Apasionado Duo

January in Chicago could use a little heat.

Rendezvous Arts audience favorites Emi Tanabe and Gabriel Datcu take the spotlight as Apasionado Duo. Together, they pair violin and guitar in a vibrant musical conversation. Their music crosses styles, cultures, and continents with ease.

Emi, originally from Japan, and Gabriel, from Romania, are familiar faces to Rendezvous audiences. You may know them from their performances at the Ravenswood ArtWalk. This season, they finally get an evening all their own.

And what an evening it will be.

Feel the fire and romance of Argentinian tango and the freedom of jazz. Hear music from around the world, plus a few surprises along the way. Emi and Gabriel can make violin and guitar sound tender one moment and electrifying the next. Every piece comes alive with personality.

Their chemistry draws you in from the first note. At times, you might hear the intimacy of chamber music. Then the mood shifts to a late-night jazz set or a café somewhere far from Chicago. With Emi and Gabriel, you never quite know where the music will take you next.

So come in from the cold.

Featured Visual Artist: Anne Leuck

Our featured visual artist for this program is Anne Leuck, a Chicago artist, illustrator, designer, and educator whose work celebrates curiosity, play, and personal storytelling.

For more than 25 years, Anne has worked across painting, illustration, and design. At the heart of her practice is a daily sketchbook journal she began in 2001, combining words and images to capture ideas, everyday moments, and personal growth.

Her work ranges from acrylic paintings and digital illustration to paintings on glass and playful projects like Sudoku Scribbles, created inside finished sudoku books.

Like Apasionado Duo, Anne’s work is full of personality, discovery, and unexpected turns.