Orquesta Típica Fernández Fierro (OTFF) is the first and most popular orchestra of the so-called New Tango movement that has revolutionized the world’s Tango scene and has inspired a new generation of musicians. With a typical tango orchestra formation (four bandoneons, four violins, a viola, a violoncello, a double-bass, a piano and a singer) and an original attitude based on a powerful manner of feeling and performing tango, these young musicians of dreadlocked and wispy-haired spunky hipsters have drive conventional tango to a new level. OTFF produced and released their own albums, all of which sold enough units (by industry standards) to become golden records. They also created an alternative to Buenos Aires circuit of “tango for export” transforming a warehouse in the legendary Gardel neighbourhood Abasto into the CAFF (Club Atlético Fernandez Fierro) where they play for an almost cult-like and young audience.
Due to their peculiar arrangements and solid compositions, their easiness, their colourful outfits and their power at scene, ‘La Fierro’ have not only radically renewed the stiff tango scene of Buenos Aires, shaking its traditional foundations and avoiding its commonplaces, but also proved successful abroad during several sold out tours all over the world, sometimes sharing festival’s line-ups with mainstream rock stars as The Cure, Rufus Wainwright or Lou Reed.
Line-up
Federico Terranova - Violin
Pablo Jivotovschii - Violin
Bruno Giuntini - Violin
Alex Musatov - Violin
Juan Carlos Pacini - Viola
Alfredo Zuccarelli - Violoncello
Yuri Venturín - Doublebass
El Ministro - Bandoneon
Julio Coviello - Bandoneon
Fausto Salinas - Bandoneon
Eugenio Soria - Bandoneon
Santiago Bottiroli - Piano
Walter "Chino" Laborde - Voice
Critics reviews
“A tango band with a rock and roll attitude. They have a shield and a shirt of their own when it comes to enter the playing field (…) they play with the distinction of the professionals”.
(Sabrina Cuculiansky, Vía Libre, La Nación)
“They go on stage with a speculative formation, 4-4-2, and a few minutes later, they go far beyond any expectations”.
(Silvia Gómez, Suplemento Sí, Clarín)
“They take a look at tango from the inside out, nourishing it with the streets pulse from which tango should not stray that often”
(Pablo Maronna, Los Inrockuptibles)
“Like gods that have been banished from some strange Olympus, they go on stage, silence chaos, and hypnotise everyone. They can play both classical tangos with arrangements made to measure and their own compositions. And they always sound powerful, violent, stimulating”.
(Cecilia Sosa. Radar ,Página 12)
"A strong, political message, a "rocker" attitude and a sound that has created the spontaneity cult, all come together in the identity of "La Fierro"."
(Shows, Music-Videos, Films Joost)
Caroline Benett, International Fotojournalist.
"Orquesta Tipica de Fernandez Fierro, a 13-person orchestra of dreadlocked and wispy-haired spunky hipsters who drive conventional tango to a new level."
(Press Journal)
"I had the pleasure of accompanying Kat to the Orchestra Tipica Fernandez Fierro show at Joe's Pub the other night. It was fantastic. Very punk rock, but very classically tango too. It was a great way to listen to the MUSIC of tango, without the dancing. Yes, of course, the dancing is key to tango, but this show puts the focus squarely on the unadorned music of it. An extremely unique listening experience. A fantastic way to listen to the accordions, and the string instruments, and the piano accompaniment--to enjoy and luxuriate in that. All the musicians were young, and passionate, which made it that much more interesting--this traditional yet vital form being interpreted by artists who are obviously avant garde."
(Södra Teatern - Asa Hamneståhl, Producer Södra Teatern - Stockholm )