Decades have passed since the heyday of tango’s greatest stars, but it remains a vigorous music and dance culture in countries such as Finland and Japan. 

Originating in the early 1900s in Argentina and Uruguay, tango was a musical fusion created by European immigrants, descendants of African slaves and local people. Initially played and danced in urban working-class establishments, it eventually entered the ballrooms of Paris and the movies of Hollywood’s golden age. In recognition of its appeal, UNESCO recently admitted tango to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As its title suggests, Tango Universal celebrates the global relevance of tango music. The singer-arranger Vayo Raimondo (who goes by his first name) included not only tango classics but also tango versions of jazz standards and old pop songs. “My selection of music for it resulted from my love for music in general,” he said in a promotional video.

Many contemporary tango bands experiment with sophisticated arrangements and electronic music technologies. Vayo, by contrast, opts for simplicity. A current of nostalgia runs through his music, gushing to the forefront in Songs My Mother Taught Me, a Dvor˘ák piece about musical memories of childhood. Its lyrics probably reflect the sentiments of the 70-something Vayo, who now lives in the United States but grew up in Montevideo hearing tango in the dance halls.

The musicians on Tango Universal play drums, double bass, guitar and the bandoneón, an accordion that has been associated with tango’s distinct timbre from the beginning. Vayo’s voice is deep with a slow vibrato, and his overall sound might actually be too smooth and sentimental for those who prefer the more fiery side of the tango tradition. 

Tango Universal is better suited for a quiet evening at home than for heating up a dance floor. That said, it’s a nice addition to a body of music that is rightfully considered one of the world’s cultural treasures.

For the UC Observer, now Broadview Magazine.