A concert with a difference, tango music featuring the piano accordion played with flair and dexterity by Cathie Travers, one of Australia's leading players of the instrument. Accompanying Cathie was Shaun Lee-Chen on violin (Semra Lee's brother; winner of the 2007 ABC Young Performers Award and currently Concertmaster of the Brandenburg Orchestra); "the amazing" Phil Waldron on bass and (Assistant Professor) Graeme Gilling on electric piano. The programme was mostly classical tango music which is described as "much more varied than ballroom tango music, which has a clear repetitive beat." Seven of the 14 pieces were composed and/or orchestrated by Argentinian Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) who combined elements of classical harmony and jazz with tango and "moved the tango from the dance floor to the concert stage." The programme notes commented: "It has been suggested that tango makes people feel more relaxed, sexier, less depressed and increases testosterone levels" - and the music certainly fitted some of that description! High tea, catered for by the ladies of St Cuthbert's Anglican Church, rounded out an enjoyable musical afternoon, except perhaps for the sometime seemingly cacophonous sound from piano (undoubtedly played as directed by the arranger).
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