Astor Piazzolla Outstanding Argentine musician and composer of the second half of the twentieth century Date of Birth: 11.03.1921 Country: Argentina

1. Astor Piazzolla: Biography
2. A Musical Innovator
3. Early Career and Solo Success
4. The Nuevo Tango
5. Legacy and Collaborations
6. Discography

Astor Piazzolla: Biography

Astor Piazzolla, born on January 30, 1921, in Mar del Plata, Argentina, was an outstanding musician and composer of the second half of the twentieth century. Often referred to as the creator of the "nuevo tango" style, Piazzolla was an Argentine dreamer who bravely endured the anger of many of his compatriots for interpreting their national dance into his own musical fantasies.

A Musical Innovator

Piazzolla was a soulful and skillful performer on the bandoneon, a type of accordion, and became one of the leading composers in the world. In addition to his own group, he collaborated with jazz and classical musicians. Piazzolla's innovative choice of instrument and musical style, tango, allowed him to showcase his creative expression. He made his way onto the international concert stage, distinguishing himself from the working dance halls and port nightclubs of Buenos Aires.

Early Career and Solo Success

After moving to New York with his parents as a child, Piazzolla, at the age of 13, was invited by the undisputed king of tango, Carlos Gardel, to participate in the recording of the music for the film "El Día Que Me Quieras". Piazzolla returned from the United States to Argentina, where he played in an ensemble led by Anibal Troilo. After Troilo's death, Piazzolla began his solo career and achieved tremendous success in the 1950s and 1960s. By this time, he had received a government scholarship and studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Boulanger helped him explore his own creative potential and understanding of his native music, focusing his attention entirely on tango.

The Nuevo Tango

Piazzolla's modernized tango for new generations, characterized by a lively performance style known as "nuevo tango," soon attracted widespread attention from South American audiences, as well as the rejection from traditionalists. In the 1980s, due to the politically explosive climate in Argentina, he was forced to move to Paris. His international breakthrough came in the early 1980s with his quintet, Quinteto Tango Nuevo, formed in 1976. The group consisted of Fernando Suarez Paz (violin), Pablo Ziegler (piano), Horacio Malvicino (guitar), and Hector Console (bass). Two albums recorded with American producer Kip Hanrahan, "Tango Zero Hour" and "The Rough Dancer And The Cyclical Night," also contributed to Piazzolla's immense popularity.

Legacy and Collaborations

Piazzolla's compositions were performed by notable musicians and ensembles such as Gran Quinteto Real. Carlos Gardel, Fernando E. Solanas, Eduardo Arolas, and Luis Rubinstein were among the authors whose compositions he interpreted. Throughout his career, Piazzolla collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Horacio Malvicino, Hector Console, Pablo Ziegler, Fernando Suarez Paz, Daniel Binelli, Oscar Lopez Ruiz, Aldo Pagani, Gary Burton, Carl Volk, Jose Bragato, Angel Ridolfi, Carlos Nozzi, Gerardo Gandini, Paquito D'Rivera, Hugo Baralis, Nestor Marconi, Jon Fausty, and Leo Brouwer.

Discography

Piazzolla released numerous albums throughout his career. Some of his notable recordings include "Libertango / Tropical Music" (1975), "Tristezas de un Doble A / Rounder" (1986), "Astor Piazzolla: The Central Park Concert [live] / Chesky" (1987), "Tango: Zero Hour / Pangaea" (1992), and "The Lausanne Concert [live] / Milan" (1993), among many others.