36/2024 - Osvaldo Pugliese instrumentals and the last tanda of the milonga

Don't take me too seriously, but I believe there's always a good time to play an Osvaldo Pugliese tanda, and I often challenge myself to find a moment to drop one early in a milonga. Doing so not only sets the tone for the evening but also opens the door to playing two, or even three, Pugliese tandas throughout the night, especially with a longer set.

Pugliese's orchestra, founded in 1939, remains one of tango's most legendary ensembles, celebrated for its precision, lush harmonies, and rhythmic depth. Their recordings span a wide range—from the vocal interpretations of Roberto Chanel to Jorge Maciel, and from instrumental masterpieces like 'Mala Junta' to 'Zum.' With a bit of creativity, you can craft multiple tandas for one milonga that offer different moods and textures.

This Pugliese instrumental tanda is something I have been playing in reverse order often in the earlier stages of the milonga. The tracks are rhythmic, melodic, and dynamic, offering a taste of Pugliese's brilliance without diving too deep into the darker tones.

For example, at a small local milonga in Helsinki last Thursday, I found myself struggling to find the right moment for a Pugliese tanda. My usual approach of playing one early fell by the wayside, and before I knew it, the night was drawing to a close. My second to last tanda became a Di Sarli / Pomar tanda and I hadn't played a lot of instrumentals yet that night.

So, I flipped the order of a familiar Pugliese tanda I’ve used before, starting with 'Amurado.' From there, I moved to the playful 'El Remate,' followed by the haunting beauty of 'Tierra Querida' (that bassline!) and finishing with the joyful yet complex arrangement of 'Mala Junta.' It turned out to be a perfect fit for the moment.

1. Osvaldo Pugliese - Amurado 1944-11-24

2. Osvaldo Pugliese - El Remate 1944-06-01

3. Osvaldo Pugliese - Tierra Querida 1944-07-06

4. Osvaldo Pugliese - Mala Junta 1943-08-27

Listen to the tanda on Spotify!

This weeks cortina is a jazzy La Cumparsita from finnish singer Vieno Kekkonen.

Rate the tanda and comment below!