Cafe De Los Maestros

Fitting this ambitious project into his hectic schedule must've been a challenge for producer/writer Gustavo Santaolalla. He's better known as the Oscar-winning composer of Hollywood film scores such as Babel and Brokeback Mountain, as well as being the mastermind behind 'electro tango' iconoclasts Bajofondo, but Caf de los Maestros is a real labour of love. More than five years after he began work on this 'summit meeting' of the stars of Argentinean tango from the 1940s and 1950s (just before the seismic reinventions of Astor Piazzolla), it's finally arrived, and has been well worth the wait. The only shame is that some of these icons have already passed on, though this lends Caf de los Maestros an extra poignancy. Most striking among the vocalists is the late Lgrima Ros, the 'Black Pearl of tango' from Argentina's small neighbour Uruguay. Her two vibrato-laden offerings both employ just guitar and-voice, with Santaolalla allowing himself an exquisite backing vocal cameo on the swinging creole waltz of Un Cielo Para Los Dos. There are star turns from divas Virginia Luque and Nelly Omar, as well as the great Oscar Ferrari, who all have well preserved and remarkably androgynous voices. And twenty-something Cristbal Repetto brings his extraordinary 'gramophone' voice to a duet with veteran Juan Carlos Godoy. The balance of this ravishingly presented double disc set of yesteryear's hits is instrumental tango, ranging from the sweepy, swooning 'orquestas' of Horacio Salgn, Osvaldo Berlingieri et al, to quintets, quartets and soloists on piano and bandonen. The whole thing radiates style and charm that's second-to-none.