For decades, Buenos Aires-born, Latin Grammy-winning pianist, composer and arranger Pablo Ziegler has been one of the most important figures in Argentine New Tango, the vibrant musical hybrid of classic tango and American jazz. Mark Swed of The Los Angeles Times writes, “He is cool, understated and makes everything look easy and natural… Just as a really suave tango dancer seems not to move with feet but on wheels, Ziegler skates the keyboard.” After performing in tango grand-maestro Astor Piazzolla’s legendary quintet for over a decade, and appearing on iconic Piazzolla recordings including Tango: Zero Hour, La Camorra and Central Park Concert, Ziegler has led his own groups for over 20 years, refining and reimagining the bounds of the tango tradition. Touring throughout the world with his trio, quartet and quintet, recent seasons have seen Ziegler performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Chautauqua Institute, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Laguna Beach Music Festival. He has been featured as guest soloist with major orchestras around the world, playing his own compositions as well as the music of Piazzolla with the Presidential Orchestra of Turkey, the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz Sinfonica Orchestra in São Paolo, Brazil. Ziegler’s most recent recording, 2013’s critically acclaimed Amsterdam Meets New Tango, sees his quartet paired with the Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest. In 2011, Ziegler’s work as music director, arranger and pianist for bass-baritone opera star Erwin Schrott earned an Echo Klassik Award for the album Rojotango. Ziegler’s 2005 release, Bajo Cero, won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Tango Album, and in 2008, his album Buenos Aires Report made the final list of nominees for the same honor.
Photo Credit: Shigeto Imura