Search - Astor Piazzolla :: Luna

Creative and moving sentiment from Piazzola's late period

Edy Gibert | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 11/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have entered this section from your PC you are either lost or you really know what your are doing which means that you are familiar with the "new tango" concept of the Argentine bandoneon master and superb composer Astor Piazzola. This CD presents seven themes (total time 56:44') extracted from a live concert in Amsterdam recorded in June 1989, where Astor Piazzola played with his sextet. Indeed, the album notes claim that it was Piazzola's last concert with his sextet (1921-1992). The material includes repertoire classics such as "Hora Cero "(originally entitled "Buenos Aires Hora Cero"), "Milonga del Angel", and "Preludio y Fuga". The other four compositions are generally less known and belong to the composer's most innovative period, in other words when his music departured more than ever from the structured tango rhythm meeting with jazz, classic, modern fusion and other styles. The sextet creates a different music atmosphere compared to Paizzola's previous works with his quintet, octet, and other formations. On one hand, Piazzola's role in the group increases as the sextet plays more as a backing to Piazzola's genius without extended solos of violin or piano. Furthermore, the sound is heavier as two bandoneons are used instead of one, the violonccello replaces the violin, and the piano and guitar's parts strengthen the rhythmical tempos together with the use of a double bass. Piazzola gave tango an opportunity to grow, merge, develop, and meet other styles. The same as Charlie "Bird" Parker, Miles Davis, or Bill Evans did with jazz, being the first ones to introduce a number of innovations and take risks. Piazzola was not understood in his county and was heavily criticised having to immigrate to find recognition in and acceptance in many countries in Europe and several cities in the US. Whether you will enjoy this album or not depends on what music you like and how experimental you with respect to different music proposals. Piazzola does not represent the standard tango that you will see in the movies or in shows and night-clubs for tourists -although today his music is heard in many shows for tourists-. If you are familiar with the concept of "new tango" this album is a five stars because of the material included, the superb interpretation, and the excellent recording."

Recommend, but if you can, find the CD by Lucho music

Edy Gibert | 01/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are only getting started with discovering Piazzolla, this CD (along with La Camorra and Tristesas de un Doble A) belongs in my opinion to the first three you need to buy in order to get hooked till the end of your life (if not - then, probably it is not your music, I do not insist on my opinion being objective). Despite that I am rating this CD only with 4 stars. The reason for this is the crowning piece of the program missing. For those not knowing what I mean I will explain it. This CD documents one of the most outstanding concerts in tango history: the joint performance of Astor Piazzolla's Sextet and Orquesta Tipica of Osvaldo Pugliese at the Carre theater in Amsterdam in June, 1989. The only performance in which probably two last giants of tango have joined their forces. One half of the concert included the performance by Pugliese, the other - Piazzolla's sextet. At the end of the performance the joined Piazzolla/Pugliese orchestra performed a medley of Adios Nonino (by Piazzolla) and La Yumba (by Pugliese). On the original rcording of this recording (relatively hard to find and probably out of print) by Lucho music this concluding track was present. For some reason when re-issuing this concert, EMI decided to cut the acme of the program off. Therefore, if you can find, buy "Finally Together Vol. 1" CD by Lucho Music (it is a small Dutch independent label, which explains difficulties with finding this CD). If not this one is great, but one star (La Yumba/Adios Nonino) worse than the original."

A superlative live recording!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 10/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the numerous recordings made by this Bandoeon 's giant this one remains as one of my beloved. In Astor 's hands tango 's expression is elevated and ranked beyond measure. The modulations, dissonances, dynamic shifts confer this album a very special must for you.



The sublime tracks would be Hora Cero, Tanguedia, the impressive performance of Milonga del Angel and Luna -may be this version be the richest and most sublime of the countless performances made by this poetry musician- convey us to the nucleus of this sensual, mysterious and fascinating universe of shadows, partially illuminated where the disillusion and the fragmentation blend each one to conform a kind of delirious nocturnal tragedy.



Try to acquire this mesmerizing album, recorded in Amsterdam June 26, 1989.

Piazzolla in memoriam (1921-1992)"