After a decade in the Athens, Ga., music scene, Athens Tango Project released its first EP on Jan. 18, 2023. Dubbed “Para Compartir” (To Be Shared), the eclectic and ambitious EP is a testament of their mastery of the intricate nuances of tango music, and also offers fresh and energizing versions of classics with dancers in mind.
The EP, directed and produced by Camacho, includes among others a symphonic tango, Tanguera, performed by four instruments; a masterful nuevo tango Piazzolla piece - a stripped Oblivion that brings forward the essence of the composition; and another favorite of Camacho’s: Drive composed by REM, which includes a guest vocalist and moves effortlessly between a new tango bass line, rock, and jazz. After listening to the EP and performing with her, Emiliano Messiez, a prolific composer and a pianist for the Broadway hit show "Forever Tango," says of founder and producer Laura Camacho “We are in the presence of a bass player who really knows the Tango style like not many.”
Laura Camacho founded the Athens Tango Project in 2012, gathering first-rate musicians in Athens, Ga., to teach them to play music she had learned to love as a child in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while watching her grandmother dance to tango on her record player. Her group is called Athens Tango Project which consists of a varying ensemble of musicians led by Camacho. Grammy Award-nominated musician and producer Pablo Aslan describes Camacho as “one of the movers and shakers in the US tango scene” and as “an excellent bass player and a passionate tanguera armed with an impressive sound, precise rhythm and fine taste.”
Liner notes:
"Athens Tango Project was born in Athens, Ga in 2012 when -to my surprise- talented musicians from the local scene and UGA's music programs expressed their interest in joining me to play Argentine tango. Without other tango musicians in the area, the Project naturally developed several functions: training musicians willing to learn the nuances of the genre; collaborating with artists from other styles; putting together performances and seminars for all types of audiences; and generating a true sense of diversity which originates in connecting with the profound richness and vitality of Rioplatense music.
Athens Tango Project nació en 2012 en Athens Georgia, EUU cuando, para mi sorpresa, talentosísimos músicos locales y compañeros de la carrera de música en UGA expresaron su interés en tocar tango argentino conmigo. Sin otros referentes tangueros locales, el proyecto naturalmente adquirió varias funciones: entrenar músicos en las sutilezas del género; colaborar con artistas de otros estilos; realizar presentaciones y seminarios para todo tipo de audiencias; y generar un sentido de diversidad como resultado de nuestra conexión con la profundidad, riqueza, y vitalidad de la música rioplatense."
-Laura Camacho
credits
released January 18, 2023
Performed by Athens Tango Project / Todos los temas interpretados por Athens Tango Project
Laura Camacho: Upright Bass on tracks 1-6 / Contrabajo en temas 1-6
John Cooper: Violin on tracks 1-4 / Violín en temas 1-4, Viola on tracks 5-6 / Viola en 5-6
Catherine Goodrum: Guitar on tracks 1-4 / Guitarra en temas 1-4
Monique Osorio: Vocals on track 6 / Voz en tema 6
John Phillips: Percussion on track 6 / Percusión en tema 6
Benjamin Pozo: Piano on tracks 1-5 / Piano en temas 1-5
Matt Vu: Keyboard on track 6 / Teclado en tema 6
Jason NeSmith: Mixing and Mastering tracks 1-6 / Mezcla y masterización temas 1-6
Asher Hill: Recording Engineer tracks 1-5, mixing and mastering track 5 / Ingeniero de grabación temas 1-5, mezcla y masterización tema 5
Taylor Chicoine: Recording Engineer Mixing and mastering track 6 / Ingeniero de grabación mezcla y masterización tema 6
Noah Johnson and Jason Thrasher: Photography / Fotografía
Nasrul Khag: Album Artwork / Arte de tapa
Tracks 1-5 recorded at / Temas 1-5 grabados en: Covenant Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia
Track 6 recorded at / Tema 6 grabado en: The Pity Party, Athens, Georgia, USA/EEUU
All songs Mixed and Mastered by / Todos los temas mezclados v masterizados por Jason NeSmith at/en Bel*Air
Studios and/y Chase Park Transduction, Athens, Georgia, USA/EEUU
Produced by / Producido por Laura Camacho
Special Thanks to / Gracias a: Ricardo V. Calvo, Liliana B. García Nudelman, Pablo Guzmán, Janet Howington, Milton Masciadri, Jason NeSmith, James Preston, Paula Renaldi, Allison Salerno, Osvaldo Tubino, and everyone who has supported us over the years / v todos los aue nos brindan su apovo. Dedicado a todos los artistas que dean la vida en el escenario. Dedicated to all artists who pour their hearts on stage.
1. Felicia (2:43)
(Enrique Saborido and Carlos Mauricio Pacheco)
Arranged by Laura Camacho, John Cooper, Catherine Goodrum, and Benjamin Pozo.
Public Domain. ISRC: QZ7RC1700007. ISWC: T-307.652.130-3
2. Tanguera (3:23)
(Mariano Mores)
Publisher: Rightsong Music Inc. (BMI). ISRC: QZ7RC1700008. ISWC: T-037.035.868-1
3. El Porteñito (1:53)
(Ángel Villoldo)
Arranged by Laura Camacho, John Cooper, Catherine Goodrum, and Benjamin Pozo
Public Domain. ISRC: QZ7RC1700009. ISWC: T-307.652.123-4
4. A Media Luz (2:19)
(Edgardo Donato and Carlos César Lenzi)
Publisher: Edward B Marks Music Company (BMI). ISRC: QZ7RC1700010. ISWC: T-037.000.103-8
5. Oblivion (4:01)
(Astor Piazzolla)
Publishers: A Pagani Ediz Mus Srl (SIAE), Edward Kassner Music CO LTD. (PRS). ISRC: QZ7RC1700011. ISWC: T-900.775.163-5
6. Drive (4:40)
(John Michael Stipe, Michael Edward Mills, Peter Lawrence Buck, William Thomas Berry) Publisher: Night Garden Music (SESAC). ISRC: QZ7RC1700012. ISWC: T-070.248.418-1
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