Artists We Love – Javier Casalla
It was the Bajofondo tour 3 or 4 years ago. Yes I know… Bajofondo? but stay with me. This concert exposed me to two of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. One was Gustavo Santaolalla performing De Ushuaia a La Quiaca on his Ronrocco with a minimum of input from the rest of the band (but with an impromptu mobile phone accompaniment from one of the audience). The other was the intro by the amazing Javier Casalla. Played on, what can only be described as, a contraption which, I later found out, is called a Strohl Violin. The scene was like something out of a Jeunet & Caro film. Eery lighting, eery stage design and then came the eerily beautiful “Mi Amor”
Javier Casalla plays tango music that is modern but not Nuevo. He plays mainly on his Violin but he is also skilled with a wide range of other instruments… Take a look at this performance of “Milonga Niza” in an airport departures lounge… The guys sat next to him are trying to play it cool but the little guy in the background knows a good thing when he hears it.
And that is another thing I love about Javier. His Milongas are Milongas, his Valses are Valses and his Tangos are Tangos (well apart from “La Cumparsita… that is a Vals). If not for the obvious lack of an orchestra, his music wouldn’t sound out of place at a Milonga.
It might not be for everyone and it might not be brilliant to dance to (not bad mind you), but if you like tango music, you should take a look.
You can download his self-titled solo album from iTunes or here
