Juan d'Arienzo - Overview

The orchestra of Juan d'Arienzo is one of the most important (if not the most important) in the tango music history. I'm pretty sure that very few people would disagree with it. As per music survey I have carried out in February 2012, Juan d'Arienzo is the most frequently played orquesta in Buenos Aires (considering tango, milonga and vals all together).

D'Arienzo recored with many singers, but in my opinion there are 2 big names: Alberto Echagüe and Hector Maure. We can obviously find a lot of good songs recorded with other singers, but in general they are less interesting and for that reason they are not so frequently played in milongas.

Concerning instrumental recordings: in my opinion in all periods (1935 till 1975) we can find very good songs that can be played in milongas.

In the history of tango music you will not find many orchestras that would have a great selection of tangos, valses and milongas. D’Arienzo is certainly one of them. All 3 genres are play frequently in milongas both in Buenos Aires and Europe. Other orchestras that have wide selection of danceable and popular tangos, valses and milongas are Francisco Canaro, Anibal Troilo, Edgardo Donato.

The big entrance of d'Arienzo happened in 1935. But he did record quite may songs before that, in 1928. Between the singers at that time we had Carlos Dante and Francisco Fiorentino (that will become famous with other orchestras later on). From dancing and dj-ing perspective songs from that period are not really interesting.

Click the link below if you want to see the timeline of d'Arienzo's orquesta with the musicians set-up in different periods.
D’Arienzo – Orchestra’s Members

For detailed biographical information please go to:
Todo Tango - Juan d'Arienzo

For the best discographical information please go to:
Discography of Juan d'Arienzo