TangoMasters debut at Speakeasy at the Merc

November 11, 2017: Henry performed on accordion in the inaugural appearance of the ensemble, TangoMasters, based in Riverside County, California. The ensemble performed a two-hour (sold out) concert at Speakeasy at the Merc—an intimate venue with superb acoustics in historic Old Town Temecula well-known for hosting classical recitals and jazz concerts. The TangoMasters ensemble, featuring Henry on accordion, Harry Scorzo on violin, James Silva on piano, and José Temblador on the double bass, specializes in the music of Astor Piazzolla (1921-1995), the Argentinian-born composer and bandoneónist who created and popularized Tango Nuevo. David Bradley, host of Speakeasy at the Merc, explained, “This is a show I’ve wanted to bring you for years but I haven’t been able to find an authentic group until now.”

Among Piazzolla’s many hundreds of compositions, TangoMasters performed:

For their encore, TangoMasters welcomed David Bradley—a local Temecula musician, teacher, musical empresario, host of Speakeasy at the Merc, and TangoMasters manager—to the stage, who played clarinet with the ensemble in Yo-Yo Ma’s arrangement of Libertango. Henry noted, “Since coming to California a year ago, I haven't played much accordion, having been quite busy with church organ work, but now I hope to be playing a lot more accordion with this fine ensemble.”

Photos by Carol Gross and Katie Bradley.

TangoMasters at Speakeasy at the Merc.

Henry and José.

Violinist Harry Scorzo.