Hakon Skogstad

8 CONCEPTS OF TANGO

Ora Fonegram

Hakon Skogstad, piano/composer; Andreas Rokseth & Asbjerg Ryeng, bandoneon; Ole Scheyen Sjölin, double bass; Sveinung Lillebjerka & Anders Larsen, violin; Bergmund Waal Skaslien, viola; Marit Aspaas, cello.

Hakon Skogstad describes his recent recording release saying: “In 8 Concepts of Tango, I have taken inspiration from Astor Piazzolla’s Octeto Buenos Aires and composed 8 original works for 8 musicians, aiming to further expand the landscape of nuevo tango.”

Skogstad is a prize-winning pianist and composer. He holds degrees in Classical Performance from Oslo and New York, as well as a PhD in Artistic Research from NTNU, Trondheim.  He has performed in ensembles and as a soloist throughout Norway.  Additionally, Hakon Skogstad has played concerts all over the United States, in Argentina, Germany, Austria, Spain and Sweden. His work is dramatic, combining romanticism with Argentine tango interpretations.  In this production, Skogstad merges the golden age of tango with a more modern musical concept, while wrapping this international musical package with classical technique. His piano mastery adds both excitement and beauty to this album.

I was surprised at the absence of drums, but these musicians are full of gusto and rhythm.  Their precision talents lay rhythmic structure into each arrangement. The musicians Hakon Skogstad has contracted are all experts, masters of their instruments, with emphasis on the Argentine tango and classical music agendas.  Both Bandoneon players are award winners. Asbjorg Ryeng holds a master’s degree in performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music. He’s popular throughout Norway, Europe and Argentina. Rokseth has broad experience as a tango musician, having studied and performed in Argentina.  He too holds a master’s degree in performance from Codarts, Rotterdam.

The string section is sexy and made up of players who have performed in celebrated orchestras across Europe and South America. Every exciting piece on this album was composed by Hakon Skogstad.  The compositions, the arrangements, and his incredible piano brilliance bring attention and celebration of the beauty contained in tango music. This is Hakon Skogstad’s third installment of his Tango trilogy of recordings.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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