At age 82, Señor Podestá still performs as many as 3 or 4 times per week (shown here with Lisandro Adrover of Forever Tango fame).

Below is an appreciation of his live show and a posting by Keith to TangoDJ.

The Nights of Buenos Aires - Beatriz Dujovne (7/19/06)

Tango dancers frequently travel to Buenos Aires, attend milongas but miss the many excellent tango shows that the city offers nightly. Last month, for example, Color Tango Orchestra played for dancers at Confiteria Ideal; it will be a hard to forget the experience of seeing this orchestra play in the French Baroque architecture of this historical venue (4 dollars admission to the dance including the live show!!). I typically check some venues which offer tango shows, they are called "cafe concerts" or "tango bars" which are small locales allowing for intimacy between artists and audience (my favorites venues are La Cumparsita, La Trastienda, Club del Vino, Torcuato Tasso, and Clasica y Moderna).

One of the greatest tango singers from the golden era of tango, Alberto Podestá, can be seen Thursdays trough Sundays at La Cumparsita, a small tango bar located in Chile 302, San Telmo. Reservations can be made by calling 4361-6880 or 4302-3387.

Typically La Cumparsita features several tango singers who, in their own way, interpret this fabulous music we all love. When you make the reservation, it would be a good idea to ask if Podesta performs because sometimes he is performing abroad. He is certainly the star of the show. At age 82, Podestá sings with the same fire and tenderness, and with greater seasoning in his voice than ever. He is not to be missed.

Admission is 50 pesos (16 dollars), two people get a battle of wine, the typical Buenos Aires' sandwiches "de miga", and pan dulce. At La Cumparsita, the staff is courteous, they want people to have a good time. A couple dancers also perform, and then invite members of the audience to dance with them.

The atmosphere is not glitzy, it is real and personal. It is easy to talk with the artists because the place is small, and they are sitting next to you as they wait for their turn to sing; also, they love to talk about what they do.

La Cumparsita welcomes locals as well as tourists, most of whom were from Latin America; for some reason American visitors do not get there. Usually the audience gets very emotional when Podestá sings, for he gives his heart out in every song he performs. I have many wonderful memories about the six weeks spent in Buenos Aires during June and July 2006, but everything is pale compared to my several nights at La Cumparsita in the presence of this legend called Alberto Podestá.

Enjoy!!

Beatriz, Kansas City

(From a post to tango dj's by Keith Elshaw 7/14/06)

His body of work is SO outstanding. The list of maestros who hired him is mind-boggling, isn't it?

I shall slightly embarrass myself and tell you about the time I met him - for he is the most famous of the greats I have ever actually shaken hands with.

It was 1991 (Toronto) and I had been into tango for just over a year. There were very few CD's in stores and this is before the web got going. My music collection began with mostly strange CD's, lp's and copying cassettes from my Argentine friends. Often, they had no labels, so I didn't even know who I was listening to. I was really in a wilderness. (Truth be told, I quite enjoyed finding my way through things in this bizarre way. To find out finally the name of an orchestra I was already in love with but had no idea who it was was quite neat).

And, like many newbies, I was more interested in instrumental than vocal tangos at the time.

Well, one night, there is a special evening at a Latin club. They have a famous singer from Argentina. Some guy called Alberto Podestá.

Poor me - I didn't know who he was!

Here was this rather portly seniour citizen with died black hair singing all these songs with cliched (it seemed) over-the-top emotion to playback tapes.

There were a lot of Argentinos and Uraguayans there cheering wildly for him - but they were non dancers. He - and they - had a great time. For me, it wasn't a lot of fun. He didn't do anything for me.

Ha! Can you imagine how chagrined I was when I eventually came to know who he was.

It seems to me he holds the record for singing for the most genius orchestras, no? His legacy is stunning. He left Calá to sing for Di Sarli before he was even 18 (to be replaced by another 17 year-old, Berón).

It took me quite a while to find him - the poor quality of the old Di Sarli recordings being one reason. But when I got into them, the light came on. Nada gives me chills and instills such a warm mood in a dance-hall. But there are so many great recordings they made in 1942. Di Sarli's reputation as a serious task-master makes one admire anyone who worked with him.

And then came the Pedro Laurenz period starting '43. This was truly a wonderful musical marriage. These recordings are heavenly.

I really do wish Pugliese has used him on a few records in the early 40's. That would have been something.

Now, in 2006, as we swoon in the embrace and swirl through the tango mist on a dance floor to these recordings, how can we not place Señor Podestá - still going strong - on the highest pedestal?

Well - I guess this is my little prayer out into the heavens begging this most wonderful Artist to forgive the poor dumb Canuck who was so clue-less back then. I will forever endeavour to make up for it.

There is only one way, really. Play for people to dance to those FABULOUS recordings he made.

Well, for me, there is one more way - I've spent a lot of time cleaning and enhancing his recordings. What a pleasure it is to take away the artificts of time and restore the purity of sound; it's like giving him back his youth. And all the while, I recall that sunny face and gentlemanly comportment as he sang his heart out to adoring fans - and to silly me. Here I was probably comparing this fellow I didn't know to one of the great tango singers in my collection at home - like that guy who sang with Di Sarli, Calo and Laurenz ...

And now you know why I sort of feel he and I give each other a little nod and wink across time.

ToTANGO Restoration CD of Alberto Podestá Classic Hits:

With Miguel Caló:

With Carlos Di Sarli:

With Pedro Laurenz: