Last Wednesday’s lunchtime’s concert in the RBA was given by Payadora Tango Ensemble with guest vocalist Elbio Fernandez.  I’ve been following pretty much every musical initiative from the dynamic duo of Rebekah Wolkstein and (Grammy winner) Drew Jurecka for a while now.  From the Venuti String Quartet, to Schmaltz and Pepper (of course) to Justin Gray’s Grammy winning Immersed and Wednesday’s avatar Payadora Tango Ensemble.

Oddly this was the first time I’ve heard them live playing Payadora’s usual mix of South American or South American inspired tangos and folkloric pieces.  Previous times I’ve seen them they have either been performing in Yiddish or with dancers.  Wednesday’s fare ranged from Piazzolla tangos to more folkloric dance music to excerpts from their children’s story book/CD; The Legend of Carau.  There was plenty of fine singing from Elbio who features on their new CD; The Little Giant of Tango, as well as fine playing from Rebekah and Drew with Joe Phillips on bass and guitar and Mark Camilleri on piano.  It was a fun hour.
Photo credits: Karen Reeves.