Tango Silhouette: Philadelphia meets Buenos Aires

Tango music is a genre of music that originated in Argentina and Uruguay in the late 19th century. It is a passionate and romantic style of music that has become popular around the world.

The traditional tango sound consists of two violins, a piano, bandoneon (an accordion-like instrument) and guitar. It is characterized by its dramatic melodies, intricate rhythms, and intense emotion.

Tango music has been used to express love, longing, joy, sadness, and many other emotions throughout its history. Its popularity continues to grow as more people discover its unique sound and beauty.

Tony Marino is not just a fine composer and pianist, he is also a very consistent one, proving he puts a lot of effort in the constant developing of his creative skills.

With his eleventh album, Tango Silhouette, Marino pays homage to his Argentinian and Italian roots, offering a pleasant mixture of various musical and cultural influences, keeping consistent with his Latin-jazz style.

Tango Silhouette won a Global Music award and was described by one reviewer as “exquisite orchestrations“.

• Tango Silhouette opens up with the brisk tune Day Break. Its intriguing arrangement and vibrant rhythm bring you straight to Buenos Aires.

• The sophisticated Sylvana Gene And Stella Tango Medley is a perfect example of the idea of elegance and sensuality generally associated with tango.

• Lucia is a lively homage to Tony Marino's maternal grandmother, an Argentinian emigrated to Italy and then to the United States. This 11/4 new composition, although quite short, is one of the most distinctive in the album, with its complex rhythm and harmony.
• The journey proceeds with In The Shadows. The well-paced double-bass pairing with some energetic percussions at the beginning of the tune opens up to an intricate texture, where different instruments participate at the formation of complex, jazz-inspired harmony.
• The Chancery Place Tango is way calmer and more sensual. The bandoneon at the beginning seems to be the perfect homage to Astor Piazzolla. As the song develops we perceive a more contemporary rhythm and mood, with piano and violin as protagonists. The fifth track of the album could work as a great soundtrack.

• Astor and Dizzy Tango Medley reminds of Piazzolla once again. The piano riff is almost hypnotic and it works well with the complex rhythm provided by the percussions. The accompaniment to the violin solo is very exciting too.

• The following track, Circles, is characterized by interesting rhythm changes and vibrant riffs.

• We are drawn to Buenos Aires again with A Different Time. What a great atmosphere created by the persistent strings enriching the drum solo and then the violin at its fullest expression.

• The Layback Tango is everything the title promises, with a remarkable piano solo.

• The title is yet again a great indicator of the song mood when it comes to The Death Of A Romance, the saddest tune in the album. The dark atmosphere suggested by melody and harmony is, however, flipped over by a vibrant rhythm, underlined by both percussions and piano.

• Tony Marino's Latin roots blend with his South Philly origins in The Philly Tango Astornomical Medley, yet again an evocative tribute to Astor Piazzolla (as the title suggests).

• The last track of the album, That's It, highlights Marino's skills with a sweet piano solo introduction, later enriched by a sophisticated arrangement meant to make you remember this whole album.

Overall, Tango Silhouette will appeal to both tango and jazz listeners, as the composer managed to blend his Latin roots with a Northern American feel, as in other previous publications.

It is yet again another milestone in Marino's career, started in 1997 and still in full expansion.