This CD, recorded at the
Porgy & Bess in Wien, has a superb collection of Piazzolla interpretations with a unique jazz infusion and ethereal edge. In addition, these tracks are quite danceable by the standards of Argentine Tango, with exquisite rhythmic effects and decided drama, such a successful feat for young musicians, new and hot on the Tango scene. I look forward to hearing Pasquale Stafano, Gianni Iorio, and Alessandro Terlizzi in person, as their Piazzolla presentation is so dynamic and magical. All music is composed by Astor Piazzolla.
Notable tracks:
#2 – Invierno porteño – This piece is supposed to be gut-wrenching, and it is here, thankfully. Tango exudes introspective melancholia and memory, and Stafano
and
Iorio have the exact pulse on this music. There are staccato embellishments, driven piano passages, and exhilarating bandoneón trills that soon fall to a tremolo. Terlizzi provides the rhythmic and earthy tonalities necessary to tango genre.
#3 – Décarisimo – I once danced with my Tango coach, Carlos De Chey, to
Décarisimo for a birthday dance, on a Pablo Ziegler release, a different take on this Piazzolla work. Here Nuevo Tango Ensamble creates an edge and emphatic percussive effects with bass and bandoneón. In fact,
Iorio draws out his instrument to breathe out in punctuated professionalism.
#6 – Libertango – The actual driven theme of this piece, featured in Sally Potter's film, "The Tango Lesson", with
Pablo Veron, appears more to the end of the Nuevo Tango Ensamble version, and this is an interesting take on a renowned dance performance work. With cutting edge work by Stafano aided by Iorio's lightning keyboard effects, Libertango in this performance was mesmerizing.
#7 – Oblivión – This full-length version, with slow, deliberate piano introduction, is moody and magnetic. With atonal, contemporary jazz fragmentation, this interpretation has a unique twist, as the actual delayed theme is passionately performed by
Iorio on a breathy bandoneón. Here is no doubt that Nuevo Tango Ensamble has a successful future ahead of them with future interpretations and, hopefully, original compositions, as well. This CD is suitable for professional Tango performances.
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
