Mi Loco Tango
Biography
Laureate of creole 2007 (world music prize Germany)
32. Festival Internationale Fisharmonica (prize for film music, Castelfidardo, Italy)
2. Astor Piazzolla Festival “Libertango” (tango prize, Lanciano, Italy)

The international quartet Mi Loco Tango, consisting of a bayanist (chromatic button accordion player) from Russia, a violinist and a pianist from Germany and a German-French double-bass player, formed in 2002 and dedicated to the work of the Argentine composer and musician Astor Piazzolla. The original objective was to newly define his music while embracing the individual experiences of each musician - to play this music differently. Since then a widely diversified repertoire has developed including the most important works from Piazzolla’s legacy, classic works like “Libertango” and “Oblivion”, however it also includes a few rarities like “Tanti Anni Prima” and currently both musical cycles “Del Diablo” and “Del Angel”.
Piazzolla, who put his compositional skill towards theater, music and dance, was the catalyst for the quartet to take the next step, film music, using exactly the typical tango instrumentation as displayed by Mi Loco Tango. The four musicians from Frankfurt were especially taken with the Italian maestros Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone and their famous peers.
Since its formation the work of the ensemble has been recognized and awarded at different occasions. From the world music prize “creole 2007” to the 1. Prize of the film music category at the “32. Festival Internationale Fisharmonica” (Castelfidardo, Italy) also in 2007 and finally last years tango prize “Libertango” at the 2. Astor Piazzolla Festival (Lanciano, Italy) - a highlight in the group’s carrier so far. Laura Escalada-Piazzolla, the widow of Astor Piazzolla was head of the jury.
Vassily Dück comes from Blagoweschenka, Siberia. He completed his studies in music at the public academy of music, Conservatoire Novosibirsk, obtaining a diploma as music teacher and soloist of the Bayan. Engaged as soloist and concertmaster at the philharmonic Altai as well as public orchestra “Siberia”, his repertoire ranges from classic to folklore. CD productions: Solo CD “Bajan”, “Der rote Schal” and “Toujours la Piaf” linked with the stage production of the same title at the theatre in Bielefeld. His diverse musical engagements include the theaters in Detmold and Mannheim as well as the “Theater Willy Praml” in Frankfurt.
Irina Brunn comes from Frankfurt am Main where she studied the violin at the “Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Künste”. Since completion of her studies she has played in several different musical groups with styles ranging from baroque to modern music. Irina also works as a teacher and lecturer. She is co-founder and first violinist of the “Cambio Quartet” and chamber orchestra “Die Lunas”.
Judith Herrmann comes from Frankfurt am Main. She studied at the Music College in Cologne and Frankfurt, under, amongst others, B. Kontarsky. She composed for the “Klappmaul Theater” in Frankfurt, the theatre “Illuminativ” in Bad Camberg and the musical theatre “Fettige Gesänge” with C. Niemann and A. Roelofs. She conducted the Laterna-Magica-Shows “Die Nibelungen” and “Zwischen Wunder und Wissenschaft”. Her repertoire also includes the chansons as in the show “Beziehungsweisen“ with J. Zollmann.
Gregor Praml comes from Frankfurt am Main. He graduated from the “Hochschule für music Franz Liszt” (College of Music) in Weimar and studied double bass in New York, USA with Santi De Briano. Gregor plays double bass and electric-bass in various musical groups and theater projects. He is composer, arranger and musical director for, amongst others, “Maria Stuart” (2003), “Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre” (2004), “Medea” (2005),”Im Dickicht der Städte“ (2006), “36,9 GRAD Brecht . Houellebecq“ (2006/07), Jesus d’amour: geb. 0/ gestorben - auferstanden (2006-2008), “Ariadnes Faden, Arthurs Schwester Marie & der "ächte" Naxosschmirgel (2007), “Marquise von O” (2007) and “Don Carlos. Infant” (2008). He is a lecturer for music at the Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main and a music producer, amongst others, “Del Diablo y Del Angel“ (Mi Loco Tango) and different compilations of songs for children, amongst others, “Zuckerschnecksche, Prinzje & Co“ and “Lille Peter, Akiko & Co“. Gregor is a freelance editor and producer at the official radio station from the state of Hessen (Hessischer Rundfunk).
Alberto Mompellio – Arranger and composer, born in Vigevano (Pavia) Italy. Since the mid seventies Alberto is one of the most sought after studio musicians in Italy, his principals are artists like Patty Pravo, Fabrizio De Andre, Mina and Gina Paoli. Until 2004 he worked together with the singer Milva, being her keyboard player on several world tours. Mompellio came to Frankfurt in the mid eighties and remained there. However his work on compositions and orchestral arrangements for film productions such as “Igby goes down” (2001 with Geff Goldblum and Susan Sarandon) and “All the Queen’s Men” (Matt LeBlanc) often takes him to Hollywood. In Germany he is highly respected as the orchestra arranger for, amongst others, Nena’s album “Jubiläum” (Filmorchestra of Babelsberg), the production of the audio book “Olaf, der Elch” (Filmorchestra of Babelsberg) and the “3 Soprano Project” (Symphonic orchestra of Prag). Mompellio has also penned various publications such as “Die Musik des amerikanischen Films: musikalische Stereotypen in amerikanischen Filmen” and “Die Geschichte der italienischen Popmusik von den 1950ern bis heute” (published in Italy).

Mi Loco Tango - Press comments
„Mi Loco Tango, that means elegance, verve and reduction” (Frankfurter Rundschau)
“Terrific Tango à la Frankfurt. They have the Tango in their blood” (Frankfurter Rundschau)
“The two women provide a solid base for the quartet. Clear, of fascinating forcefulness the violin from Irina Bunn. Judith Herrmann on the piano: powerful, competent and rhythmic. Gregor Praml, easy and springy on the double bass gives the tango melody a reliable hold and the powerful accordion from Vassily Dück introduces unusual sound. The representation of the “wild” tango: precise and played to perfection.” (Frankfurter Rundschau)
“The skill of this ensemble reveals itself in the quality of the arrangement and in the subtleness of listening and reacting towards each other” (Main Post)
“The performance from this ensemble in Frankfurt puts Piazzolla as a composer in the same rank of Schubert and Debussy. […. The different provenance of the musicians suits Piazzollas music.” (Frankfurter Rundschau)
“Last but not least it remains to say that the reflected arrangements of Mompellios have superb partners in Mi Loco Tango who through their joy of music, virtuosity and sensuality put the “rough diamond” of sheet music into a fitting golden casket of taste and sophisticated musical culture seldom to be bettered.” (Intermusik Zeitung)
“Orchestral music with classical tango instrumentation - it sounds like a true challenge and a project which could also cause a sensation outside Germany.” (Journal Frankfurt)



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