As the rain fell on the heart of Valencia’s trendy Ruzafa neighbourhood, the audience took their seats at the ‘Café Mercedes Jazz’, a classy jazz joint hosting an intimate evening of tango sung by Analía Bueti and Juan Cuacci on the piano. Personified by the very danceable 4/4 and 2/4 time signatures, tango, a genre formed through the influences of Europe and Africa within the borders of Argentina and Uruguay, became popular the world over around the beginning of the 20th Century, even ending up in the icy corners of Finland whereby it would go on to adapt the Latin dance into its own form.

As Bueti and Cuacci took to the stage, its sparsely lit presence, surrounded by sofas and chairs, created the atmosphere of a personal performance with the sounds of the Steinway & Sons piano complimenting the vocals of Bueti perfectly, allowing one to close their eyes and imagine themselves in the sweltering heat of South America for the next hour and a half. It is an immeasurably enjoyable experience that brings one closer to a style of music that took the old world by storm, causing great controversy through its perceived sexual undertones.

This evening was part of the ‘Desde Dos Orillas Cycle’ by International Tango Association who are continuing a residency at the ‘Café Jazz Mercedes’, which sees them putting on one to two tango shows a month with various ranges from Tango-Jazz, Rock & Tango and chamber music. ‘Café Mercedes Jazz’ presents itself with refinement and as a place where one can enjoy a fine cocktail in the company of other appreciators of the finer things in life.

 Report by Sebastian Garraway

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

‘Café Mercedes Jazz’ photos copyright Sebastian Garraway/ ’24/7 Valencia’

CAFÉ MERCEDES JAZZ

Carrer de Sueca, 27 (Ruzafa)

46006

València

Tel: 602 600 753

https://cafemercedes.es/