Revolucionario

As well as his scintillating signature sound, at least a dozen sublime albums, and hundreds of compositions, Astor Piazzolla bequeathed us many former collaborators, most of whom pay homage by keeping the flame of Piazzollean nuevo tango burning. But no member of this quintet played with the ‘revolutionary’ maestro. Instead they lay claim to their marketable handle through association with his widow, Laura, who's credited with ‘general direction.’

This ambitious and accomplished album, the first of three planned releases, indicates a dual vocation: to take Piazzolla in new directions, and to record less familiar pieces. Some of the playing is exquisitely beautiful (as on ‘Romance del Diablo’), some is artful and daring (as on ‘Chin Chin’). Masterpieces like ‘Concierto para Quinteto’, are well executed and cannot fail to thrill tango fans. Orchestra director Julian Vat adds flute and sax on a couple of numbers. Overall, if these arrangements are rarely as fluid or harmonious as those overseen by Piazzolla, they exude ample virtuosity and youthful verve. That they also show daring and individual flair makes them a valuable addition to the opus postmortem.