Desbande Quintet and the Legacy of Astor Piazzolla
Formed in 2023 under the guidance of violinist Phoebe Snelling, Desbande Quintet is a burgeoning ensemble dedicated to modern and contemporary Tango. With a special emphasis on capturing the distinctive musicality, sincerity, and captivating stage presence of Astor Piazzolla's 1980 Nuevo Quintet, they explore several of his most notable compositions. Their debut studio recording of Piazzolla's "Michelangelo 70" in October 2023 showcased their dedication, followed by enthralling performances of Piazzolla's music, including a debut concert at Milton Court Concert Hall, London. They most recently joined the renowned Philharmonia and Argentine Tango Champions, Adrien Bariki-Alaoui and Iro Davlanti-Lo for their event, “Marin Alsop conducts Bernstein and Piazzolla” at the Royal Festival Hall, London.
Comprising bandoneon, violin, guitar, piano, and double-bass, the quintet both respects the traditional lineup of a Piazzolla's Tango Nuevo ensemble and maintains fidelity to his original arrangements. They are swiftly gaining recognition for their unwavering commitment to detail while infusing each performance with spontaneity and emotional connection.
PHOEBE SNELLING - VIOLIN
Phoebe Snelling is an award winning violinist/production designer and educator based in London. Since finishing her studies at the Guildhall, Phoebe has been building her violin career as a touring/ session musician. She has excelled across a wide range of musical contexts and ensembles; from classical and contemporary recitals at some of the World’s most prestigious venues, including: The Royal Albert Hall, Elbphilharmonie, Het Concertgebouw, Odeon of Herodes Acropolis, to sessions and tours work with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, OrchestrateCltv, BBC LIVE, Redbull, RAM Records.
This Summer Phoebe completed a UK tour with Submotion Orchestra alongside members of her quartet: Prism String Ensemble, as well as a BBC Live session & European tour with Sigur Ros and the London Contemporary Orchestra. She also performed at Royal Albert Hall with Cleo Sol and toured Ireland with the Arctic Monkeys.
GEORGE TARLTON - GUITAR
George Tarlton’s musical career began as a boy singing with the South London-based choir ‘Libera’ in 2000-2004, who regularly made television appearances (BBC Songs of Praise, This is your Life, Classical Brit Awards), recordings ('Luminosa' Warner Classics, 'Free' EMI Classics) and concerts across the country and abroad. Guitar-playing later became an all-consuming passion which led to his studies with Robert Brightmore and David Miller as a scholarship student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he graduated with first-class honours in 2015. He has made multiple appearances on BBC Radio 3 and has been praised by Sean Rafferty MBE (Radio 3 'In Tune') as having 'the touch'. In November 2019, George won first prize in the London International Guitar Competition resulting in two performances in London's Kings Place. George was also awarded a place on the 2019/20 Eurostrings Artist Program.
George is a founding member of the Mela Guitar Quartet who’s recently win the Guitar Foundation of America’s 2023 International Ensemble Competition will take them on tour of the USA in early 2025. Gramophone described the Mela quartet as having “collective technical brilliance and preternatural ensemble” in their recent Naxos release, ‘The Complete Quartet works’ of Anthony Burgess.
BRYAN CROOK - PIANIST
Bryan is an award winning pianist and graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with First Class Honours, where he formally studied Classical and Jazz piano, and electronic music. For several years has enjoyed many successes in piano festivals in the South of England, including winning the PACA piano prize for solo recitalist, sponsored by 2CRFM and adjudicated by Phillip Fowke, and the MINNS Young Musician of the Year award. He has appeared live as a solo Jazz pianist on BBC Radio Solent and performed in a variety of venues across the UK as both soloist and ensemble player. As an improviser and musical director he works with actors and singers in professional theatre companies including the Yes Queens!, Bumper Blyton and other artists with performances at the Midlands Art Centre (MAC) for the Birmingham Improv Festival. Bryan has a broad repertoire covering music from Classical through to Contemporary, traditional Jazz through to free improvisation, and also live electronics. A growing interest and recent performances of the virtuosic piano works of Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji have earned Bryan recognition on the performers list of the official Sorabji Archive Website run by Alistair Hinton.
GWEN REED - DOUBLE BASS
Gwen is a versatile double bassist working professionally in a myriad of musical genres. She completed her studies in 2016 with an MPerf from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Mr. Colin Paris. Gwen has performed throughout Europe and the United States with ensembles including the London Contemporary Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony, Chineke! Orchestra, 12 Ensemble, Plus-Minus, Hyperion Ensemble UK, and many more. She can be heard on popular albums by Thom Yorke and Little Simz, as well as cast recordings for the Stephen Schwartz musical Working!, Joanna Bailie’s Artificial Environments, and various film soundtracks.
GUILLERMO WILLIS - BANDONEON
Guillermo Willis, a Buenos Aires-born bandoneon player, has found a musical home in the heart of London. Under the guidance of the bandoneon maestros Rodolfo Daluisio, Rodolfo Mederos, and Néstor Marconi, Guillermo achieved a BA in Music (Hons) from the Manuel de Falla Academy of Music (2015), being the first student of his class. During his time in Buenos Aires, Guillermo contributed his bandoneon skills to TrasCartón Tango (2013-15) and La Pícara Tango (2018-20). Upon settling in London, he became a part of various ensembles, including the Tango Terra Quartet, the London Tango Orchestra, and the London Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Guillermo specialises in both Tango and Baroque repertoire. In 2020, he recorded the Un Poco Barroco session, available on YouTube. In 2022, Guillermo featured on BBC4 in Joshua Bell's ‘Estaciones Porteñas,’ introducing audiences to the beauty of Piazzolla's music. His solo performances have taken him to notable venues such as the National Historical Museum of Argentina (2019), the Library of Congress of Argentina (2019), and the Ambassador of Argentina’s Residence (2022).Committed to his craft and cultural exchange, Guillermo Willis continues to blend tradition and innovation in his musical journey with the bandoneon.