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It takes one to tango when Luna is singing
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Portland Press Herald, It takes one to tango when Luna is singing >>
She was a long way from Buenos Aires, but singer Sandra Luna had an appreciative audience (feeling some of the heat and passion of the Argentine tango on a cold night in Portland.
Employing a very expressive style of deliveiy, the auburn-haired vocalist gestured boldly as she prowled the stage of the Center for Cultural Exchange. The wide tonal and dynamic range of her voice was given impressive display in a concert that lasted barely an hour but nonetheless provided a satisfying glimpse into a form of sung tango that Luna has helped to keep alive.
Many of the songs the 30-something singer offered came from her Grammy-nominated disc called "Tango Varon." Though they were sung in Spanish, it was not difficult for the non-Spanish speaking members of the crowd to get an idea that the subjects were love-and longing, hope and despairs
Clad in a diaphanous black pants outfit, Luna would bring things down to a whisper or shout out to the rafters as she pleaded her musical case or declared its triumphant resolution. There was theatricality aplenty in her performing style, but it seemed fueled by a genuine respect for the music.
"Milonga Triste (Sad Tale)" was a highlight, with its gently repeated rhythm seeming to barely hold up the spirits of the heartbroken character of the lyr ics, perfectly embodied by Luna.
Luna, who grew up on city streets and sang in bars at an early age, showed particular passion in introducing (in halting English) "Carritos Cartoneros." She outlined how a "bad government" in her homeland in the 1990s had led to the phenomena of homeless children who collect cardboard to sell for enough cash to make it through the day. Her delivery of the song was fiery, forthright and strikingly intense.
"Me Maman Luna (They Call Me Moon)" had obvious autobiographical significance for the singer and was another piece sung with particular feeling.
An instrumental piece composed by bandeonist Daniel Ruggiero provided a break for the singer who made her way to the rear of the hall to listen with the crowd. Reminiscent of music by the well-known tango master Astor Piazzola, the piece succeeded best when featuring cellist Daniel Pucci (Luna's husband). The warm low tones of the stringed instrument suited the music's earthy quality well Ezequiel Mantega's electronic key board work, though occasionally effective, suffered a bit from the instrument's tendency to produce a brittle texture.
Luna closed the show with the spirited title tune from her CD. It's ultimately an optimistic ode to the continuing power of the tango, and Sandra Luna certainly did her part on Thursday night to carry on a musical tradition that movingly traverses the distance between sorrow and joy.
-Steve Feeney 02/26/05
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