Milonguas y... Al Tango

As a rule, Edith Piaf isn't someone to whom Argentinean tango vocalists end up being compared. In the case of Haydée Alba, however, Piaf is among the first comparisons that comes to mind. A native of Argentina who has spent a lot of time in Paris (where she recorded Milongas y...al Tango in 1999), Alba has a dramatic, emotional delivery that often brings to mind the late chanteuse. Like Piaf, Alba wears her heart on her sleeve, holding back no emotion on this excellent French release. A tribute to the famous Argentinean composer Jorge Luis Borges, Milongas y...al Tango finds Alba interpreting such gems as "Milonga de Calandria," "Milonga de Manuel Flores," and "Milonga del Muerto" (which was written for a soldier killed in the Falklands War). One of the tango greats who set Borges' powerful words to music was the late bandoneon innovator Astor Piazzolla, and on several of the selections (including "Jacinto Chiclana," "1964," "A Don Nicanor Paredes," and "Alguien Le Dice al Tango"), Alba reminds us just how strong a combination Borges' words and Piazzolla's music could be. Alba also reminds us how recognizable a vocalist she is. While comparisons to Piaf and others are all well and good, this CD is the work of a vocalist who is a soulful and captivating talent in her own right.