David Thomas’s Getting to Know: 20 Tango Orchestras was one of the books that really helped me in my early days in tango. Having been all about the music from an early stage, it was great to have this guide to what to expect from each of the orchestras most frequently played at milongas.

I’m no history buff, but it was David’s ability to bring historical info to life – and to give it relevance to dancing today – which persuaded me to treat myself to his Tango Pioneers trilogy. I read the first of these, Myths and the Melting Pot, in one sitting …