Chih-yu Chao
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Chih-yu Chao is a Taiwan-born multi-instrumentalist who moved to the US in 2002. She played liuqin (柳琴, a Chinese plucked-string instrument) competitively as a child but later became a vocalist, well-versed in jazz and Brazilian Bossa Nova. Prior to moving to Seattle in 2011, she lived in the Boston area and studied with Mark Harvey, Don Byron, and Donal Fox on jazz composition, arranging, and imp
06/27/2025
https://youtu.be/95aS2cWw22g
This week, many in Argentina and Colombia commemorate 90 years of the immortalization of Carlos Gardel, a famous Tango musician / actor. Gardel died in a plane crash on June 24, 1935 in Medellín, Colombia.
Although Gardel only lived for 44 years, he left with us many incredible compositions and recordings. To this day, most of us in the Tango world still regard him as "the voice". Last year in June at Tango For Musicians at Reed College, we performed "Golondrinas" - a piece composed and sung by Gardel. In 2023, I was on the transcribers' team with Tango Sin Fin, and we transcribed this beautiful arrangement by Raúl Garello.
Special thanks to my coach Juan Villareal. While I was trying to figure out how to present this song as a storyteller, Juan said "Channel Carlos Gardel! You are Gardel!!", and all of a sudden the lyrics made sense, and I was able to channel my inner Gardel while being on the stage. ;)
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Tango for Musicians at Reed College, June 2024
Ensemble coach: Exequiel Mantega
Vocal coach: Juan Villarreal
"The Mantega septet -- we are larger than you think!"
Paulina Barradas (violin)
Margaret Bloomfield (piano)
Chih-yu Chao (voice)
Benjamin Gifford (bass)
Nancy Good (clarinet)
Juyoun Han (bandoneón)
Jessie Isaac (flute)
Albert Lau (vibraphone)
Brian Salisbury (violin)
Noah Smith (clarinet)
Pablo Van Woerkom (bandoneón)
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You can download the transcription here --
https://tangosinfin.org.ar/en/product/17-01-golondrinas/
Golondrinas - June 2024, Tango for Musicians at Reed College GolondrinasMúsica: Carlos GardelLetra: Alfredo Le PeraArreglo: Raúl GarelloPaulina Barradas (violin)Margaret Bloomfield (piano)Chih-yu Chao (voice)Benjamin G...
05/26/2025
Many thanks to everyone who participated at Folklife! Stuart, Kristine and myself had a lot of fun playing for you. Thank you Patty for organizing! ❤️🎶💃🕺
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