Tango Quintet wows Newbury festival-goers
Newbury Spring Festival: London Tango Quintet at the Corn Exchange, on Wednesday, May 11 Review by FIONA BENNETT
Question: What do you get when you combine a vivacious violinist, an admirable accordionist, a preposterously perfect pianist, a brilliant bass player and a great guitarist?
Answer: The London Tango Quintet.
I first heard the LTQ play at the Dean and Chadlington Summer Festival and was struck not only by their individual virtuosity, but also by the warmth and camaraderie shown to one another during their performance.
Each solo was loudly applauded by the other four, such was their appreciation and admiration for one another’s talents.
When I heard they were bringing their unique blend of South American and Spanish music to the Newbury Spring Festival, I immediately bought tickets for myself and my dad, DesThe Corn Exchange was abuzz as the five musicians walked on to the stage and the sight of David Juritz (violin) dropping his pencil, watching it roll towards the front of the stage only to be rescued by superstar guitarist Craig Ogden, who curtsied as he handed it back, made us smile even more – and the music hadn’t even started! A short glissando from David’s violin and we were transported to the world of smoky Argentinian nightclubs, shiny dancefloors and incredibly exciting, pulsating music.
We loved the ensemble playing, the impossibly sexy sound of Miloš Milivojević’s accordion and marvelled at the way Richard Pryce made playing the double bass look so easy.
We smiled at the modesty of David Gordon (piano) who delighted us with couple of his own compositions along the way, one written during lockdown and mimicked the delay the five amigos experienced trying to make music together over Zoom.
Not a bongo or cabasa in sight, South American rhythms abounded and had us tapping our toes and slapping our thighs.
Craig tickled the wood of his guitar, David G leaned into the piano and stopped the strings to create a percussive effect, Miloš cleverly managed to create the sound of a rim shot and David J made some very interesting, scratchy sounds by bowing his strings above the bridge.
The music of Piazzolla, Albeniz, Castellanos et al was brought to life and the audience to its feet.
You may have heard Craig on Classic FM or heard Miloš play on Strictly Come Dancing. You might even have seen David Gordon direct the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Richard play in Shirley Bassey or Jamie Cullum’s backing bands or experienced David Juritz’s leadership of the London Mozart Players but, put these five passionate, talented musicians together and you get sheer tango dynamite.
