Modern Tango World #8 (Moscow)

Mosalini Teruggi Cuarteto: Chamuyo
The Mosalini Teruggi Cuarteto is one of the outstanding ensembles of the contemporary tango scene.
Juanjo Mosalini (bandoneon), Sébastien Surel (violin), Romain Descharmes (piano) and Leonardo
Teruggi (double bass) are brilliant musicians who make up the quartet. They play with a rich sense for
dynamics and with all the tonal colours of a quartet. The twelve compositions on this second album
are written by Juanjo Mosalini and Leonardo
Teruggi. They are definitely worth a listen.
This is not easy-listening music to please
the dancers. Instead, it is multifaceted narrative
songs located somewhere between
tango and chamber music. Virtuosity combines
with temperate sensibility to produce
a post nuevo music.
I prefer their ethereal pieces, such as the
beautiful Mar y Sol and 777. But, Nada Casi
also attracts me. Mosalini´s Code 18 and
also Teruggi´s Era de esperar start with a
strumming mandolin sound played on the
violin, and a haunting melody dominated
by the bandoneon and violin. The piano
and double-bass give these compositions
the necessary structure in the sense of the
ensemble. Teruggi´s Milonga del Eco is a
highly atmospheric piece of music dedicated
to Astor Piazzolla. It starts slowly and
thoughtfully, before unfolding to something
quite fragile.
It is wonderful to hear how the four musicians carefully listen to each other and how they uncover
the soul of each of these songs. They make them speak to their listeners´ heart.
Overall Scoring ****
Dancer´s pleasure