alvarado & Horacio Avilano's Guitar Tango: Más Allá is an absolute must have for any music lover, let alone the tango connoisseur. The CD comes with English language sleeve notes, thus as ever preferable to digital download. Let yourself be utterly seduced by Alvarado, let him melt your heart...

N.B. - Guitar Tango: Más Allá will be launched at Rich Mix in London on 8th September as part of Martín Alvarado's latest UK tour. Make sure you don't miss as phenomenal a singer as this! - Rainlore's World

La pinta de Martín Alvarado dista mucho de la que tienen los tangueros clásicos con el sombrero, la bufanda, el saco y pantalón de vestir. No luce la corbata larga, ni la de moño, tampoco los tirantes para sostener los pantalones.

Más bien prefiere una melena larga y barba que lo asemeja al cantautor mexicano Marco Antonio Solís. A veces luce un saco y la camisa semiabierta. En ocasiones opta por una camisa por fuera sin chaqueta o un buzo oscuro (en este caso cuando ensaya).

Y es que Alvarado pretende darle un toque moderno a ese género argentino y uruguayo que fusiona las culturas de los emigrantes europeos, descendientes de esclavos africanos y de los nativos de la región del Río de la Plata.

El ‘look’ de Alvarado no tiene nada que ver con el que lucían Enrique Santos Discépolo o Carlos Gardel. La idea de este tanguero, de 38 años, es unir a las generaciones con su música.

Con el surgimiento de grupos como Bajofondo o Gotan Project hace diez años, el tango adoptó un estilo electrónico. No obstante, Alvarado no recurre a ese estilo, su tango conserva la esencia de los intérpretes clásicos, pero con un toque moderno.

Alvarado arribó al país el pasado lunes para ofrecer dos shows en Guayaquil.

Alvarado es la prueba de que el tango aún se mantiene vivo y que se puede combinar ambos públicos, llenando un auditorio en menos de dos minutos. Pues así sucedió el pasado martes cuando una hora antes de su presentación llenó la sala del auditorio del Museo Municipal.

Comentó que su estilo único de interpretar este género es gracias a que pertenece a otra generación.

“Roberto, mi padre, es el aficionado más grande del tango que he conocido. Lo es, a tal extremo que con escuchar un tema a los pocos segundos le dice el nombre del intérprete, año y hasta quiénes fueron los músicos. Sin embargo, para ser sincero, cuando ingresé a estudiar guitarra y piano en el conservatorio de Buenos Aires, a los 19 años, el tango era mi género menos favorito y ahora es mi pasión”, señaló.

Aunque sus inicios musicales fueron como el de sus compañeros de salón con el género de rock y pop, nunca abandonó su ‘look’, ni sus bases pues destacó que es parte de su esencia.

“Desde entonces usaba ya la cabellera larga y voluminosa. Vestía de negro y jeans, tocaba en bares rock alocado y romántico”, recuerda el argentino.

Su identidad musical cambió a los 25 años cuando descubrió ser más cantante que músico y comenzó a explorar nuevos géneros, encontrando en el tango su fuerte.

“Lo comencé a interpretar de forma creativa, dejando de lado lo tradicional y poniéndole mi toque rockero y moderno. La fórmula gustó porque es una propuesta honesta ya que lo que interpreto me llena. Pienso que para que un artista trascienda debe de estar convencido y amar lo que hace, dejando a un lado las tendencias y otros puntos que no tienen que ver con el arte como tal”, refiere.

Posteriormente grabó su primer álbum denominado ‘Martín Alvarado’. Luego fue a Europa donde despuntó y se dio a conocer.

“Argentina sufrió un cambio de moneda y una crisis bárbara. Me tocó migrar a España para buscar un futuro mejor”, expresa.

“Tocando en bares españoles. Encontré a dos señoras finlandesas que siempre me decían que yo cantaba hermoso, ellas me filmaban y siempre me elogiaban. Nunca imaginé que ese sería mi despunte, pues al siguiente mes fueron ellas las que me invitaron a participar en grandes festivales de su país”, recordó.

Finlandia no solo fue el primer país donde se dio a conocer y ganó grandes reconocimientos sino también en su segunda patria y donde encontraría el amor.

“Era una locura. Estaba en un país donde se habla finés y sueco, y yo cantando en español llenaba escenarios. Considero que lo más maravilloso que tiene mi carrera es que puedo hacerlo en español en países que mantienen otras lenguas”, sostiene.

La apertura que le brindaron los medios finlandeses llenaron las expectativas de otros países a un chico que no lucía c - PP El Verdadero

El argentino Martín Alvarado no usa el cabello engominado, ni tampoco trajes elegantes o el sombrero que tanto caracteriza a los intérpretes de tango, más bien su pinta conduce a la de un rockero. Su cabello largo chorrudo y lo descomplicado que es al vestir es solo parte del concepto “Así es mi tango”, que presentará hoy, a las 18:30, en el Centro Cultural Libertador Simón Bolívar, de forma gratuita.

“Esta es una forma muy particular que tengo de encarar el tango, que en general está visto como una cosa del pasado y que yo lo veo como algo de presente y futuro. Mi tango de hoy es honesto, sin disfraz y creativo con ese tinte vanguardista”.

Ese con el que el músico propone un repertorio de temas clásicos como El día que me quieras, famoso de Carlos Gardel; Uno de Enrique Santos Discépolo y El trovador de Astor Piazzolla, pero también otros no muy trillados y sus composiciones: Mujer y amiga, así como el conocido tango finlandés Quédate por siempre, que él castellanizó.

Martín cuenta que aunque escuchaba tango desde los cinco años por sus padres, fue cerca de los 25 años que quedó atrapado con este. “Al principio me costaba cantarlo, pero después descubrí la forma de hacerlo a mi manera y desarrollar un estilo”. Uno que propuso con éxito en Finlandia, Rusia y ahora probará con Ecuador. - El Telégrafo, Ecuador

Martín Alvarado With Horacio Avilano Trio's Más Allá, released in 2010 on the Argentinean Fonocal label, is Alvarado's latest recording to date. (However, new releases are in progress with an anticipated release date of next year.)

Alvarado, the ambassador par excellence of Argentinean tango songs and others, should need little introduction. Gifted with an outstanding tenor voice that often veers into the operatic, Alvarado has long been a star of the European concert stage, with numerous TV and radio appearances, in addition to in his native Argentina. Over the past six months, he has also graced the UK scene with two brief acclaimed tours, following his one week appearance in the popular Midnight Tango dance show starring Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace last May, where he stood in for British based Argentinean singer Guillermo Rozenthuler, who first introduced Alvarado to a packed private soiree earlier last year.

For Más Allá, Martín Alvarado teamed up with the Horacio Avilano Trio, a most highly regarded Argentinean guitar and guitarrón (a slightly deep-bodied guitar-like instrument with a bass-baritone range - there are several instruments of this name across the Latin-American world, all different from each other) trio. The combination is electrifying. The trio's accompaniment is perfection.

On this album, Alvarado presents an exquisite selection of classic tangos, milongas, vals, cancións and other songs from Argentina. Often sad, these songs are filled with passion and romance. (The original Spanish lyrics are included in the sleeve.) Deeply emotional, straight from - and to - the heart, Más Allá has it all and presents a veritable microcosm of the songs of Argentina.

Most importantly, the rendering of these songs by Alvarado is never less than perfect, his voice beautifully expressing all the pathos, drama, passion and romance. With Más Allá, Alvarado could go straight to anyone's heart and rip it out. He truly kills one softly with his songs. Without, of course, ever descending to melodrama, let alone schmaltz. Alvarado is pure class, and so is this gorgeous album. His immense charm and charisma carry across well to the recording, and it is as if you had Alvarado singing privately just for you in your living room. And while Alvarado never shows and expresses less than the greatest love and respect for the tradition, he also is not afraid of occasionally pushing the envelope and taking the art towards the future.

As brilliantly consistent as it is consistently brilliant, Más Allá completely seduces and mesmerises with its sheer beauty and depth of emotion. Moreover, Alvarado makes the language barrier completely irrelevant with his exquisitely expressive voice - emotions have a universal language that, at the hands of such a masterful singer, transcends mere spoken language with ease. Más Allá, and Alvarado, are utterly irresistible and one feels compelled to play this album again straight after it finishes, time and again. Alvarado at his very finest. Let him melt your heart!

Indubitably, Martín Alvarado With Horacio Avilano Trio's Más Allá is an absolute must have for just any true music lover, let alone of course for the connoisseur of tango and Argentinean songs in general. Beg, steal, or borrow, but preferably buy Más Allá while you can! Let yourself be utterly seduced! - Rich Rainlore's World of Music

One of the finest and most significant tango artists in the world today will perform in Southwell Minster’s Great Hall as part of his 21st tour of Europe and second tour of the UK.

Martin Alvarado will play pieces by poets and composers as well as some rarely performed music by the Godfather of tango nuevo, Astor Piazzolla.

He will sing and play guitar on Sunday, March 11, starting at 7.15pm. This is a rare opportunity to hear Martin, who is a tenor.

He performs regularly at major music festivals and venues and has won wide acclaim across Europe and in his home of Buenos Aires.

The UK concert has been organised by Lisa Cherry-Downes, of West Bridgford, the organiser of the Nottingham-based Argentine tango group L Tango Milonga. She is also Martin’s UK manager.

The concert will be followed by a short milonga — Argentine tango social dance — which non-dancers are welcome to stay and watch.

This is Martin’s fourth visit to Nottinghamshire. He first came here in May when he performed in Midnight Tango with Vincent and Flavia, from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show.

Lisa was so impressed with his talent when he attended one of her events and sang a few songs, she decided to organise a proper concert for him in West Bridgford in July.

That led to Lisa organising his first seven-date UK tour, with another concert in Nottingham in November. He is now on his second UK tour with nine concerts in 11 days, including his performance in Southwell.

She said: “Martin has one of the most beautiful, vibrant and emotionally engaging voices in tango I have ever heard, past or present. I had never even heard of him until May last year but I was totally knocked out the first time I heard him by the sheer quality of his talent. His live performances are mesmerising - his voice touches your heart and soul. And whereever he has sung in the UK so far, audiences have been similarly moved by his performances.

“Having already held two concerts in Nottingham for him I wanted to give people in another part of the county a chance to hear his fantastic talent.

“The superb acoustics in the Great Hall, which is a stunning venue, will be a great place to hear him.”

Martin said: “I am really looking forward to visiting England again. I love performing in the UK as the audiences have been very sensitive towards my music.

“Also it will give me a chance to see some wonderful historic places, like Southwell Minster.”

Doors open at 7pm. After the concert the milonga takes place from 8.45pm to 10.15pm.

Entry is £12 on the door or £10 in advance from the Minster Shop 01636 812933 or by e-mailing lisa.cherry-downes@ntlworld.com or call 07530 549570. - Newark Advertiser

HE is considered to be one of the best Argentinian singers of his generation, has performed in theatres across Europe, and most recently came to Nottingham with Vincent and Flavia's Midnight Tango show at the Royal Concert Hall. Which begs the question: why is he playing in the function room of a suburban Notts pub?

"Well, we have tried to make the concert at Wembley Arena but it seemed to be reserved for some local artist called Paul McCartney," laughs Martin Alvarado, who'll be at Lady Bay's new pub, The Poppy and Pint, on Sunday.

"I must say that after having worked with Vincent and Flavia in Midnight Tango for one week at the Royal Centre I got to meet lovely people from the tango community in Nottingham. They kindly invited me to perform my music in a very intimate way, which is something I really enjoy.

"I love to perform in festivals and great halls with big orchestras but I also love and need to perform on my own. I can have a completely different repertoire and sing completely freely."

It was after he sang a few numbers at a Fritango milonga (tango social dance) at Clifton Village Hall, which was attended by members of the cast of Midnight Tango, that Lisa Cherry-Downes decided to try to get him back for a full performance.

"About three hours before the milonga I had a text from my friend and neighbour where Martin was lodging during the run of Midnight Tango, saying that if I could lay my hands on a guitar, he would sing for us," says the mum of three.

"I quickly texted my tango friends and one of them offered her old guitar which had been gathering dust in her bedroom for years. Despite the ancient strings, Martin brought the instrument to life and I was just enchanted by his passionate singing. He has the most wonderful voice.

"I heard him again two days later playing in my neighbour's living room and thought, 'that's it, we have to get him back'."

Adds Alvarado: "I put the same energy and passion even if I perform at Savoy Theatre in Helsinki, Birmingham Hippodrome or, as I did, in my friend's living room.

"As long as there are some sensitive souls willing to listen to me, I am happy to make music for them."

It was when he was 19 and studying guitar at music school in Argentina that he suddenly discovered he had a talent to sing, but it was not one of the tango legends of Buenos Aires, such as Carlos Gardel, who inspired him but a hairy 1970s rock star from the West Midlands.

"I am a singer because of Glenn Hughes," he says of Deep Purple's former bassist and singer.

"I even wear my hair long because of him. I still remember the impact of the California Jam video in me when I was a teenager or that album he made with Black Sabbath (Seventh Star). He is one of my biggest influences together with Stevie Wonder and Terence Trent Darby in pop/rock music. Ruben Juarez is my main influence in tango music."

Although Alvarado is from Argentina, it is Finland which has the biggest tango scene in Europe and where he has spent much of his time for the past three years. So how did that happen?

"While I was singing in Barcelona I met two Finnish tourists who bought my album and invited me to play Tampere. In a very short period of time I was invited to sing with Tampere Filharmonia, a very important artist."

He adds: "I have visited Finland 18 times and sang in almost all the festivals around, in their most important theatres, some TV shows and made two records there. Finland has been amazing to me."

Alvarado has also won over audiences across both Eastern and Western Europe.

"I believe that I have been given a gift to play and sing and reach people's hearts," he says.

"In addition this gift takes me around the world and makes me meet wonderful people, great musicians, historic places and live a life I never imagined I would live.

"People often ask me what do I dream of and I answer, 'I am living my dream'. So giving it all whenever I have the chance to perform is my way to honour that gift I have been given."

Martin Alvarado is at the Poppy and Pint, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay on Sunday, 7.30pm-11pm. Tickets are £10 on the door. The evening will include several interludes for dancing to tango, salsa and modern jive. For more information, call Lisa Cherry-Downes on 07530549570 or email lisa.cherry-downes@ntlworld.com
- The Nottingham Post

World class Argentinean tango singer Martin Alvarado visits Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, on Wednesday, November 23 at 8pm.

Martin is considered one of the best tango singers of the new generation in the world today, with a particular style to phrase songs and a warm and powerful tenor voice which has won acclaim across Eastern and Western Europe and in his home country.

1.
?

He visits Bath as part of his debut UK solo tour and follows performances earlier this year in the successful Midnight Tango Show starring Vincent and Flavia, of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing fame.

Alvarado discovered his talent to sing at the age of 19 while studying guitar in Buenos Aires.

A few years later he travelled to Spain where he was spotted singing in Barcelona and invited to perform in Finland, where tango is a hugely popular activity.

News of his talent quickly spread in Finland and within two months of arriving there, he was performing with the Tampere Filharmonia orchestra.

Since then he has had numerous TV performances in Finland, Russia and Argentina and collaborated and performed with renowned Finnish tango quintet Otra Vez as well as some of the leading musicians in the genre in Argentina, including the highly revered bandoneon player, Leopoldo Federico, who was a guest performer on his second album, Asi es mi tango, and Horacio Avilano, a prominent guitarist who worked with him on his last album Más Allá.

In 2008, he starred in the cutting-edge El concierto del Nuevo Tango with internationally-renowned conductor Patrick Gallois, Otra Vez and symphony orchestras and, separately, with Finland's celebrated UMO jazz orchestra.

In 2009, he took part in Astor Piazzolla's tango operetta María de Buenos Aires on its first Polish version and several times in Finland.

As a solo artist, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, Alvarado is renowned for having a charismatic approach to his audiences and a unique repertoire including new tangos, old ones that have few recordings, as well as all-time classics.

Many of his songs have a romantic emotional slant and a particular poetic quality.

Recently he has been pre-producing his fifth album with Horacio Avilano and performing in Buenos Aires.

In October he toured Spain with Otra Vez and in December, he will be performing in Russia, including a concert in St Petersburg, where he will be headlining at the Shostakovich Philharmonic Hall, one the biggest theatres in Russia.

Tickets cost £10 in advance and £12 on the door.
- Bath Chroncle

Martin Alvarado is regarded as the best new singer to emerge from Argentina in recent years. Listen to A World In London this week, and you’ll hear why! Upholding the Tango tradition with his fine tenor voice, he sings LIVE accompanied only by his acoustic guitar and Mikko Helenius on the bandoneon. See Martin perform at the Temple of Light in Shoreditch this Saturday! - Soas Radio

TANGO, the dance that originated in the bordellos of Buenos Aires more than 100 years ago, is now fantastically popular here, thanks to the appeal of Strictly Come Dancing.

The sexy antics of Flavia and Vincente beneath the glitterball have done wonders for the dance – even if theirs is a rather melodramatic take on the real thing.

What you don’t learn from Strictly is that tango also embraces a style of singing and singers who are artists in their own right – not just crooners who accompany the passionate twists and turns on the floor.

Martin Alvarado is a renowned tango singer from Buenos Aires for whom international acclaim blossomed when two Finnish women heard him busking in the centre of Barcelona and later invited him to perform in their homeland, where there is a huge tango scene.

Soon he was performing across the world. He has released two well-received albums and toured this year with the show Midnight Tango.

Those who hear Alvarado’s show in Leeds will find a 21st century version of tango. The anguished songs of love are there, but he favours a pared-back, less embellished style of performance than many of the old school.

He says: “My performance is about honesty, and I tend to avoid the ‘top 50’ songs. I try to sing in a heartfelt but modern way.”

Martin Alvarado is at Seven Artspace, 31a Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 16. www.sevenleeds.co.uk - Yorkshire Post

Martin Alvarado, something of a force of nature in the world of Tango, is considered one of Argentina's finest new generation Tango singers, and he has long taken much of northern Europe by storm. Now on his 20th European tour and his first full tour of the UK, it was a great pleasure to be able to catch up with him again and his Asi Es Mi Tango programme last night at The Light Temple in Shoreditch, London.

On this occasion, Alvarado was accompanied, in addition to his own guitar, by distinguished tango, jazz, and jazz tango (among others) pianist and co-founder of renowned tango ensemble Tango Siempre, Jonathan Taylor.

The performance started almost an hour late, on 'Argentinean time,' you might say, in good part due to a good proportion of the audience arriving late. Yep, definitely on 'Argentinean time.' (If you have never been to Latin America, or much of the Caribbean for that matter, be advised that anything scheduled for, say, 7 o'clock, will almost certainly not get started until 8, if not later. With the exception of cricket matches, especially international tests, in the Caribbean. Almost guaranteed to start on 'standard' time!)

Finally, a quite respectable audience had assembled and the performance got under way. Argentinean time.

Of course, no true music lover, and especially no true tango lover, would have minded the delay in the slightest. The performance by Alvarado that followed was more than worth the wait.

The first set, just shy of an hour, was followed by a prolongued interval filled with tango lessons and a milonga, or dance, before the rather shorter second set followed.


The performance included both classic and modern tangos, including the tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla, as well as original songs by Alvarado. All of the songs are available on one or another of his albums. The programme furthermore included a breath-taking virtuoso keyboard solo by the formidable Taylor.

Alvarado is a singer with not only a rather operatic tenor voice, but also an impressive, dramatic operatic stage presence. At the same time, he is able to connect with his audience with great charm and charisma.

Saturday night proved no exception. Alvarado gave a simply stunning performance that just has to be experienced. Interpreting the songs with emotion and passion as well as authority, and engaging his audience with witty, charming banter in between, he completely mesmerised. Every minute of Alvarado's performance was so much more than just a performance, it was an experience. An experience not to be missed.

Moreover, the setting of a real tango club, The Light Temple in London, seemed to enhance the atmosphere and authenticity. In short, an evening of sheer tango magic!

Fortunately, another UK tour is already being prepared for next year, so if you had to miss the extraordinary Martin Alvarado this year you will have more opportunities to experience this veritable phenomenon coming along. And the sooner the better! - Latino Music UK

Martin Alvarado, something of a force of nature in the world of Tango, is considered one of Argentina's finest new generation Tango singers, and he has long taken much of northern Europe by storm. Now on his 20th European tour and his first full tour of the UK, it was a great pleasure to be able to catch up with him again and his Asi Es Mi Tango programme last night at The Light Temple in Shoreditch, London.

On this occasion, Alvarado was accompanied, in addition to his own guitar, by distinguished tango, jazz, and jazz tango (among others) pianist and co-founder of renowned tango ensemble Tango Siempre, Jonathan Taylor.

The performance started almost an hour late, on 'Argentinean time,' you might say, in good part due to a good proportion of the audience arriving late. Yep, definitely on 'Argentinean time.' (If you have never been to Latin America, or much of the Caribbean for that matter, be advised that anything scheduled for, say, 7 o'clock, will almost certainly not get started until 8, if not later. With the exception of cricket matches, especially international tests, in the Caribbean. Almost guaranteed to start on 'standard' time!)

Finally, a quite respectable audience had assembled and the performance got under way. Argentinean time.

Of course, no true music lover, and especially no true tango lover, would have minded the delay in the slightest. The performance by Alvarado that followed was more than worth the wait.

The first set, just shy of an hour, was followed by a prolongued interval filled with tango lessons and a milonga, or dance, before the rather shorter second set followed.


The performance included both classic and modern tangos, including the tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla, as well as original songs by Alvarado. All of the songs are available on one or another of his albums. The programme furthermore included a breath-taking virtuoso keyboard solo by the formidable Taylor.

Alvarado is a singer with not only a rather operatic tenor voice, but also an impressive, dramatic operatic stage presence. At the same time, he is able to connect with his audience with great charm and charisma.

Saturday night proved no exception. Alvarado gave a simply stunning performance that just has to be experienced. Interpreting the songs with emotion and passion as well as authority, and engaging his audience with witty, charming banter in between, he completely mesmerised. Every minute of Alvarado's performance was so much more than just a performance, it was an experience. An experience not to be missed.

Moreover, the setting of a real tango club, The Light Temple in London, seemed to enhance the atmosphere and authenticity. In short, an evening of sheer tango magic!

Fortunately, another UK tour is already being prepared for next year, so if you had to miss the extraordinary Martin Alvarado this year you will have more opportunities to experience this veritable phenomenon coming along. And the sooner the better! - Rich Rainlore's World of Music

THANKS to Strictly, people's appreciation of dance in all its forms is on the up and Martin Alvarado is hailed as one of the best Argentinian singers of the tango genre.

Finely-tuned phrasing and a certain Latino charisma mesmerises his audiences and has won him wide acclaim across Eastern and Western Europe.

He also has an ardent following in Nottingham.

His set featured new tangos and old ones, including those that have few recordings as well as all-time classics.

Perhaps the song that stood out most was Ultimo, because the emotive phrasing was pure Argentinian seduction.

Equally talented was Martin's bandoneon and piano player from Finland, Mikko Helenius.

The enigmatic Mikko played a one-off instrumental which was a true feat of dexterity because he played both instruments simultaneously.

As an interlude the talented Tango Milonga dancers, Nicky Parsons and Slim Ross, displayed their impressive skills.
- The Nottingham Post

What a pleasure to catch up again with Argentinean tango ambassador and singer extraordinaire Martín Alvarado, now on his 21st European tour, and his Asi Es Mi Tango programme, this time at the wonderful The Forge in Camden Town, London. What a pleasure also, that his frequent accompanist Mikko Helenius, not encountered before, should feature on bandoneón and piano.

Alvarado is always a guarantee for a very special evening, and so it was again with Martín Alvarado - 'Asi Es Mi Tango' with Mikko Helenius At The Forge last night. Although the turn-out sadly was far short of the thousand-plus audiences Alvarado attracts elsewhere, he remained completely unfazed and it might as well have been a packed out house. Twenty or a thousand, the seasoned pro that he is, Alvarado takes it all in his stride and makes any crowd equally welcome with his usual warmth and charm.

Over the course of two full sets, Alvarado's huge stage presence and charisma shone as much as his outstanding tenor voice and huge interpretative talents.

We were treated to an exquisite selection of classic tangos, valses and modern songs, accompanied sometimes by Alvarado's guitar, mostly by Helenius' excellent bandoneón and piano. Sometimes, both of the latter simultaneously! Helenius has mastered the rare art of playing the bandoneón with his right hand while playing left-handed piano. A remarkable feat indeed. Further demonstrations of Helenius' outstanding talents came in the form of a piano solo and a piano-bandoneón solo, both of which took the breath away.
Top


The prodigious vocal gifts of Alvarado should hardly need mentioning. All the same, they never fail to impress, and his often heart-rending renditions of what are frequently songs of great sadness get the message right across the language barrier and straight into the heart.

The always beautifully intimate The Forge somehow seemed even more intimate than usual, as if transformed by the passionate voice and presence of Alvarado. This might have been someone's living room, with the singer addressing everyone present personally.

However, it would be misleading to give the impression that passion and sadness alone pervaded the atmosphere. This was far from the case. Alvarado and Helenius provided a good deal of well judged light relief also in the form of some fine musical comedy. This was considerably enhanced also by the Finnish Helenius' absolutely dead-pan poker face - I would not play poker with this man for anything! Never!

Martín Alvarado is taking tango to a whole new dimension, while showing the greatest respect and love for the tradition. A combination that works, and indeed works well.

All in all then, Martín Alvarado - 'Asi Es Mi Tango' with Mikko Helenius At The Forge was an experience that really should not have been missed. The UK is very fortunate indeed that Alvarado included it in his present tour. I am only sad that I have to miss out on his second London performance tonight at Negracha Tango Club! The UK leg of Alvarado's tour continues until March 11th, so make sure you catch him somewhere! - Rich Rainlore's World of Music

It’s not often at all that we get to hear tango singers in this country, let alone of singular quality. So when I heard that the Argentine tanguero Martin Alvarado was coming to the UK in his first official solo tour, I was especially eager to go and see him. He had been in the UK earlier on in the year as a part of the show “Midnight Tango” at Birmingham Hippodrome which featured Strictly Come Dancing’s dancers Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace, but this was a completely different kettle of fish - a tour of the UK with just a guitar and Finnish sideman Mikko Helenius on bandoneon and keyboards, and of course that fabulous voice!

The concert I went to was in the intimate setting of the Hexagon Theatre part of Birmingham’s art centre, mac. Intimate, but cold. Very cold. For some reason the air conditioning was blowing cold air from under our seats onto the back of our legs. Not the best of starts. However, with very little fuss or fanfarra Martin and Mikko walked on and began, kicking off with a traditional tango, “Volver”, by the most famous and legendary of all tangueros, the iconic Carlos Gardel. I must admit I’ve never been overly fond of Gardel’s voice (I can already hear a chorus of abuse being thrown at me from 8,000 kms away!) and part of that was to do with the pitch of it. For me I much preferred singers like ‘El Polaco’ Roberto Goyeneche or ‘El Varón del Tango’ Julio Sosa. However, I’m always willing to re-evaluate my opinions and that night I was to be taught a 24 carat lesson in the beauty of the higher registers. And the man to deliver that class was Martin Alvarado.

The quality of his voice is something very special indeed. Light, supple, full of subtle colours and nuances, free to fly like a bird, or to hit home like an arrow to your soul. He uses it like a delicate instrument to paint emotions in your heart, a curious bittersweet sensation, a mixture of honey and mate amargo.

This was illustrated by the next pair of tangos, written by such great tango poets as Eladia Blázquez (probably the most important female tanguera) with “El Corazon al Sur” and Homero Expósito’s “La Misma Pena” (beautiful and with heartfelt delivery). In between songs Martin spoke to us (in quite excellent English) making every effort to put us at our ease and comfort, often creating comic situations (for instance getting the audience to cheer him on as if we were at a rock concert!) to counter the effects of what can at times be quite austere music, stripped back and sparse with minimal accompaniment.

Aah, but such accompaniment! His musical partner for the night was the diffident and oft-times saturnine Finnish bandoneon and keyboard player, Mikko Helenius. Together they were like magicians Penn and Teller, with Mikko taking the non-speaking part but creating quite a comic effect with his little hat and rather fey and mercurial facial expressions. Luckily none of this detracted from his real talent - Mikko Helenius is one gifted musician, with a delicacy of expression, quirkiness of invention and intuitive sympathy for Alvarado’s changes of voice and pace.

As the night progressed Mikko showed us more and more of his abilities, for instance accompanying himself on bandoneon during the beautiful “Milonga Triste” by virtuoso whistling - a quite startlingly rich sound with some fabulous harmonies. I must also mention Mikko’s again quite jaw-dropping ability to play keyboards and bandoneón at the same time! It was like listening to two completely different people playing each instrument and yet was no mere party-trick - his interpretation of Piazzolla’s instrumental work “Oblivión” with the skin-tingling use of vibrato was a highlight for me.

In fact in a show with so many highlights it’s difficult to pick out just a few to illustrate the experience. I have to include Alvarado’s rendition of Ariel Ramírez and Féliz Luna’s “Alfonsina y El Mar” about the suicide of the celebrated Argentine Poet Alfonsina Storni who - after having posted off her final poem “Voy a Dormir” (I’m Going to Sleep”) to the La Nación newspaper - walked into the sea . . . Martin performed this as a zamba (a form of Argentine folklore more associated with the north of the country), accompanying himself just on acoustic guitar. I felt like I was standing on the shore watching her frail body disappear inch by inch into the waves.

In Demare and Manzi’s “Malena” Martin showed what amazing control he has over that fabulously mellifluous voice. We were also treated to Gardel and Le Pera’s anthemic “El Dia Que Me Quieras”, Troilo’s “La Ultima Curda” and Ferrer and Piazzolla’s “Chiquilín de Bachín” (a story about a young boy who in his poverty has to sell roses in clubs and low dives to survive).

Talking to Martin afterwards I asked him how he chooses his playlist for each night (it can change from concert to concert and is a curious selection of big names and unknowns). His answer was that it was all about the poetry of the piece - ea - Worldmusic.co.uk