by Mark Holston, Americas Magazine, January 2007 — Another Argentine artist seeking a slightly different path is vocalist Maria Volonté. In recent years, she has become a successful exponent of expanding tango’s stylistic frontiers while maintaining a comfortable relationship with the style’s most hallowed tenets. A popular singer who is regularly featured in some of Buenos Aires’ best tango clubs, Volonté is a captivating presence on stage known for her striking appearance and cultured manner. As a vocalist, her style personifies in song the attributes of one of her countrymen’s favorite beverages, the cortado — a rich blend of milk and strong coffee. On Héctor Stampone’s classic “El ultimo café,“ served up with in a stripped down jazz trio setting where she shares the spotlight with pianist Daniel Garcia, her arresting interpretation coats the melancholy mood of the well-known ballad with a creamy sensuality that makes the performance wholly mesmerizing. For Astor Piazzolla’s hauntingly evocative “Vuelva al sur,” she mines an even deeper emotional vein, while on “Tarde,” she and the Tangoloco quintet embrace the natural melding of tango and bossa nova with Brazilian-style guitar rhythms layered over rippling bandoneon lines. Regardless of the stylistic setting, Volonté is unerringly effective.
