Julio Botti Pure Tango

Julio Botti
Pure Tango
Zoho Music

"Pure Tango" is a collaboration between saxophonist Julio Botti and pianist Matias Lanfranco. Introduced to each other in late 2017, they performed a few tunes together and clicked immediately. While Lanfranco hails from a traditional tango tradition that features folkloric music, and Botti integrates modern jazz and nuevo tango, they blended seamlessly. They performed at the Teatro Coliseo in Argentina on September 8, 2018. While a great success, this concert was bittersweet for Botti. "I realized that it would likely be the last concert that my mother would witness," said Botti. His mother, who had struggled valiantly against cancer, would pass away four months later. Wanting to pay tribute and honor his mother, Botti was inspired to record the music from that concert.

Lanfranco and Botti collaborated in this production. After selecting the repertoire and crafting the sophisticated arrangements, Lanfranco came to New York to record the set, first tracking saxophone and piano, and later the rest of the instruments and vocals in Cordoba, Argentina. Botti observed, "This production is a new path for me, celebrating traditional tango, music which I had never performed, but was always somewhere within me." Kabir Sehgal comments in the liner notes, "Pure Tango" is a blend between the vivid colors that traditional tango offers, with its traditional instrumentation -- and the compelling sound of Botti's saxophone."

The blend of traditional tango with Botti's superlative sax makes for stirring listening, with performances ranging from an elegant chamber group to fiery rousing performances. There is "Taquito Militar" that sounds like a musical cousin to a Brazilian choro composition. The facility of both Lanfranco and Botti is evident here. His soprano sax has the warmth of a master clarinetist, and mention should be made of guitarist Gustavo Gancedo. Botti's gorgeous soprano sax is also featured on Lanfranco's waltz "Cuando Llueve," with Gancedo's acoustic guitar prominent. Pablo Ziegler contributed the arrangement to "Nostalgias." Botti's eloquent soprano sax is set against Lanfranco's stately piano and Alejandro Colombatti's bandoneon. "El Día Que Me Quieras" is an enticing duet between Lanfranco's elegant piano and Botti's pensive soprano sax. Another alluring duet between the two is Botti's 'Recordando" with a simple melody that evokes memories of his mother for Botti.

María Jose Rojas sings on several selections. She is a singer who imparts a dramatic flair on the lovely "Cualquiera de Estas Noches" with Botti's tenor sax snaking around her singing. Colombatti's bandoneon adds to the song's atmosphere. The beautiful tango "El Último Café" evokes the Charles Trenet song, "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?" (known in the US as "I Wish You Love.") While not credited on the album, Rojas stamps her personality on the spirited "Oro Y Plata." Botti adds a rousing tenor sax solo. Botti's tenor sax also lends to the bittersweet quality of "Una Canción," where Rojas sings about an alcoholic smitten by a lady.

Combining passion with the imaginative virtuosity of Botti, Lanfranco and the other performers, 'Pure Tango" is a superlative recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Julio Botti and Matias Lanfranco performing "Nostalgias."