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TANTOR

Jazz Rock/Fusion • Argentina


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Tantor biography
TANTOR is a big name among Argentina's collectors, and quite rightly so, since this mostly instrumental outfit was back in the late 70s a major asset in the areas of jazz-fusion and art-rock that were developing in Argentina's musical scene. Even though the band lacked the commercial repercussion it clearly deserved (mainly due to the predominant presence of instrumental items in its repertoire), the musical press and its enthusiastic fan base openly received the energetic music created and performed by this ensemble of AQUELARRE and INVISIBLE alumni. The band started as the power-trio of lead guitarist Héctor Starc, bassist Carlos Alberto Rufino and drummer Rodolfo García. Starc and Rufino were already working together on instrumental material written by the former even before the demise of AQUELARRE (which occurred in 1977), so by the end of 1978 (the time of the band's official presentation), audiences were widely and instantly aware of TANTOR's tightness and virtuosity. The next year saw the release of the band's eponymous debut album, whereby the trio was alternately aided by special guests Lito Vitale and Leo Sujatovich on the keyboardist's role. The album was fresh and intense, somehow related to the vibrant energy we can also find in albums by CRUCIS, but with its own direction perfectly traced for anyone to hear. The lack of support for the album by the big industry and the constant absence of García, committed to recording and touring with a reformed ALMENDRA, soon led to the band's lack of activity and the momentum that it had started to achieve waned quite fast. The remaining duo ultimately recruited bassist Marcelo Torres and Babú Cerviño as a permanent keyboardist. Concerts became more recurrent once again and new material was being written, which ended up in the sophomore album "Mágico Y Natural", released in 1982. The refurbished band offered a new direction, more melodic and closer to the sort of symphonic progressive sound that bands like PABLO "EL ENTERRADOR" were also doing at the time, but still there was some ample room for the delivery of the fusion-centered stamina that had made the best of the debut release. All things come to an end, sooner or later: the presentation of this album as part of festival de la Falda '83 was to be TANTOR?S the final gig.

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TANTOR top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 26 ratings
Tantor
1979
3.83 | 20 ratings
Mágico Y Natural
1982

TANTOR Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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TANTOR Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Tantor by TANTOR album cover Studio Album, 1979
4.00 | 26 ratings

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Tantor
Tantor Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars This Argentinian Prog/Fusion act from Buenos Aires was sort of a supergroup, when it was formed back in late-70's with Héctor Starc on guitars, Rodolfo García on drums and Carlos Alberto Machi Rufino on bass/vocals.Starc was an ex-member of Prog/Psych Rockers Aquelarre, Garcia played drums both in Almendra and Aquelarre, while Rufino was a former Invisible member.Tantor released their self-titled debut in 1979 on Phillips, helped by keyboardists Lito Vitale from M.I.A. and Leo Sujatovich of Spinetta Jade.

This is a perfect example of well-executed, tight and highly technical Prog/Fusion with some really georgeous interplays and fantastic grooves.Fast and furious rhythms led by incredible guitar work and delicate electric piano combine with jazzy pianos and distinct synths to present a number of consistent and well-arranged mostly instrumental tracks.The vocals are limited in just a couple of tracks, which come as a combination of light Jazz/Fusion and Soft Rock, but even these contain some good synth work and smooth guitar playing.However the instrumental ones are the real winners here with top-notch performances by all the members, the sound is incredibly rich, the guitar and electric piano solos are stunning and the rhythm section is solid all the way.

One of the finest examples of fiery Prog/Fusion, only comparable to the consistency of CRUCIS.Both the original LP and the 2-CD reissue (along with the band's second album) come highly recommended.

 Mágico Y Natural by TANTOR album cover Studio Album, 1982
3.83 | 20 ratings

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Mágico Y Natural
Tantor Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by João Paulo

4 stars I have a cd with two albums included. Tantor and magical and natural. It shows a greater maturity from first to second, but the former has special charisma, maybe a little more for being rude, I like it. We want to hear through very melodious guitar or electric piano, alternating with faster passages of improvisation typical of Jazz Fusion. The lyrics are in Spanish typical of Argentine progressive rock of the seventies. We face two good albums, which show a careful design common to many musical bands from Argentina. The first, Tantor, is less commercial and great for those who like a good Jazz fusion, reminiscent of some bands of this decade in Spain like Iceberg or Barcelona Traction. The second is a little more commercial, but is more melodious and beautiful (Magical and Natural). Any of these albums is an excellent acquisition for collectors of Jazz Fusion. I give 4 stars
 Tantor by TANTOR album cover Studio Album, 1979
4.00 | 26 ratings

BUY
Tantor
Tantor Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by João Paulo

4 stars I have a cd with two albums included. Tantor and magical and natural. It shows a greater maturity from first to second, but the former has special charisma, maybe a little more for being rude, I like it. We want to hear through very melodious guitar or electric piano, alternating with faster passages of improvisation typical of Jazz Fusion. The lyrics are in Spanish typical of Argentine progressive rock of the seventies. We face two good albums, which show a careful design common to many musical bands from Argentina. The first, Tantor, is less commercial and great for those who like a good Jazz fusion, reminiscent of some bands of this decade in Spain like Iceberg or Barcelona Traction. The second is a little more commercial, but is more melodious and beautiful (Magical and Natural). Any of these albums is an excellent acquisition for collectors of Jazz Fusion. I give 4 stars
 Tantor by TANTOR album cover Studio Album, 1979
4.00 | 26 ratings

BUY
Tantor
Tantor Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Cesar Inca
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Tantor's namesake debut album is one of the most notable jazz-prog releases from Latin America's progressive scene. Born and working in an era where the prog rock era was already declining from its marginal era of artistic glory all over the world, the jazz and jazz- rock environments in Argentina were still prolific and full of interesting musical proposals. In the case of Tantor, the fact that two of this trio's members had worked within the ranks of the then recently demised Aquelarre shows that the jazz and art-rock elements were in an invigorating escalade in the aforesaid band's sound (particularly, the last 2 albums), so in many ways, the repertoire comprised here is a manifestation of the artistic development that was occurring in Héctor Starc's mind. Luckily, bassist Carlos Rufino and drummer Rodolfo García were more than ready to go along with it; add two young talents supporting the trio from behind the ebony and ivory keys (organ, pianos, synths, clavinet), and you have an excellent collection of exiting musical ideas cooking on. The name that comes from Tarzan's elephant feels apt for this musical jungle of energy, exquisiteness and stamina. Crucis and the rockier side of Arco Iris, with obvious hints to the fusion side of Aquelarre are the family airs to be noticed from track 1 to 7. 'Guerreras club' kicks off the album with an intense fire, in many ways related to the legacy of RTF, only with a (naturally) patent emphasis on the guitar's input; the guest keyboardist sounds pretty much like Jan Hammer on this one. This is a great opener, indeed, contrasting with the warm gentleness of the much calmer 'Niedernwohren': smooth Latin-jazz for the first half, a bit more extroverted for its second half. 'Llama Siempre' is the first of two vocal tracks: funk-oriented swing and romantic aura are gracefully combined in this song. 'Oreja Y Vuelta Al Ruedo' has a very enthusiastic fusion-centered ambiance: the powerful drum kit's entry sets the main mood for this piece: I bet that Starc thought of this one after getting acquainted with the music of Iceberg during Aquelarre's venture in Spain. Even though the main motif is repeated many times, it never gets boring: the overall mood is that catchy and vibrating. 'Halitos' kicks off the album's second half with an eerie piano intro, with paves the way for the main body's lyrical nuances, very much based on bossanova airs. This lyrical approach in repeated subsequently in the next track, the second vocal one: 'El Sol De La Pobreza' is romantic but not devoid of energy, all in all, since the jazz-rock factor is fairly noticeable in the basic instrumental arrangement. Finally, 'Carrera De Chanchos' completes the album in a most magnificent way: its first 2? minutes are occupied by a spacey prelude that ultimately opens the door to a vigorous main body, something that wouldn't have been out of place in any of Crucis' 2 albums. The guest keyboardist provides a most incredible solo on synth, stating a healthy rivlaity against Starc's constantly propelled deliveries. This is a great closure to a great album. Attention all members of the Progressive Collectors' federation ? this album is not to be missed!
Thanks to cesar inca for the artist addition.

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