Argentina’s tango travels to the Caribbean by the hand of Jerry Rivera. The popular Puerto Rican singer releases Caribe Gardel, an interesting production of ten of the most popular tangos of the South American country embodied in rhythms such as salsa, bolero, bachata, danzón, and even cha-cha-cha.

Some conservatives would perceive this work as something inconceivable. In my opinion, however, the album not only gives new life to these rioplatense classics but it also opens the door to new generations and places where tango has been virtually inexistent.

Although Rivera’s soft and gentle voice couldn’t properly carry out the original version of these songs, with the Caribbean arrangements each one sounds as if it was made for him.

Other artists such as Dyango and Julio Iglesias have recorded in the past versions of famous tangos, but this is the first time that Buenos Aires’ music hits are made with a Caribbean flare.

The first promotional single, “Cuesta Abajo,” is the best track in the album, which is worthy of three stars because of its originality and boldness. However, it loses two of the five stars because since tango is purely acoustic, the rhythmic bases used at times sound very “computerized,” and it loses its essence in sounds that are too exact and polished.