QuinTango is coming to Elaine’s! Join us for “The Stories Tango Tells” — an intimate interview with the group’s founder Joan Singer and composers Ali Cook and Emmanuel Trifilio

Jeffrey Higgins sits down with composers Ali Cook & Emmanuel Trifilio and QuinTango founder and director Joan Singer to talk about how they are creating their powerful yet intimate ninth album, VIDA, eleven new tangos that turn life’s peaks and valleys into musical experiences.  Be the first to hear bits and pieces of the new repertoire and share your reactions with the band.

About tonight’s event:

• 6pm: Meet, greet, and order your meal and cocktails from Elaine’s award-winning menu
• 7pm: Our 45-minute interview with the musicians begins, followed by a 15-minute Q&A with the audience to be produced on our popular podcast and video series
• 8pm: Talk with the artists, buy a CDs and get it signed by the musicians

QuinTango, VIDA

Experience QuinTango: Hear the heartbeat of classical Argentinian tango channeled by a quartet of top-notch chamber musicians and their crackerjack bandoneon player. This is tango like you’ve never imagined it: classical chops, jazz harmonies, and intimate arrangements written for the group by outstanding composers in Buenos Aires. ‘Chamber tango’ is the result of this musical alchemy, a middle ground that draws in lovers of both classical and non-classical music to experience the fullness of life—the stories, the culture, and the exhilaration of tango. Over its 20-year history, QuinTango’s command performances have ranged from the White House to memorable concerts in 23 states, at venues ranging from Stanford University and Lincoln Center Plaza, to the Kennedy Center and Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston. They’ve performed at international festivals in Costa Rica and the Amalfi Coast—and toured in France, Italy, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina and Uruguay. QuinTango not only captivates audiences with their artistry, they invite you in as one of the family, immersing listeners in the world of tango.  Each tango has its own special message, introduced with surprising narratives so you can explore everything from the grief of losing a father, to the thrill of deep-sea fishing, and the poignancy of a young poet’s fate. In this music, born in the streets and made respectable in sophisticated salons, we hear the full human journey: romance, loss, heartache, and deep joy embedded in haunting melodies. Learn more: quintango.com

Joan Singer, founder, QuinTango

About Joan Singer, violin, QuinTango’s founder and director: Joan says wakes up every morning knowing there’ll be fires to put out, pipers to pay, and glorious tangos to play. Thanks to a chance meeting with a Dutch tango musician some twenty-plus years ago, Joan combines a love of music with her Scotch-Irish story-telling talents, Quaker-based desire for global connections, and her weakness for glitz. She’s made hundreds of friends and enriched thousands of lives in the process. Read moreabout Joan.

Ali Cook, QuinTango

About Ali Cook, bass: Ali’s dream of earning a spot in the double-bass section of a major orchestra ground to a halt when she was seized by a painful syndrome that rendered her arms useless at times. Forced to confront this fork in the road, Ali emerged from the experience healed and, in the process, discovered a trove of music and poetry within her waiting to be shared with the world. She now focuses on launching her career as a singer/songwriter, and enjoys side projects and engagements, including teaching, arranging, playing in QuinTango, and appearing with the National, Baltimore, and Detroit Symphonies. Read more about Ali.

Emmanuel Trifilio, QuinTango

About Emmanuel Trifilio, bandoneon: “La vida es loca,” proclaims Emmanuel, sipping his mate tea, contemplating Amado Nervo’s poetry, and considering his life. A career-ending injury on the soccer field in his native Argentina allowed him to pick up his guitar and lose himself in music. Before long, the discovery of a bandoneon in a second-hand shop piqued his interest in tango and set him on the path to the United States. With the right instrument at the right time, Emmanuel has taken to the world stage as an acclaimed composer/arranger, founder of the Trifilio Tango Trio and charismatic performer and collaborator with QuinTango.

About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com

Find more of Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

Elaine’s Literary Salon is located at Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen Street, Alexandria VA

About Elaine’s Restaurant:  A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the former home of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins for 38 years. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.