Asfalto: Street Tango

Amazon.com
The late New Tango composer and bandleader Astor Piazzolla has cast a nearly inescapable shadow over those who have attempted to further his tango innovations. Consider the hurdles for Pablo Ziegler, Piazzolla's pianist for a decade. Remarkably, Ziegler does not shy away from Piazzolla (in fact he revisits several of the master's pieces) and still offers a personal sound. "El Empedrado" runs the gamut from Piazzolla's influence to Ziegler's lush romanticism. "Milonga en el Viento" has a surprisingly traditional feel--paced by jazz style drumming. The ambitious Radio Tango II suggests an intriguing fusion of jazz, rock, Piazzolla, classical music, and traditional tango. Ziegler has quite a challenge before him, but if Asfalto is any evidence, he has the tools, the smarts, and the imagination to inch the New Tango line forward. It is an effort worth following. --Fernando Gonzalez

Tracks:

Asfalto
La Muerte del Angel
Milonga en el viento
El Empedrado
La Cumparsola
Soledad
Decarisimo
Radio Tango II
Elegante canyenguito
Maria Ciudad
Michelangelo
Dos cadencias sobre 'Adios Nonino' - Pablo Ziegler/Antonio Agri
Elegia sobre 'Adios Nonino'

Amazon.com

The late New Tango composer and bandleader Astor Piazzolla has cast a nearly inescapable shadow over those who have attempted to further his tango innovations. Consider the hurdles for Pablo Ziegler, Piazzolla's pianist for a decade. Remarkably, Ziegler does not shy away from Piazzolla (in fact he revisits several of the master's pieces) and still offers a personal sound. "El Empedrado" runs the gamut from Piazzolla's influence to Ziegler's lush romanticism. "Milonga en el Viento" has a surprisingly traditional feel--paced by jazz style drumming. The ambitious Radio Tango II suggests an intriguing fusion of jazz, rock, Piazzolla, classical music, and traditional tango. Ziegler has quite a challenge before him, but if Asfalto is any evidence, he has the tools, the smarts, and the imagination to inch the New Tango line forward. It is an effort worth following. --Fernando Gonzalez

Customer Reviews:

Nothing much.......2003-07-20

I bought this album cause I read that Ziegler moves nuevo tango one step ahead. I don't think so. The influnce of Astor is more than obvious.....i don't think that tango can move on any longer without the help of electronic music. The cover looks really nice and the music is ok....but I really expected much more.....by the way....I can't seem to realize how the title asfalto came up.....mystery...!

The Tango beyond Piazzola.......2002-02-01

Pablo Ziegler's Asfalto is living proof of how tango can benefit with evolution.

Ziegler was Piazzola's piano player and he has incorporated many of the techniques and learnings from his mentor and, as Piazzola did, delivered modern and incredible interpretation of tango music. The Tango and related styles are a very complex and emotional music that like other emotional styles such as Blues and Flamenco owes a great deal to the interpreter. In this case, Ziegler and his band do justice to the music with a passional but well though performance.

This record show the future of tango as a very relevant and valid musical style.

Takes Tango Nuevo a step beyond........2001-03-18

Piazolla elavated tango to a new artistic level, from simple utilitarian music to be danced, to suddenly music that stands proudly on its own artistic merit.

Ziegler continues this tradition. The most startling difference is the addition of drum set to the tango ensemble. This adds a whole new dimension of drive and excitment, although possibly a step away from the intimacy of Piazolla's ensemble style.

I will always admire the classic romantic sound that Piazolla preserves throughout his compositions, but I find the Ziegler finds his way into my stereo even more often!

I highly recommend this album for those who love the Piazolla sound but also enjoy more a more frantic, rhythmic sound.

This is music to be appreciated on all levels, intellectual, emotional, and certainly in your groove thang!

Both fantasy tango and salon tango on one CD........2000-09-19

If you are a dancer, you are probably doing basically salon tango. The more advanced dancers and instructors may be involved in the "fantasy tango" style of dancing. This has a little of both, plus, for non-dancers, some nice jazzy tango listening. I felt that the title "Asfalto: Street Tango," was a bit misleading. I was almost expecting some variation of canyenge style tango. I like the music. I have seen some really brialliant choreography to the title song at demonstrations in both Montreal and Washington. The music inspires the imagination to what is possible in a dance interpretation of the work.

An Apt Pupil.......2000-06-04

Pablo Ziegler worked for and collaborated with Astor Piazzolla for a long time and with the release of "Asfalto" proves himself to have been an apt pupil. This album is entirely up to the standards of the late master with every piece being eminently listenable.I was afraid that Ziegler, great pianist that he is, would spend the remainder of his career solely as an interpreter of Piazzolla's work. That in itself would be a tall order for any musician.But on "Asfalto", Ziegler's musical personality has begun to emerge and he shows himself a bandleader in his own right.Sure, Ziegler performs many Piazzolla compositions here, and with panache, but he also builds upon themes introduced by Piazzolla. In addition, we are introduced to some Ziegler compositions, the construction of which shows that he has learned the art of New Tango well. I can't pick a favorite here. I like the entire recording.

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