About Me
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"sizzling accounts and powerful impact" Jazzwise
"punchy, entertaining, and full of light and shade" The Guardian
"Original and exciting approach to 'the space between' jazz and tango... a highly effective combination that works beautifully, and offers a wide variety of imaginative and exciting moods" The List
OFFICAL LINE:
Not so much a piano trio as a three-headed musical instrument, Tangalgo came together in 2003 to explore the space between jazz and tango.
Sharing a love for the music of Astor Piazzolla, we began with radical re-arrangements of his tango scores, progressing quickly to evocative originals, adding a bit of free improv, latin groove and haunting classicism to the mix.
Today, as we continue to develop this space, Tangalgo moves effortlessly from high drama to delicate introspection, lurking menacingly somewhere between the passion of the tango and the unpredictability of jazz.
Phil Alexander (piano)
Phil was born in London in 1971. He has a first in music from Goldsmiths College, where he studied with avante-garde guru John Tilbury. His experience as a pianist ranges from Berlin Cabaret through Porgy and Bess to 70s funk, but his main love is modern jazz, tango and klezmer. Over the last few years he has combined excursions into the UK jazz & improvised music scene with a great deal of educational work. He is also active as a composer, and his music has been played from London's South Bank to Edinburgh's Queen's Hall. More recently he has undertaken commissions for several London jazz ensembles (including Just East of Jazzs recent album Feast). He discovered the music of Astor Piazzolla a few years ago, and since then has been adapting Piazzollas tangos to his own piano style, resulting in a series of concerts and a solo CD, as well as arranging some of these works for London ensembles Trio Fuego and CyberStrings. Having moved to Edinburgh in September 2002, he now plays with Salsa Celtica, Mr McFall's Chamber, and leads the klezmer-ish Moishe's Bagel. His compositions and arrangements provide the blueprints for the band's distinctive repertoire, whilst his driving piano, creative originality and dramatic sensitivity are the initial sparks from which the Tangalgo sound develops.
Mario Caribé (double bass)
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mario started his musical education at 13, playing Bossa Nova guitar. He switched to electric bass one year later and took lessons at Zimbo Trio's School - C.L.A.M., quickly moving on to playing gigs in the local Jazz scene. He took lessons with Nico Assumpcao and in 1983 was accepted at Universidade Estadual de Campinas where he completed a BMus in Composition. Back in Sao Paulo he was invited to play with the 'Heartbreakers', a condensed 9 piece jazz band, with whom he arranged, recorded and produced 7 CDs. He has also performed with many of the greatest singers in Brazilian Music such as Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Nana Caymmi, and Zizi Possi. Mario is involved in Jazz Education, having held several workshops on Latin American Music throughout Scotland, as well as constant teaching around the country. Mario is a big personality (essential for dealing with his three boys!), matched by a big sound. His resonant tone and musical depth give the band its fundamental foundation, whilst his warmth, imagination and lightness of touch provide an irresistible lift.
Mattie Foulds (drums)
Born and raised in the vibrant musical world of Cape Breton, Mattie moved to Scotland five years ago and since then has launched himself into the middle of the UK folk scene, appearing with many of its brightest figures (Karine Polwart, Aidan O'Rourke, John McCusker, Kate Rusby, Dean Owens, Shooglenifty, Unusual Suspects, Eliza Carthy, Phil Cunningham). He also combines impressive percussive technique with a sideline as a fine producer/engineer. He is the drummer and award-winning producer with rising singer/songwriter star Karine Polwart (to whom he is married). Not your average jazz drummer, Mattie brings a power and sincerity to everything he does. His big sound and rock solid groove are matched by surprising lyricism and sensitivity, and give an unmistakeable conviction and accessibility to the Tangalgo sound.
