The Intimate Side of D’Arienzo
I first saw Duo Villarreal-Crom perform live in Washington, DC at the “Tuesday Tango Training” práctica on June 7, 2022. It was quite the memorable experience, because it was the first time I had danced to Juan D’Arienzo, a tango orchestra leader known for his intense energy, in such an intimate way. The second time I danced to the duo’s performance of their album, D’Arienzo en Guitarras, was later that month in “Charlotte Tango Music (& Dance!) Festival” hosted by Tango CLT. This time the duo played acoustically in the middle of the dance floor, which required the dancers to really hone in their listening skills in order to dance to the music. Once again, I was struck by the beauty of D’Arienzo melodies, instead of being drawn into the driving pulse.
After an in-depth conversation with Patricio Crom, regarding the creation of this album, I learned that this unique way of experiencing of D’Arienzo was intentional. The story begins with Juan Villarreal attending a milonga where D’Arienzo “Tango Brujo” began to play. Although Juan had sung “Tango Brujo” multiple times, it was at that moment he realized the poetic beauty of the lyrics, and he wondered if D’Arienzo lyrics were often not paid attention to due to the vibrancy of music. The following day he told Patricio his idea to arrange D’Arienzo greatest hits for two guitars and voice, so that the listener would be more receptive to the lyrics. Having played and recorded many albums with Juan, Patricio was open to this innovative idea and the duo began to rehearse.
The arrangements grew organically from these rehearsals, and once the duo had some concrete ideas they took to the studio to record. In true improvisatory form, one of the original compositions of the album, “Bordonas de Fuego,” was composed whilst in the studio. This willingness to create in the moment is what draws Patricio to this format, and this freshness is certainly felt by the participants on the dance floor. This April, the duo will kick off their 2023 U.S. tour, where I am looking forward to listening to them perform at Guardia Vieja, “En Vivo: A Duo of Duos,” on April 15th. On Memorial Day Weekend, they will put their improv skills to the test at the 2023 Philadelphia Tango Festival in a live music open mic práctica. Follow the links below to experience D’Arienzo in a way you never have before, either through their live performances or intimate album.