Modern Tango World N° 11 (Paris, France) | Page 34

Pablo Montanelli & Vito Venturino
— El Cachivache
interview by
Raymond Lauzzana
El Cachivache Quintet is one of the most popular tango groups and is widely recognized on the world music circuit.
Their music sometimes called Tango Punk. The group is undeniably creative,with an original, and very danceable style.
The group was formed by two Argentinian musicians living in Spain, Vito Venturino (guitar) and Pablo Montanelli
(piano).. They quickly began to attract attention in Europe and Asia for their unique and very distinctively modern
style. They rreturned Buenos Aires and began to compose original pieces while continuing to thrill dancers of classic
tango with an undeniably contemporary arrangements. They have become an integral part of the Buenos Aires tango
dance community, holdong a milonga every week at Zona Tango.
MTW: First of all, tell me a bit about yourselves, your
backgrounds, and what you did before El Cachivache.
Pablo Montanelli: I was born in 1971, and grew-up
in a tanguero family. In middle 80s, I began to play rock
and blues in Argentine bands. During the 90s, I started
to play tango in Buenos Aires. In 1999, I emigrates to
Europe to play. tango/rock music.
Vito Venturino: i was born in 1976 and began study-
ing music at a Jazz conservatory in Buenos Aires. I
played in rock bands and jazz orchestras till 2005. In
2008, Pablo and me met in Spain where we were liv-
ing and started to play together. That gave birth to El
Cachivache and a beautiful friendship.
MTW: What have been your major musical influences?
Pablo Montanelli: At home we listened to Anibal
Troilo, Roberto Goyeneche, Ruben Juarez, and rock
bands like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Prince
and many more. The major influences on my music
are Anibal Troilo, Carlos di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese,
Fernandez Fierro, El Astillero, Rascasuelos. and even
Frédéric Chopin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Claude Debussy.
Jimi Hendrix, Charly García and Luis Spinetta.
Vito Venturino: For me, it’s the Beattles, the Roll-
ing Stones, Led Zepellin and tango greats like Osvaldo
Pugliese, Anibal Troilo and Astor Piazzolla.
MTW: How was El Cachivache born? Has it always
been a quintet? Has the band always had the same
members?
Vito Venturino: El Cachivache was born in 2006, in
Spain as a trio. For years, we played as a duo, then a
quartet and and we became a quintet in 2012. We
had a lot of great different musicians playing with us
during these years.
MTW: Your group is sometimes referred to as Tango
Punk. What differentiates El Cachivache from other
tango bands?
Vito Venturino: I am not sure, but I think we
have our own unique sound yhay os easily rec-
ognizable. The rock influences are obvious — the
way to play and the electric guitar. But, we are
also dancers and tango lovers. So, our music al-
ways tries to be danceable.
Pablo Montanelli: In 2013, we started to compose,
searching our own sound, I think Tango Punk thing is
an expression of this research for a proper style. As
Vito said. we dance tango, . I think this has a great Influ-
ence our work.
MTW: Who is the primary composer? How do you
approach composition? Did you have any particular
musical inspiration from other artists?
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