Andrés Linetzky / Vale Tango - Las huellas en el mar

»The traces in the sea«

Vale Tango led by the musical director and composer Andrés Linetzky is one of the most important groups of the present tango scene. Since 1997 Andrés Linetzky and producer Stefan Winter work together, record AudioFilms (cinema for closed eyes) about scenes in the city of Buenos Aires ("¡Tango Vivo!"), authentic sounds in B.A.'s most famous tango club "La Viruta" and dance programs ("Tango alla Baila") for tango aficionados. But also Andrés Linetzky's family history »The Linetzky Family – Diaspora in Buenos Aires« was produced by Winter&Winter as a very moving musical documentary.

Vale Tango plays original music and remains at the same time faithful to the historic style. The interpretations of Andrés Linetzky's music are characterized by an incredibly fresh and individual approach. The musicians on the one side shine with their sensitive interplay and on the other side with outstanding soloistic passages. All compositions are penned by Andrés Linetzky and are tailor-made for the group. Vale Tango strives after creating a new tango alchemy without changing the grand air of tango. Big, sometimes nostalgic feelings and the passionate tango pervade this music and therefore bestow on »Las huellas en el mar« a very special sparkle. Patrick Duval, director of the performance space Le Rocher de Palmer invites Vale Tango to Bordeaux. This gives producer Stefan Winter the possibility to record under best conditions the sounds of Vale Tango.

Andrés Linetzky is born in Avellaneda, Argentina, in 1974. Since his youth he is a tango musician. He comes from a very musical family. Already his grandfather José Linetzky plays tango. Andrés Linetzky was accepted as one of the few pupils of Horacio Salgán and had lessons with Rodolfo Mederos for wonderful and very interesting seven years. The opening track of the new album "Las huellas en el mar" is called "Madera de roble" and dedicated to Rodolfo Mederos. The song title is a play on words with his name and the title means oak wood, that is a metaphor for his personality.

Andrés Linetzky graduates from Avellaneda’s City Music Conservatory (classical music) and the Avellaneda’s Popular Music School (jazz and tango). Since many years he successfully works as a composer, arranger and performing artist with and for the most famous tango groups, orchestras and shows. He tours within Europe, the U.S., China, Hong Kong and Japan besides regular appearances in South America. On over fifty recordings Andrés Linetzky shows himself to be both an impulsive and subtle artist. »Las huellas en el mar« is his fifth appearance on Winter&Winter and the first album which is almost exclusively focused on his own compositions.

Andrés Linetzky leads as the musical director several tango shows and orchestras such as Tango X2, Orquesta de Tango de Buenos Aires, Ariel Ardit Orchestra, Tangovia Orchestra, Orquesta Escuela de Tango, Orquesta Inspiración, Orquesta de Música Ciudadana de Córdoba, Orquesta Le Grand Tango and Orquesta del Río de La Plata (formed with musicians from Argentina and Uruguay).

He has collaborated with tango legends like Raúl Gárrelo, Carlos García, Julián Plaza, Osvaldo Piro, José Libertella, José Colangelo, Pascual Mamone, Atilio Stampone, Leopoldo Federico and many others.

In 2007 he has produced his own show "Tango Baile" as general director while contributing compositions and arrangements also to several other shows like "Danza Maligna", "Tangosónico: la rosa", "Tango Fútbol", "Tangos de la cruz del sur", "Su historia", "Evita Vive" and "Tita".

Extensive worldwide touring with various groups brought him already to more than 50 countries and 200 cities. In 2005 he was awarded for the best arrangement with the Osvaldo Pugliese Prize among a wide field of competitors.

Andrés Linetzky [piano] has selected a special group of musicians to reach the rich and warm sound of Vale Tango. Since years he works together with the violin player Alejandro Schaikis, on his side plays Javiera Gonzalez [2nd violin]. Also Nicolás Capsitski [1st bandoneon] is a long-time companion, who plays in an excellent artistic understanding together with Amijai Shalev [2nd bandoneon]. Patricio Cotella, one of the first members of Vale Tango [double bass] and Marcelo Costa [vocals] complete the group.

»Las huellas en el mar« tells the story of the transience of all things and ourselves. Our traces on earth are like the traces in the sea. »Mi barco abandonado« with the lyrics by Andrés' brother Matías Linetzky talks about the past, experiences and things we loose when we get older. »Soy un àngel« is composed for Andrés' little baby-girl Rebeca. He would love to be her guardian angel so that she gains many great experiences. The story about a broken love affair before it even started expresses Andrés Linetzky with the song »Roto antes de armado«. »Aiumanu« is dedicated to Andrés Linetzky's nephews, Aielet and Manuel. »Ilusiones perdidas« means »Lost Illusions«, and »Fuimos« is dedicated to the great piano player and tango composer Orlando Tripodi [1927 - 1995]. Andrés Linetzky plays Charlie Parker's jazz composition »Donna Lee« with a melancholic, tango-inspired feeling and gives the song a new color. »Recién me levanto« is written for Andrés' wife Marcela and »El gallo que canta« for his close friend and tango musician Ramiro Gallo. »Humilde y bella canción« is a special tribute to Mariano Mores (born 18 February 1922) who is a famous Argentine tango composer, pianist and conductor (Roberto Firpo's orchestra). »Supermilonga« pays tribute to the classic era of legendary tango super-heros. This song is composed for a tango musical which tells the story of tango super-heros. »El sol salió en Madrid« [Lyrics: Matías Linetzky] originates from a tour through Spain which helped him to overcome a frustrating time in his life.

The song »Cuando jugaba« describes the feelings of Andrés Linetzky's childhood in Avellaneda near La Boca. Bridges over the Riachuela connect Avellaneda with Buenos Aires in the north of the river. The place is one of the most important industrial and commercial centers of Argentina. Here is the home of workers of textile mills, meat-packing and grain-processing plants, oil refineries, metallurgical works, extensive docking facilities, and markets for farm and ranch products. "I had a happy childhood and I was able to experience many things and enjoyed a good education with the help and support of my family. Over half of my life I spend in Avellaneda, and when I think about that time I feel in myself the rhythm of a waltz." Andrés Linetzky continues "in Buenos Aires we played for 12 consecutives years, in a festival that is organized by the Clarín [flugelhorn], the largest newspaper in Argentina. Already in the first year the promoter asks me to compose music for poems by Salvador Parmigiano: The result is »Che tango«".

»Las huellas en el mar« is an homage to Andrés Linetzky's family and friends, to his home town and last but not least to the great tango composers and musicians.

– Stefan Winter