TANGO SONICO
Astor Piazzolla is known as the inventor of modern tango. But is this true? Was Piazzolla the only figure of this movement, or were there others?
The Brussels based quintet SONICO celebrates the repertoire of the Argentinian composer Eduardo Rovira. Rovira is thought of as the “other Astor Piazzolla” because of his fundamental role in the creation of the “tango vanguardia” during the Buenos Aires avant-garde in the early 50’s. The characterization of Eduardo Rovira as “The Other Piazzolla” puts his work in the background as a mere copy. Putting this in doubt, the goal of SONICO is to bring in the spotlight the “tango vanguardia” encompassing the movement in its broadest aspect, questioning the mainstream characterization.
Very few musicians have taken as much risk and crossed as many borders as Eduardo Rovira. His innovations in tango let even Astor Piazzolla to say “there was a time that Rovira was more revolutionary than me.” He suffered – like Astor – from the indifference of the public at a time when the decline of the music of Buenos Aires as the favorite started at the hands of a giant wave of styles that changed the culture not only in Buenos Aires but also around the world. However, his work was like a gem ready to be discovered and to astonish those who have the same curiosity and nonconformity of the so established.
by Carlos Rosa, journalist
In August 2018, SONICO presented their album “Eduardo Rovira: La Otra Vanguardia” in Buenos Aires (Argentina) as part of the Tango Festival BA. SONICO was the main international guest at the festival. In December 2018, “Eduardo Rovira: La Otra Vanguardia” has been chosen in the top 10 by Billboard magazine in the category Tango. In March 2019, SONICO released their first album at the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, as part of the new concert series entitled “100 years of Tango.”
Lysandre DONOSO, bandonéon
Ivo DE GREEF, piano
Camilo CORDOBA, guitare
Ariel EBERSTEIN, contrebasse
Stephen MEYER, violon