Santiago Alvarez
Santiago Alvarez and the Argentine tango: physical and intimate
As a teenager, Santiago is listening to Argentinian rock music and becomes aware of a special instrument: the harmonica. Something about the sound fascinated him. So he begins to play it, initially quite casually and intuitively.
Santiago grew up in Buenos Aires. He studied sociology there. During this time, music became increasingly important to him. By chance, he came across Argentinian tango from the 1950s and 1960s, which immediately electrified him. He was particularly inspired by the musician Hugo Diaz – at the time one of the leading harmonica players for jazz, Argentine folk and Argentine tango.
The chromatic harmonica is closer to him
Through this great musician, Santiago got to know the chromatic harmonica at the age of 16 and with it the possibilities of expressing himself through music the way he felt inside. He had not yet been able to do this completely with the diatonic harmonica. Franco Luciani became his teacher. He gave Santiago all the techniques he needed to find his very own style step by step. Luciani, himself self-taught, is still regarded today as one of the great artists of Latin American music.
Argentine tango becomes Santiago’s life, his philosophy of life, and his art. He dances, breathes, and plays this music. He feels it physically and at the same time deep in his soul. That’s how he describes it himself. After completing his studies in sociology, Santiago decided to pursue a life as a musician. He travels through America and Europe with various formations, including the Tanino Duo, Vuela Chiringa, Chucara Trio and Argento Trio. His first solo album “Domingo” was released in 2019. Here he combines urban tango with chamamé, the music of the Argentinian coast.
Transferring passion to the audience
Santiago Alvarez is now a lecturer in harmonica with a focus on folklore at the School of Popular Music (EMPA) in Buenos Aires and also teaches the history of tango and Argentinian folk music. Above all, however, he enjoys traveling the world and making music. He is particularly touched by concerts where, together with the band, he can transfer the special feeling of music that burns within him to the audience.