Biography
Musical education
1986: Begins, at the age of 8 years old, his studies of bandoneon with the professor Marcos Madrigal.
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1989-1996: Begins and complete his studies in the National Conservatory of Music, with the professor Alejandro Barletta.
Teaching Performance
1997: Assistant teacher in the bandoneon cathedra in the National Conservatory of Music.
1998-99: Teaching performance on different private institutions in Buenos Aires.
1999-2002: Open his own cathedra of Bandoneon in Buenos Aires and a special cathedra for blind people.
Musical performance
1990: Ingresses in the Youthful Camera Orchestra of Buenos Aires in which he performed until 1992 as soloist of bandoneón, in places like San Martin Cultural Center, Recoleta Cultural Center, the auditory of the National radio and the Gold saloon of the Colón theatre.
1993-1996: Realized as soloist of tango and baroque music, performances in the Argentinean Society of Writers and in the National Conservatory of Music.
1995: Took part of the spectacle “Tango solamente”.
1996: Created the “Nuevo Siglo Tango” quartet.
1997: Composed and performed the music for the theatre piece “ The anatomy lesson”, of Carlos Mathus.
1996-2001: With his quartet he performed during three years on the Traditional Café Tortoni, and during five years ,three shows a week, on the Moliere Café of San Telmo. He realized several performances on the Borges Cultural Center and in the International Buenos Aires Tango Festival I, II and III.
On television, he performed on the shows “Argentinísima” (ATC and América 2, 1998-1999), “Naranja y media” (Telefe 1997), “Café Fashion” (Azul TV, 1999), the Reality show “El Bar TV” (America 2, 2001)and different shows on the channel Solo Tango (videoclips, “La joven guardia del tango”, and “ El picaporte, a special about Gabriel Merlino”).
Marikena Monti, Hugo Marcel, Alfredo Piro, Mayoral and Elsa María were some of his invited artists.
2000: He is artistically supported by Leopoldo Federico.
2001: He composed music for the channel Tyc Sports- Fox Sports Latinoamerica.
2001: Realized his first bandoneon duo with José Libertella (Sexteto Mayor) on Rivadavia Radio.
2002: Performances as soloist on the Annual Convention of Plastic Artists, in the International Hotel Lafayette, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2002: He traveled to USA where he realized different performances and recorded commercials in Los Angeles, California, and took part of the Hollywood Festival 2002: “Carlos Gardel”.
2002-2004: He realizes five tours by Europe, in which he played on festivals (For example the Zelt Musik Friburg, with quartet and like invited soloist of Sexteto Mayor), theatres (Opern Haus in Cologne, Bundesrepublik Bonn), cultural centers and milongas in Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Bandoneon and Tango Music workshops in europe and USA
2003-2004: Activities in Argentina:
Several shows in the best milongas of Buenos Aires, concerts in the Metropolitan Championship of Dancers, in the VI International Festival Buenos Aires Tango, and special concerts in Clasica y Moderna, La Trastienda and the Auditorium of the National Radio.
2005-2006: Three european tours. New cd: Bandoneon Dreams, bandoneon solist. Daily concerts in Treditional Cafe Tortoni, Buenos Aires. Documentary for MTV. Gives bandoneon lessons in the TV show Jam Session Tango.
2007: Bandoneon and Arranger from Tango Wind, a new big tango show which presents in Tradicional Café Tortoni, Bar La Clac y Cooperation Centre from Buenos Aires. Plays in Villa Mercedes Festival (San Luis) and realizes two European Tours as bandoneon soloist with concerts and workshops.
He continues with his bandoneon cathedra until today.
Discography:
1999 - Nuevo Siglo Tango. Vol I
2001 - Nuevo Siglo Tango. Vol II
2003 - En las Alturas - Dúo Bandoneón and Guitar
2003 - Grupo Fuego (Pop Latino) Recorded in Germany
2003 - Las Damas del Tango
2003 - Piano contra Piano, Alfredo Remus, Trío.
2003 - Tangos en Dúo. With Juanjo Hermida en Piano
2004 - La Típica y La Jazz. Alive from the Auditory of the National Radio. Dúo Merlino-Hermida
2005 -Bandoneon Dreams, world music. Gabriel Merlino, bandoneon solist.
2006- Tango Bizarro, electronic Tango
2006- Tangueros de Buenos Aires. Quartet, Gabriel Merlino bandoneon and arrangements.
2007- Bandoneon Dreams Live. Gabriel Merlino, bandoneon.
Press
“ Gabriel Merlino transforms the space when he plays the bandoneon”
Winds Magazine, Japan.
“ Merlino gives to his music category and style”
Tango Reporter, Los Angeles California.
“His bandoneon cries. Gabriel Merlino is a master of he bandoneon.”
Fauntenbach, Germany.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.