Speaking
Tango

Spoken word

A passion for the spoken word

With Speaking Tango, Minino Garay brings a passion for the spoken word to the heart of his music: poetry recited over rhythm and instrumental improvisation. Rather than singing the lyrics, he speaks, projects and caresses them. Taken out of their familiar setting, the words reveal an intimate, sensual and direct sound world.

A defining inspiration comes from New York spoken word in the late 1960s, The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, predecessors of later forms of performance poetry such as slam. Meeting poet and singer Dana Bryant around 2000 set a creative enquiry in motion. Traces of it appeared on earlier recordings before becoming the focus of this entire album.

Tango, jazz and South American folk rhythms sustain the dialogue between voice and percussion. Garay’s transatlantic experience — with Mercedes Sosa, Raúl Barboza, Cuarteto Cedrón, Jaime Torres, Ibrahim Maalouf, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Richard Galliano, Daniel Mille and Jacky Terrasson — informs music that is rich, precise and open to exchange.

The compositions bring together Minino, Lalo Zanelli, Manu Guerrero, Lionel Suárez, David Linx and Christophe Wallemme. André Ceccarelli and Pipi Piazzolla contribute their distinctive drumming; Christophe Wallemme and Flavio Romero play bass; Manu Codjia and Jean-Marie Ecay play guitar; and Hernán Jacinto and Leo Genovese bring piano and keyboards.

The words behind the record

The poems span generations, speaking of love, eroticism, politics and everyday life. Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer appears in “No son los Muertos”; Baldomero Fernández Moreno in “En lo mas Profundo de Ella”; and Cátulo Castillo in “Estas Desorientado”. Adriana Cattanio wrote “Amame Online”, while Eduardo Torezani shares the writing of “Los Chicos de mi Barrio” with Minino, joined by Magic Malik’s flute and voice.

Nury Taborda has a central place in this poetic journey. Her words meet Minino’s in “Speaking Tango” and “Que lo Parió!”, and appear in “Señora Doña Igualdad”, “Que Carajo”, “Solo con un Beso” and “Boca con Boca”. Guest voices Melingo, David Linx and Alex Pandev add further characters, intimacy and dialogue.

Recorded between Paris and Buenos Aires and mixed in New York, the album connects both shores under the artistic direction of Minino Garay and Philippe Teissier du Cros.