Biography
Having absorbed the Guyani Indians' musical heritage from northeastern Argentina early on, Buenos Aires-born accordionist Raúl Barboza developed a style that reached well beyond local boundaries. His pieces blend Indian, European, and African sources, weaving tangos, mazurkas, and waltzes together with the sounds of surrounding landscapes and wildlife. In 1985 he earned a Konex Prize as one of the five Best Figures in the History of Argentinean Popular Music, after which he kept pursuing fresh directions. Following his move to France, the album De Villa Nueva appeared in 1992; Tierra Sin Mal followed two years later, and Anthologie came out in 2001. The son of an orchestra leader and guitarist, Barboza began playing the diatonic accordion at seven. While performing with his father's band Irupe throughout his teens, he made his first recordings with the group in 1950. At fifteen he formed his own ensemble and spent the next decade gaining recognition across Argentina before releasing his self-titled debut album in 1964. At the suggestion of the late tango master Astor Piazzolla, Barboza played in Paris for the first time in 1987 and immediately embraced the city. He soon relocated there with his wife Olga and joined the local tango and jazz accordion circle alongside Richard Galliano, Marcel Azzola, Daniel Colon, and Marc Perrone. He continues to appear with his quartet, featuring Javier Samudio on harp, Alfonso Pacin on guitar, violin, and charanga, and Daniel Duchowney on percussion, as well as in a duo with flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler.
Albums
