A chance encounter with Argentinean Tango in Paris at the age of 23 and Australian classical mandolinist, Ruth Roshan, fell in love with the tango.
“I had heard lots of Tango growing up, but that night was something else. It wasn’t just the music, though that was a big part of it. The players had created this wonderful loving atmosphere," she says. Now, with her quintet, Tango Noir she has recorded three acclaimed albums of melodic Tango inspired pieces and songs, and gathered an exceptional group of musicians around her in the process.
Grand piano, violin, accordion, jazz flute, cello and mandolin created a luscious musical landscape to listen to (and dance through), with tango classics and original compositions. Ruth Roshan is a sassy woman, at ease and confident in a professional and tight line-up. She lures you in to her music with a deceptive sweetness, and then delivers songs with charmingly cheeky ‘attitude’ that is refreshing to find in tango. She also knows what it's like to travel the world as a musician, and she has a few tips for other jet setting music makers:
Obscure your instrument at the airport
The words 'show me your hand-luggage' will send chills up a musician’s spine. Although some carriers now have explicit rules allowing small instruments in the cabin (thank-you Virgin, Qantas), not all are sympathetic. Apparently violinists could suddenly turn into homicidal maniacs and garrotte people with the strings (aided, perhaps, by passenger attacks with nail clippers).So put your instrument on the floor against the airline check-in desk. Now airport staff can’t see it until your bags are already sent through. With a bit of luck they will not want the bother of getting your bags out when you refuse to board without your instrument.
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Take your oldest, crappiest underwear and socks (Not recommended if romance is anticipated early in the trip)
Do you have old crappy undies and socks in your drawers that you really should throw away? That’s OK, we all do. Pack them, wear and discard day by day, then buy new ones to make up the rest of your trip.Don’t explain
If someone asks you the name of your instrument, or calls it something else (eg. calls your mandolin a ukulele), don’t go into a lengthy explanation about its characteristics. They’re just making conversation. They really don’t care.Nominate a band pharmacist
Late nights 'winding down after gigs' and bad (cheap) food. It’s so much fun at the time, but the next morning you will need someone close at hand with a cornucopia of remedies. The band pharmacist with magic in their bag.
Tango Noir Zen on the road
There will be long drives in a heavily loaded, underpowered people mover. You won’t have to watch your speed as speeding is impossible. You will slow down up hills and try to make it up by accelerating on the downward slopes. Cars and trucks will pass you, you can’t pass anyone. Perhaps meditation and breathing techniques would be useful in this situation (but I don’t really know any and actually I’m too busy swearing with my foot on the floor).Ruth Roshan and Tango Noir perform the Byron Theatre 2 October and Brisbane Powerhouse 3 October.
