Album Review: Two Hands To Tango from Hakon Skogstad
Album: Two Hands To Tango Artist: Hakon Skogstad Label: Avantango Records Website: www.hmskogstad.net The dramatic lines and multi-textured progressions performed by pianist Hakon Skogstad on his latest recording Two Hands To Tango vacillate between the frolicking stride of “Milonga Impromptu” and the intense tone of “Tango Del Angel.” A promising Beethoven, Chopin, Bartók, Hakon Skogstad puts his entire being into his improvisations, playing the piano with a level of passion and lyricism that bards like Shakespeare and Moliere put into their storytelling. The jostling action in the notes creates an oscillating motion through “Sur,” producing an agile mixture with lots of swerving and swiveling. Conversely, the even keel in the carriage of “Norte” harvests a stream of warm sensations, performing a variation of the tango rhythm. One hand plays notes that form perforating dings while the other hand moves in smooth, cruising lines across “Tris...