Astor Piazzolla was an Argentinian composer, bandoneon player and bandleader who was famous for revolutionising the traditional dance form, the tango, by introducing his concept of the Nuevo Tango, the new tango, in the mid-1950s.

Born in Argentina but brought up in New York, he was a classically trained musician, while being exposed to the jazz that was so much part of the city life, as well as being steeped in the tango music of his homeland. Playing the bandoneon, an Argentinian form of accordion, he developed an eclectic outlook, playing music that transcended the genres, with its roots in Latin forms but incorporating classical motifs and tinged with various jazz influences. Studying and performing in Paris, he recorded his first Nuevo tango compositions in 1955, and followed with several albums exploring the possibilities of the style in the years that followed.

This 41-track collection comprises most of the recordings from selected albums from this era, Sinfonia De Tango, Tango Progresivo, Tango Moderno, Lo Que Vendra and Tango En Hi-Fi, which feature performances by Astor Piazzolla on bandoneon from his classic Nuevo tango era with his Orquesta De Cuerdas, (String Orchestra) and his Octeto Buenos Aires. “My music has all the primitive tango, from the bordellos until today,” Piazzolla reflected in an interview taped before his death. “You can hear that underneath. On top of that music you can hear good music. But I think it’s in my blood. I am a man of tango.”

It is remarkable music that genuinely brings together the Latin, classical and jazz metiers, and offers a fascinating insight into the work of a highly innovative and skilled musician.

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