text & photos by NY photojournalist Linda Covello

Last night in a second floor theater on West 56th Street, Maria Volonte shared the stage with Mavi Diaz and Kevin Carrel Footer before an audience of invited guests at the Consulate General of Argentina.

Volonte is a Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter from Argentina celebrated around the world for the stories she tells through her songs, her exquisite voice and her intense live performances. Diaz is a former rock star who is now shaking up the Argentine folk music scene with her original compositions. They were accompanied by Footer on harmonica for a 12 song set that began with the plaintive chords of Volonte’s singing and escalated into a passionate concert of dual guitars and voices with the harmonica interspersed between them. It was sensual, passionate, tragic, and it had the audience cheering on their feet.

Volonte and Footer are in the middle of a months long US tour as Blue Tango Group and have recently been joined by Diaz for the “Wapas Tour” that will wind up in Brooklyn this Saturday night at a private loft party. Talking about their collaboration after the show last night, Volonte told the story of how she and Diaz were introduced by renowned composer Raul Carnota at a dinner party in 2007. He had said to Volonte that she must meet Diaz because they were going to become like sisters, and his prediction turned out to be true as the two have sought any excuse and opportunity to perform together since.

Volonte and Footer first debuted as Blue Tango Group in 2008 at a San Francisco music festival. After their performance there was a line over an hour long of admirers who had been converted to their sultry and unique combination of Tango, American Blues, and Latin Folk inspired sound.

The same effect took place last night at the Consulate General of Argentina. Recent fan Spencer Drate, an award-winning album packaging designer and author of many pop culture books, said their music instantly relaxes his mind. “They convey a passion that makes the audience feel that they are a part of them – this is the beautiful communication of their music” Drate enthused after watching his third performance. It was clear that many last night held similar feelings as the three performers spent about two hours autographing cds and hearing praise from guests who mingled on the first floor of the embassy drinking wine from an Argentine vineyard and snacking on empanadas.

The Consulate General of Argentina promotes the work of the country’s artists here in New York City. Currently on view is a group show featuring the work of Marcelo Torretta, Gabriel Sainz, German Wendel, and Omar Panosetti. The show can be viewed at the Holz Gallery at the Consulate until May 4, 2012.

Consulate General of Argentina
12 West 56th Street
New York NY 10019
212 603 0440

Linda Covello is a professional photographer/writer who has been based in New York City for more than 20 years. Her work has been featured internationally on the cover of Newsweek magazine, as well as on the pages of such diverse publications like Time, Entertainment Weekly, the former Life. Visit www.lindacovellophotography.com