Loca

The tango originated in Argentina, but there's no law stating that a first-class tango recording can't be done in Europe. A case in point is Loca, which was recorded in Paris in 1997 and released by the German Inakustik label in 1999. Like the late Astor Piazzolla — one of her main influences — Silvana Deluigi is a very risk-taking and progressive tango artist. The dramatic, highly expressive singer is well aware of tango's rich history, but she doesn't feel the need to be enslaved by that history. On this self-produced CD, Deluigi combines tango with touches of post-bop jazz as well as European cabaret. Most of the vocals are in Spanish, and her passionate singing often reminds us just how beautiful a language Spanish can be. But Deluigi realizes that tango doesn't always have to be en espanol. The singer demonstrates that tango can work with French lyrics, on "India Song" (a potent blend of tango and French pop), and she brings tango elements to German lyrics on her interpretation of Bert Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Surabaya Johnny." From start to finish, Loca is stunning.