The Tango Saloon
Encyclopedia
The Tango Saloon is an experimental tango
band from Sydney
, Australia
. Their self-titled debut, a "tango-flavored album with a twist of spaghetti western", was released in 2006 by Ipecac Recordings
, the American record label run by Mike Patton
and Greg Werckman
. It was described by Greg Prato of Allmusic (All Music Guide) as "a musical breath of fresh air in the often foul-smelling state of modern popular music". The followup, Transylvania was released in 2008. In June 2007, the band was seen supporting Ipecac label-mates Peeping Tom
on the East-coast leg of their Australian tour.
from Mr. Bungle
and Secret Chiefs 3
. Bandleader Julian Curwin plays on occasion in Monsieur Camembert
, along with accordionist Marcello Maio
and double bassist Mark Harris
. Band members' other projects include Darth Vegas, Hermitude
, Marsala
and The Fantastic Terrific Munkle. Transylvania also features a guest vocal from Mike Patton
on the track Dracula Cha Cha.
The list of members (from the band's myspace page):
Live band:
Other musicians/guests:
) on clarinets.
The Mango Balloon
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
band from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Their self-titled debut, a "tango-flavored album with a twist of spaghetti western", was released in 2006 by Ipecac Recordings
Ipecac Recordings
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman and Mike Patton Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman (ex-label manager of Alternative Tentacles,...
, the American record label run by Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
and Greg Werckman
Greg Werckman
Greg Werckman lives in a suburb in Northern California, was the lead singer of the band Duh! and operates Ipecac Recordings from a backyard cottage, which was launched in 1999 with former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton...
. It was described by Greg Prato of Allmusic (All Music Guide) as "a musical breath of fresh air in the often foul-smelling state of modern popular music". The followup, Transylvania was released in 2008. In June 2007, the band was seen supporting Ipecac label-mates Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom (band)
Peeping Tom is a rock band led by Mike Patton. To date, they have released one eponymous album and two singles. Patton has enough material written for the project to possibly record two more albums.-Artists who have played with Peeping Tom:*Rahzel...
on the East-coast leg of their Australian tour.
Band members
The Tango Saloon's lineup includes a number of notable musicians, including drummer Danny HeifetzDanny Heifetz
Danny Heifetz is an American musician of Jewish descent usually living in Sydney, Australia. He is primarily a drummer and percussionist, but also plays trumpet...
from Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle was an experimental band from Northern California. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children's educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and...
and Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3
Secret Chiefs 3 is an instrumental rock group led by guitarist/composer Trey Spruance . Their studio recordings and tours have featured different line-ups, as the group performs a wide range of musical styles including surf rock, Persian, Arab, Indian, death metal, film music, electronic music,...
. Bandleader Julian Curwin plays on occasion in Monsieur Camembert
Monsieur Camembert
Monsieur Camembert is a five-piece Gypsy fusion band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1999. They have won three ARIA Music Awards for Best World Music Album in 2002 for Live on Stage , in 2003 for Absynthe and in 2005 for Monsieur Camembert...
, along with accordionist Marcello Maio
Marcello Maio
Marcello Maio is an Australian jazz pianist and composer. A student at Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 2003, Maio was the accordion player on the television variety show In Siberia Tonight , during which he communicated with the host through his instrument...
and double bassist Mark Harris
Mark Harris (jazz musician)
Mark Harris is a jazz double bassist, vocalist and composer from Sydney, Australia. Co-creator and member of children's band Lah-Lah, featured on a TV show of the same name broadcast on channel Nick Jr....
. Band members' other projects include Darth Vegas, Hermitude
Hermitude
Hermitude are an Australian hip hop group, originating from the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.- Biography :The two multi-instrumentalists Luke Dubber and Angus Stuart have been in bands together since 1994, at the ages of 16 and 11 respectively...
, Marsala
Marsala
Marsala is a seaport city located in the Province of Trapani on the island of Sicily in Italy. The low coast on which it is situated is the westernmost point of the island...
and The Fantastic Terrific Munkle. Transylvania also features a guest vocal from Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
on the track Dracula Cha Cha.
The list of members (from the band's myspace page):
Live band:
- Julian Curwin – guitar, keyboards
- Marcello Maio – accordion, keyboards
- Sam Golding – tuba, trumpet
- Christian Watson – alto & baritone sax
- John Hibbard – trombone
- Leonie Cohen – piano
- Mark Harris - double bass
- Danny Heifetz – drums, percussion
- Jess Ciampa – percussion
Other musicians/guests:
- Shenton Gregory – violin, viola
- Svetlana Bunic - accordion
- Alon Ilsar - drums, electronics
- Luke Dubber – keyboards
- Martin Kay - clarinets
- Reuben Derrick - tenor sax
- Kory Horwood - double bass
- Jane Sheldon – vocals
- Elana Stone - vocals
- Ilan Kidron - vocals
- Mike Patton - vocals
The Mango Balloon
In 2010, band leader Julian Curwin developed The Mango Balloon, a stripped-back chamber version of The Tango Saloon, distilling all of the elements of the larger band down to various smaller configurations, mostly quartets. At less than half the size of the full band, The Mango Balloon has a lighter and more laid back sound, with a style which adds lounge, exotica and continental jazz to The Tango Saloon's tango/western blend. The Mango Balloon's debut album was released in 2010 by Rufus Records, and features special guest Eddie Bronson (from Monsieur CamembertMonsieur Camembert
Monsieur Camembert is a five-piece Gypsy fusion band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1999. They have won three ARIA Music Awards for Best World Music Album in 2002 for Live on Stage , in 2003 for Absynthe and in 2005 for Monsieur Camembert...
) on clarinets.
Discography
The Tango Saloon- The Tango Saloon (2006)
- Transylvania (2008)
The Mango Balloon
- The Mango Balloon, Volume 1 (2010)