Music and Vinyl: Piazzolla - Tangos del Ángel y del Diablo

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was an Argentine composer, arranger and bandoneon player. In what might now be called fusion, or cross-over, he combined the traditional tango with elements of jazz and classical music into what became known as Nuevo tango. Use of extended harmonies, counterpoint, and compositional forms created a new musical style that proved both successful and divisive.

Piazzolla had success as bandoneon player in groups and tango orchestras, but his advanced musical ideas caused friction with the dance-orientated groups and in 1946 he formed his own Orquesta Tipica which allowed him the freedom to experiment with tango music and orchestration. Musical studies with Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera led him to Paris with the help of a grant from the French government and study with the influential teacher Nadia Boulanger.

Back in Argentina, nuevo tango became a reality and Piazzolla's place in music history became cemented.

This record - recorded direct to disc, so basically each side of the record is a live performance with no edits or overdubs - is by ChamberJam Europe, a group with Piazzolla's preferred instrumental line up of bandoneon, electric guitar, violin, string bass and piano.