Tanghetto

Tanghetto is an Argentine electrotango ensemble founded in 2003 by composer and producer Max Masri, based in Buenos Aires. The group emerged from Masri’s late-1990s experiments fusing electronic music with traditional tango; the name itself combines “tango” and “ghetto,” inspired by Argentine emigrant communities abroad who preserved tango culture in diaspora. The ensemble’s core lineup features Masri (synthesizers, programming, composition), Diego S. Velázquez (guitars, keyboards), and session/permanent members including bandoneón (Joaquín Benitez), cello (Regina Manfredi), violin (Octavio Bianchi), piano (Antonio Boyadjian), and drums (Daniel Corrado). Their debut album Emigrante (Electrotango) (2003) achieved platinum status in Argentina and earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2004. Tanghetto has won the Gardel Award twice and received eight-plus Latin Grammy nominations since 2004. In November 2025, they won the Latin Grammy for Best Tango Album—the first electrotango group to claim this prize—for their live anniversary album En Vivo – 20 Años. The ensemble blends electronic production with acoustic instrumentation (bandoneon, cello, piano, violin) to create neo-tango that draws on world music and jazz influences. Their catalogue spans 15+ studio and live albums, including reimaginings of Piazzolla compositions and contemporary covers. They have performed in over 300 cities across 32 countries and were declared Cultural Icons by the Buenos Aires City Legislature in 2025.

Sources note: MusicBrainz lists October 2002 as begin date, while sources consistently indicate late 1990s inception as Electrotango project with official 2003 establishment and August 2003 Tanghetto name adoption. The 2002 date may reflect early formal registration rather than true founding. No other substantive conflicts found across sources.