This weeks tanda is an upbeat collection of songs by Francisco Canaro. This is a mixed set, in that two are instrumentals and two are with Roberto Maida singing. All the songs are playful and fun and have an older Guardia Vieja feel.

More about:

• Francisco Canaro Tandas
  

Listen to this Tanda

This weeks alternative tanda focuses on pop waltzes (vals).  "Hijo de la Luna" is a classic alternative tango song and has a great waltz rhythm for dancing. Sting's "Until" is one of my favorite waltzes to dance to. It is such a beautiful song and has a classic waltz rhythm. "Will You Remember" is a sweet and pretty waltz. Also, a note for DJs, I have trimmed the intro off of "Will You Remember" so that it does not take so long to get to the waltz rhythm.

Listen to this Tanda

Click here for more Alternative Vals Tandas

This week's tanda is one of my favorite tandas to dance to by Osvaldo Pugliese. It has everything that makes Pugliese great. These songs are bold but tender, calm and then energetic. To enjoy dancing to his music, you have to be able to enjoy the silence. It is about the moments between the steps.  Many believe that you have to have a large vocabulary to dance to Pugliese, but actually I probably do less when dancing to his music. It is about patience, balance and the connection to your partner.

More about:

• Osvaldo Pugliese Tandas
  
• Osvaldo Pugliese Biography

Listen to this Tanda

I really love dancing tango to bluesy music and no one sounds better singing the blues than Nina Simone. I have used this set for years and everyone always loves it. It is a sure fire crowd please, even for those that do not like alternative tango.

Listen to this Tanda

This weeks tanda is a classic golden age tanda by Anibal Troilo with Francisco Fiorentino singing. The combination of Troilo and Fiorentino is one of the greatest in tango. If you are a purest and absolutely must put 4 songs with singers and can't mix singers with instrumentals then "Yo Soy el Tango" would go great instead of "C.T.V."

Troilo is considered on of the four primary orchestras of Argentine tango including d'Arienzo, di Sarli, and Pugliese. He had a very long career and really contributed to the evolution of tango's sound. In Buenos Aires, you will see statues and paintings of Troilo all over the place and his music very loved by the older dancers. It has a lot of rhythm and strong melodies and gives dancers lots to work with.

More about:

• Anibal Troilo Tandas
  

Listen to this Tanda

This weeks alternative tanda focuses on electronic tango music. "Felino" is almost a classic of electronic tango and is often used at alternative milongas. I have put it with two songs by Otros Aires, one of the best modern tango bands. The second song mentions the greatest classic tango orchestras  Pugliese, Troilo, d'Arienzo. The final song is a great cover of Pugliese's classic song, "La Yumba."

Listen to this Tanda

This weeks tanda is a classic golden age tanda by Juan d'Arienzo with Hector Maure singing. From 1940 to 1944, d'Arienzo had a wonderful orchestra with Hector Maure singing and Fulvio Salamanca on piano.

More about:

• Juan d'Arienzo with Singers Tandas
• Juan d'Arienzo Biography
• Fulvio Salamanca Biography
• Hector Maure Biography

Listen to this Tanda

Here is my collection of mixed vals tandas. My favorites are highlighted. I usually play 3 song vals tandas, but most of the tandas below are arranged in 4 song tandas for when they are needed.