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Astor Piazzolla | Essential albums and listening guide
Explore Astor Piazzolla through Libertango. Discover what to listen for and follow related styles to your next record.
Astor Piazzolla
Meet the artist
A composer and bandoneon player who established nuevo tango by bringing elements of classical music and jazz into tango. He retained tango's rhythmic force while deepening its form and dramatic tension as concert music.
Bandoneon, strings and piano interweave above insistent bass patterns. Urban sharpness sits close to tenderness, and stillness can turn suddenly intense. Rather than treating him simply as a jazz musician, hearing him at the meeting point of traditions reveals connections between composition, improvisation, dance and concert music.
Where to start listening
Compare the sharp rhythmic accents with the long breath of the melodies. This is an invitation to extend a journey through improvisation and ensemble playing from jazz into tango.
1974Libertango
Astor Piazzolla
The title track of Piazzolla’s Italian recording became an emblem of nuevo tango’s departure from tradition and inspired hundreds of cover versions.
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1986Tango: Zero Hour
Astor Piazzolla
Piazzolla called this recording by his New Tango Quintet the best of his life. Its meeting of classical and jazz languages represents a high point of nuevo tango.
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Years follow the Atlas catalogue. Recording dates, original release dates and digital reissue dates may differ.