by Kimberly Caterino of Live Music Capital Radio (LMCradio.org)
If you enjoy Latino music, or the dances under that musical umbrella, you should keep your eye on the event calendar at Esquina Tango (which translates to “Tango Corner”). Normally, you would keep your eye on their class schedule, as the house-turned-dance-studio normally hosts a variety of dance classes as its day and weekday evening job (Samba, Salsa, Tango, Brazilian Street Dance..). Esquina Tango is a non-profit organization that emphasizes culture, health, and dance as students and teachers celebrate Latino cultural heritage, at times with an Argentine focus.
By night however, this East side house on Pedernales Street can transform into a movie house, a meeting room—or better—a music venue where live bands perform and dancers have the space to practice their moves (and, bring their own drinks!). The décor of the studio/venue is warm and charming.. the wooden dance floor and stage are its central focus, but there’s plenty around that to make you know this is meant to feel like a cultural home away from home. The walls are a vibrant yet calm orange-red, decorated with international show posters, Christmas lights, and even racks of homemade ladies shoes for sale (stylie dancing shoes!..).
This past Friday night a bit of a new Austin supergroup took the stage: Cuchillo e Palo (“Knife and Stick”… which sounds more beautiful in Spanish..) Cuchillo e Palo’s members are a mix of players from other Austin Latin bands: O Positivo, Los Vigilantes, Ritmo Tres, and Son Five. Players include Luis Angel Ibanez (vocals, guitar), Raul "Wawi" Cabrera (tres), Noslen Cabrera (bass), Noah Mosgofian (percussion), and Greg Jones (guitar).
The band played a mix of traditional Cuban son and Colombian cumbia favorites, and they had a full dance floor from the first minute to the last. Wawi stepped up to deliver what were practically some freestyle raps in Spanish, as well as articulate playing on the Cuban tres (like a guitar, but tuned differently and the 6 strings are grouped in 3 pairs). Angel sang masterfully as always, and although, this a relatively ‘new’ band, not a note seemed out of place. These are players who know their tradition, and how to keep the dance floor continuously spinning.
And for anyone who wants to technically learn the dance chops formally or show them off socially, Esquina Tango’s class schedule and event calendar are two pages to keep an eye on. The vibe is warm and joyful, whatever reason you step into the building, and you won’t regret it!
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