Bob Barnes, Accordion, Bandoneon and Bandleader
Bob Barnes was born in Frankfurt, Germany and was raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Bob attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he earned degrees in music composition and computer science.
He moved to Minneapolis in 1994 to study computer science and biology at the University of Minnesota and dropped out a few years later to devote himself to music and menial computer jobs. Bob started playing tango in 1987 after hearing a recording of the Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. Bob nursed his tango addiction in private until 2001, when he sought out fellow tangophiles and founded Mandrágora Tango as a quartet of accordion, violin, bass and guitar. When he founded Mandrágora, Bob had no idea that people still danced to tango. He soon fell into the tango dance scene and started playing for milongas (tango dance parties). In 2002, Mandrágora started playing a weekly Sunday night Milonga at the Loring Pasta Bar, a long-term gig that continues to this day. In 2003, Bob started to add a piano and a string quartet to the mix and created the
Mandrágora Tango Orchestra, a larger group dedicated to more symphonic tango styles. In 2006, Bob started to play the Bandoneon, a squared-off accordion that is used for tango.
Laura Harada, Violin
Originally trained in western classical music at Oberlin Conservatory, Laura Harada has spent the last 10 years playing music from all over the world with a special focus on Arabic music. During that time she has performed with and created original music for theater and dance companies including numerous productions with Jawaahir Dance Company, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, and Magic Lantern Puppet Theater. In 2005, Laura was chosen to perform with Fathy Salama's Cairo Orchestra and Senegalese singer Youssou N'dour on his US tour performing Egypt , the winner of the 2004 Grammy for World Music. Locally, she appears with world music ensemble Music Mundial, classical Arabic ensemble Amwaaj, and Batucada do Norte. Her first introduction to tango came in 2003 when she joined the large ensemble of Mandragora Tango Orchestra. At that time, she was struck by the bravado, sentimentality, moving sadness and longing which tango evokes, emotions which Arabic music summons as well. While violin has always been her main voice, Laura has studied other instruments including the Arabic oud, Brazilian percussion, and other hand drum styles.
Scott Mateo Davies, Guitar
Scott Mateo Davies began studying guitar at age nine. Upon completing high school, he traveled extensively for four years, performing as a folk singer in diverse venues in London, Casablanca, Stockholm and New Delhi. After returning to Minneapolis, Davies founded the pop group "The Rogues", touring the Midwest for the next eleven years. While on the road, he began playing classical guitar. In 1982, Davies moved to Madrid where he began intensively studying flamenco guitar. Davies returns to Spain each year to perform and continue his studies. From 1986 to 1998 Davies was the featured guitarist and 'ud player for Voices of Sepharad, a musical group dedicated to performing the music and dance of Spanish Jewish culture. Scott became obsessed with tango after hearing a recording of Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. He recorded several Piazzolla compositions before joining Mandrágora in 2004.
Rahn Yanes, Bass
Born and raised in central California, Rahn became a bass-playing musician at age 11, got his first music job in the local philharmonic at 16, and hasn't stopped ever since. He played in most of the symphony orchestras throughout central California, eventually becoming Principal Bass and Personnel Manager of the Fresno Philharmonic, as well as teaching bass at Fresno State University. He also spent several years playing with the National Chamber Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico. Moving to Minnesota several years ago allowed Rahn to expand his musical horizons, where he joined several different kinds of groups, including a jazz big band, a rock band, and most recently, Mandrágora Tango.
Bob Barnes was born in Frankfurt, Germany and was raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Bob attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he earned degrees in music composition and computer science.
He moved to Minneapolis in 1994 to study computer science and biology at the University of Minnesota and dropped out a few years later to devote himself to music and menial computer jobs. Bob started playing tango in 1987 after hearing a recording of the Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. Bob nursed his tango addiction in private until 2001, when he sought out fellow tangophiles and founded Mandrágora Tango as a quartet of accordion, violin, bass and guitar. When he founded Mandrágora, Bob had no idea that people still danced to tango. He soon fell into the tango dance scene and started playing for milongas (tango dance parties). In 2002, Mandrágora started playing a weekly Sunday night Milonga at the Loring Pasta Bar, a long-term gig that continues to this day. In 2003, Bob started to add a piano and a string quartet to the mix and created the Mandrágora Tango Orchestra, a larger group dedicated to more symphonic tango styles. In 2006, Bob started to play the Bandoneon, a squared-off accordion that is used for tango. 
Scott Mateo Davies began studying guitar at age nine. Upon completing high school, he traveled extensively for four years, performing as a folk singer in diverse venues in London, Casablanca, Stockholm and New Delhi. After returning to Minneapolis, Davies founded the pop group "The Rogues", touring the Midwest for the next eleven years. While on the road, he began playing classical guitar. In 1982, Davies moved to Madrid where he began intensively studying flamenco guitar. Davies returns to Spain each year to perform and continue his studies. From 1986 to 1998 Davies was the featured guitarist and 'ud player for Voices of Sepharad, a musical group dedicated to performing the music and dance of Spanish Jewish culture. Scott became obsessed with tango after hearing a recording of Argentine composer and bandoneonist Astor Piazzolla. He recorded several Piazzolla compositions before joining Mandrágora in 2004.
Born and raised in central California, Rahn became a bass-playing musician at age 11, got his first music job in the local philharmonic at 16, and hasn't stopped ever since. He played in most of the symphony orchestras throughout central California, eventually becoming Principal Bass and Personnel Manager of the Fresno Philharmonic, as well as teaching bass at Fresno State University. He also spent several years playing with the National Chamber Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico. Moving to Minnesota several years ago allowed Rahn to expand his musical horizons, where he joined several different kinds of groups, including a jazz big band, a rock band, and most recently, Mandrágora Tango. 
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