"we're Quartango. there's four of us, and we play tangos."

Fucking hell. I was starving for that, just starving, and I had no idea. It's been a while, before tonight, since I've been to a proper, formal concert, I don't know how long... but too long.

Montréal's Quartango are just what they seem: double bass, piano, violin, and bandoneon (it's like an accordion, but it doesn't do chords) — and they play the tango and variations thereon. Tonight, in a CBC Radio Two recorded Debut Atlantic event, they played Woodlawn United Church with the help of soprano Janice Jackson, who, in this refined music critic's opinion, totally kicks ass.

We all know how bad high-culture low culture can be (does the world really need, e.g., another symphony orchestra collaboration by some washed-up middle-of-the-road pop artist). But the right mix of stylistic verve and proper technique completely brings to life a form like the tango. I was fully engaged on every level for two hours.

Here's where I could pretend to be this total musical sophisticate and say something like "the inevitable second-half performance of 'La cumparsita'" except, I totally did not know before tonight the actual name of the "national anthem of tango" as group leader Denis Plante put it. But yeah, you know, "that tango song"? For future reference that's "La cumparsita."

Is it too late for a new year's resolution, 6 or 7 weeks in? This year — proper, classical-ish concerts. At least every couple of months. Surely to God I can take in 6 good concerts this year. I know I'll be happier if I do.