[Tango-L] live music

Sat May 26 20:10:31 EDT 2007

Michael,
    Firstly my name is in fact AJ (short for Adriel Jeremiah) and I happen
to be from Boston area. Secondly, I did not necessarily disagree with
everything said more so, the way it was said. Thirdly, I don't play
Piazolla. My group's soul purpose is to play music of the 1900-1940s so
that's the end of that whole line of commentary. As for emulating
orchestras, my group's goal is in fact to do 'some' emulating and 'some'
originality. My main gripe is Igor saying "just go listen to the music" as
if it's sooo easy to just play that music from CDs. Basically belittling the
real effort it takes to emulate music. We're not talking a rock cover band
here! 

    Everything, else addressed toward me was WAY based on assumption of who
I am and what I do based on previous experiences with other people. Reading
between the lines is one thing but, reading fantasy between the lines and
responding based on that is at best lame and at worst dumb. You're even
doing it in this post! I don't play music you like or dislike because. you
don't know me or my music specifically!

     I would NEVER make fun or ridicule someone based on physical
disabilities. In main part due to the fact that I have dual hand
disabilities due to severe arthritis. Having lost the ability to play guitar
5 years ago and turning to steel guitar instead. SO as far as that goes, I
should say shame on you for such an assumption. Seriously, don't project
your personal issues and your issues with someone else on me just because,
you might find issue with something I've said.

    Then the are the grand sweeping generalizations such as, "none of you
musicians have been able to do it". None of the ones you've heard indeed.
Unless you've heard every single musician on the planet, that's a bit of a
ridiculous claim. Don't you think? Generalizing and stereotyping serves no
one.

    Bottom line as I said repeatedly and if anyone actually bothered to read
it, I myself personally want to play what dancers want to hear but, and this
is a big but, dancers should not throw this request and it is a request
(should never be a demand) around as if it's no big deal to actually
recreate a certain type of music. More importantly, be open minded (I know
it's hard for some) to hearing and dancing the same pieces but, not in the
arrangement you are necessarily familiar with. Even more importantly, rather
than copping an attitude and refusing to dance, open your mouth respectfully
and tell a musician what you feel you're missing in their music to make you
want to dance. The whole "I'm taking my toys and going home" attitude of "if
it's not danceable I will walk away", will never create any sort of
creative, symbiotic relationship between the dancer and the performing
musician.
    
    Then comes the question do you really want a music group to do a dead on
recreation of a certain group ALL the time? That's what a DJ a for. Live
music is supposed to be about a bit of freshness and unpredictability.
That's' the excitement of live music.

    Here's my suggestion, let's start an ideal play list scenario of
specific pieces. Start with JUST the pieces. Forget specific orchestras and
groups. Then give musicians a proper chance to interpret the music with an
accompanying list of what you all as dancers would like to hear to be
"inspired". However, be realistic, be reasonable and by all means be
patient! Finally, (as if I should have to say this) be polite and leave the
pompous, arrogant machismo crap at the door. That's the one thing from
Argentinean culture we can do with out (I happen to be part Argentinean by
the way before anyone says anything).

-Adriel Jeremiah Azure


> From: Michael Figart II <michaelfigart at yahoo.com>
> Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 16:06:25 -0700 (PDT)
> To: Tango-L <tango-l at mit.edu>
> Subject: [Tango-L] live music
> 
> Hello to all, and my best wishes for your health, prosperity and happiness,
> 
> Yes, it's been a while since I chimed in, and I usually read tango-l every 3
> or 4 days now, so I'm always playing catch-up. Lots of emotion lately, about
> the live music issue. It's been nearly a year since I brought up this subject,
> right after last year's "Meet in the Middle" in Missouri, where Tango Lorca
> played again for one evening's "enjoyment".
> 
> AJ Azure, whoever you are; first off; I'm of the belief that you should
> announce your name and place. All of your detractors have the guts to post to
> this list with full disclosure, so should you. Second, I've often disagreed
> with Chris, and Igor, and Jake, but not on this one. Even though Jake used
> some language that was uncalled for on this list, they were all right on. We
> all acknowledge the fact that many of the "tango orchestras" in the US are
> extremely talented musicians. We just want you to play music that inspires us.
> 
> Extasis in Denver, Tango Lorca in Missouri, Conjunto Berretin, whoever it was
> in Chicago last month.......very little was inspiring. Conjunto Berretin
> several years ago played some great stuff for about thirty minutes in
> Portland. The others; none that I've ever heard.
> 
> I have an extensive musical background, many years of piano, guitar, sax,
> flute, lots of theory, and lots of money, but all I care about now is "does it
> inspire my dance?" Once again, I acknowledge forcefully the fact that I
> consider you all extremely talented musicians. But...look here, it would take
> extremely talented musicians to emulate exactly the orchetras of the
> 30's-40's. I've not heard anyone of you even try. Why can't you try it? Can
> you not do it? 
> 
> It's a great question; what makes tango, tango?? What is it about the music
> that makes it so different?? Why is it so hard to emulate? What is that gives
> it that feel? Why does it inspire such expression, such passion? It must not
> be easy, or some of you musicians would have figured it out. Yet, none of you
> have even come close; at least none of you that I've heard. And nobody I've
> talked to, or danced with, has ever felt it from you.
> 
> Get back to the basics; figure out what it is about DiSarli, D'Arienzo, Calo,
> etc that inspires us. Learn to emulate it. Learn to inspire us. Maybe then you
> can change it up; be a little improvisational, introduce something different,
> write a new tune. Actually be a musician playing to please their audience. I
> signed up for the Chicago Festival before I knew there was going to be a live
> "orchestra". I was upset, but was assured their stuff was "danceable". Maybe
> somebody enjoyed it, but not me, and not anybody I talked to while I was
> there. I stood and listened; yes they were talented, and it was played well,
> but it did not inspire in the least; all it inspired was the hope that they
> would end soon so I could dance to some "good" music.
> 
> That's the way it has been for the seven years I've been dancing; waiting to
> be inspired, and dismayed at the display on the floor during these "live
> music" events; watch the dancers, and listen to the music; neither have
> anything to do with the other.
> 
> To me, it is rude, maybe uninformed, but still rude, to play this music that
> you may love, but we hate. It is beautiful music, but it's for listening, not
> for dancing. And maybe, just maybe, you, AJ, are the rudest of all. Are you
> the one who made some really disparaging remarks about me last year in a
> personal email? Are you the one who said that I am an uptight individual with
> a disturbingly "gimped up deformity" (I have no fingers on my right hand).
> 
> What the hell is it about this discourse that you do not understand? Have we
> not made it clear that you are not wanted at our milongas until you decide to
> make a change or two? What's the deal? Do you feel insulted? We are not
> insulting your ability, or your skills. We are just trying to tell you that if
> you want to be accepted and revered, you better make some changes.
> 
> You may be a remarkably talented individual musically, but until you can play
> music that truly inspires us talented dancers of Argentine Tango, don't expect
> us to give you quarter. We will be on your ass until such inspiration occurs.
> Do not expect otherwise!
> 
> Regards to all,
> 
> Michael Figart II
> Houston Tx
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