The mention of the name Piazzolla instantly transports one’s imagination to Buenos Aires. Yet, this revolutionary and controversial musician offers a thousand surprises, from his childhood in New York immersed in jazz to his return to Argentina, where he made his mark as an exceptional performer. His subsequent departure for France, seeking to distance himself from his traditional tango, led to a surprising turn of events, when the great Nadia Boulanger declared that his true voice lay in a new form of tango, infused with all his diverse influences. These elements all converged to define the genius of one of history’s most renowned musicians.
The trio of piano, cello, and marimba/vibraphone, though unexpected, is the perfect instrumental combination to explore Piazzolla’s repertoire from his French period, juxtaposed with the jazz standards that influenced him, oscillating between nostalgia, languid phrasing, and explosive rhythms.
