Melbourne: Tango Ensemble Showcase with Jorge Retamoza (Argentina)

Join us for the family and friends showcase of the Intensive Tango Ensemble Workshop!

Throughout the week, Melbourne Wind musicians worked intensively with renowned Argentine saxophonist Jorge Retamoza at Bakehouse Studios building a tango ensemble from the ground up. On Friday they play what they have made, with Jorge featured as part of the ensemble. They are also joined by guest musician Kieran Sawyer on classical guitar from the Blue Mountains. Having lived and studied in Buenos Aires, Kieran performs regularly in a number of ensembles and is one of few Australian guitarists to specialise in the harmony and pulse of tango.

THE MUSIC: Horacio Salgán's reinterpretations of the tango tradition (El Choclo, La Cumparsita), the great dance orchestras of tango's golden age (Saludos, Pavadita, Recuerdo, Quejas de Bandoneón, Catamarca, Hotel Victoria).

FOR DANCERS: This music was written for the floor. Dancers are warmly welcome - come and dance, or simply listen. Our friends from Tango Esencia are going to be showcasing especially for this opportunity.

WHEN & WHERE: Friday 2 October 2026, 7:30 pm. Bakehouse Studios, 27–29 Hoddle St, Richmond VIC.

TICKETS: $20, or $15 concession. This goes straight into the cost of bringing Jorge to Australia and running the workshops, which our small community carries without a sponsor.

ABOUT JORGE RETAMOZA: With nine albums as a leader, Jorge is the first Argentine saxophonist to record Piazzolla's Seis Estudios Tanguísticos in full for solo saxophone. He has premiered major concert works in collaboration with Saarbrücken Public Radio in Germany, performs internationally as a soloist and ensemble leader, and is Professor of Saxophone (Argentine Music: Folklore and Tango) at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Manuel de Falla, Buenos Aires.

This showcase closes Jorge Retamoza's 2026 Australian tour 'SUMMIT: 50 Years of Piazzolla & Mulligan', with performances at the Sydney Opera House and The Street Theatre, Canberra.

This event is proudly supported by the Embassy of Argentina in Australia and Tango Esencia.