Fernando Samalea is bandoneonist, drummer and composer from Buenos Aires. His compositions are a blend of tango music, jazz, rock, oriental and electronic beats. Answering trends of European artists introducing modern Latin music to affluent and intelligent audiences, come Samalea's original electronic Tangos, serving a new twist, as if reinventing the dance moves created by 'Carlos Gardel' in the 20's.
A cinematic landscape of grooves that only a genuine Argentinean bandoneon maestro and drummer could have produce, a patchwork of electronic tango beats meets acoustic instruments, flamenco and African percussion, in a way original modern Argentinean music haven't been done before.
Best described in the words of the master himself: "It is not enough to have the most melodious voice to intone a tango. No. In addition, it is necessary to feel it. One has to live in its spirit”. 'Carlos Gardel'.
Fernando’s music was recorded in trips to Morocco, Brazil, Spain, France, U.S.A. and Argentine with the support of musicians like Tony Levin, Nirankar Khalsa, Daniel Melingo, Andrés Calamaro, Fernando Kabusacki to name a few.
During 95/96 he was an active promoter of the "Montecarlo Jazz Ensamble" two albums with Maria Gabriela Epumer and Chiche Bermúdez. The project brought together more than fifty argentine rap, jazz, rock, hip hop, tango, and experimental artists, among them Fats Fernandez, Jorge Navarro and Horacio Ferrer.
In 97 he recorded the conceptual CD "Hal 9000", together with piano player Mariano Gianni and bassist Fernando Nalé, making versions of old jazz pieces with the bandoneón and electronic music mixed with samplers of Kubrick´s film "2001: A Space Odyssey".
He has performed since the mid 80's both as a drummer and bandoneón player in Charly Garcia´s group, Illya Kuryaki & The Valderramas, Andrés Calamaro, Daniel Melingo, Metropoli, Clap, Friccion, A-Tirador Laser, Los Gauchos Alemanes, Draco Cornelius Rosa, La Mascara Quartet, Man Ray, Contramano, Willy Crook, Alberto Lucas, Belmondo and Samalea-Kabusacki-Garcia trio.
Recording and touring in Spain with Joaquin Sabina, Luis Pastor, David Broza, Leo Minax, Andrés Calamaro, Maria Eva Albistur, La Tercera Republica, La oreja de Van Gogh, Jorge Drexler, Alejo Stivel, Los Cucas, Los Lunes, Andy Chango, Vanito Brown and Pasion Vega, among others.
