Pedro Laurenz: He Taught the Bandoneón to Scream

In this episode of the Tango Orchestras podcast, we focus on the artistic journey of Pedro Laurenz—the legendary bandoneón virtuoso and composer—and in particular on his fruitful collaboration with Juan Carlos Casas.

The episode traces Laurenz’s path from his early steps in Montevideo to forming, alongside Pedro Maffia, one of the most important bandoneón duos in Argentine history. Emerging from the Julio De Caro school, Laurenz helped steer tango toward a more rhythm-driven and “accented melodic” style—firm, dynamic, and unmistakably bold. With special emphasis on the iconic tangos recorded between 1938 and 1940, we explore the transformative impact of these artists on tango history and highlight Laurenz’s distinctive “estilo bravío”—a brave, powerful approach that combines intensity with refined musical structure.

To listen to the tanda I’ve prepared featuring the powerful tangos Laurenz recorded with Juan Carlos Casas, you’re warmly invited to visit my Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/2025-41-pedro-139819399