Here I am with the first vals tanda of the year. This week, I prepared a set built around the valses of Francisco Lauro, known as El Tano (“The Italian”). His orchestra is not often heard at milongas, yet his arrangements are, in my opinion, truly wonderful. On vocals, we hear Alberto Ortiz and Argentino Olivier, adding warmth and character to the sound.
Born in Italy in 1897, Lauro is one of the more intriguing figures in the tango world. He formed his first group in 1938. The lineup included major names such as Bernardo Blas on piano, and bandoneon players Juan Sánchez Gorio, Jorge Caldara, Alfredo De Angelis, and Eduardo Del Piano. With singers Ortiz and Olivier, the group performed at a venue called Un Rincón de Mendoza and became known as Los Mendocinos.
Lauro was loved not only for his music, but also for his witty and charming personality. Even Astor Piazzolla played with Lauro’s orchestra for a time before joining Troilo’s orchestra. Los Mendocinos must have been quite successful: when De Angelis left to form his own orchestra, he took all the members with him and initially called the group Los Ex-Mendocinos, under his direction. Later, when Bernardo Blas formed his own ensemble, he named it Los Auténticos Mendocinos. In the end, however, it was Lauro who kept the name, continuing with his sextet Los Mendocinos.
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