Tanghetto is an argentine band led by Max Masri (synths and programming) and Diego S. Velázquez (guitars) formed in 2001. The name "Tanghetto" (the combination of the words "tango" and "ghetto") was inspired by the "little argentinas", the communities of exiled argentines living overseas.
In the mid 90s, Max Masri (one of the last disciples of the legendary tango composer Virgilio Expósito) went back to Buenos Aires from a long trip to Germany after sharing interesting experiences among argentine emigrants and, because of that, brought the idea to create a new musical language, blending tango and modern sounds.
In late 1998 he started working with Diego S. Velázquez and they began recording and producing their first electrotango tracks. In 2001 this idea was revived, with a modern sound, their own compositions and, finally, a name for the project: Tanghetto.
The current line-up includes Federico Vázquez (bandoneón), Daniel Corrado (acoustic and electronic drums), Antonio Boyadjian (piano) and Chao Xu (violoncello and chinese bowed string instrument erhu).
In December 2003 "Emigrante (electrotango)" (Tanghetto's debut album) was released in Argentina. The album reached platinum status and the top positions of many important charts of record chains like Tower Records. On July 14th, "Emigrante (electrotango)" was nominated for a Latin Grammy award in the "Best Instrumental Album" category.
On December 10th, 2004, some argentine musicians, led by Max and Diego, released a side project called "Hybrid Tango", in which the fusion of modern tango and other musical influences brings tango to a new level, adding a world music flavour with flamenco, latin rhythms and jazz elements. This record has been received very well by music consumers, and it also reached the top positions of alternative music sales charts. Some of the tracks from Hybrid Tango became an important part of Tanghetto's live repertoire including "Barrio Sur", "Calles de Piedra" and "El Deseo" among others. In August 23rd, 2005, this album was nominated for a Latin Grammy award in the "Best Tango Album" category being the first elecrtotango album to reach that nomination.
Since 2004 Tanghetto intensified its live activity. Some of the most important gigs since then were: II & IV World Tango Championship, VII Buenos Aires Tango Festival, a concert in the Obelisco monument in front of a crowd of over 15.000 people, Teatro ND Ateneo (sold out four times), the South American Games opening, and 6 European and 4 North American tours including Italy, France, USA, UK, Germany, Chile, Sweden, Mexico, etc and venues like the Islington Academy and Noting Hill Arts Club in London, The Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, The Mojo Club in Hamburg, La Alhondiga de Granaditas in Guanajuato, The Symphony Hall in Chicago, the Melkweg in Amsterdam, the Vera Club in Groningen, Holland, and many other important venues all over the world
Tanghetto released their first live DVD (titled "Live in Buenos Aires") in 2006 and they are currently releasing a new album, "El Miedo a la Libertad" ("Fear of Freedom").