The internationally acclaimed Argentine pianist and composer Pablo Ziegler has been hailed as one of the world’s leading proponent of the nuevo tango. A classically trained pianist and a veteran of the vibrant jazz scene in his native Buenos Aires, Ziegler is taking South America’s most sultry and passionate music into new territory. Ziegler joins a small group of contemporary artists that includes trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and pianist Marcus Roberts who are recording both classical and jazz projects today. Ziegler is the only artist currently involved with tango projects in both genres.
Ziegler and the other members of his Quintet for New Tango – Héctor Del Curto (bandoneón), Oscar Guinta (bass), Horacio López (drums) and Quiqui Sinesi (guitar) are as adept at traditional and contemporary tango forms as they are performing jazz and world music. By using percussion and improvisational elements Ziegler enriches the nuevo tango legacy and further explores the common ground between tango and jazz.
Born in Buenos Aires in September 2, 1944 Ziegler studied music from the age of 4 until 13 in a classical music conservatory. He learned tango from his father, a tango violinist. As a teenager Ziegler fell in love with jazz. Ziegler became a professional jazz musician and formed his own band. The popularity of his jazz trio Pablo Ziegler Terceto led to his being invited in 1978 to join Astor Piazzolla’s New Tango Quintet. Until he joined the Astor Piazzolla Quintet, Ziegler had never performed tango professionally, but his ability to improvise and his virtuosity were exactly what Piazzolla wanted.
Ziegler remained with the Astor Piazzolla Quintet for the next ten years, appearing at jazz festivals all over the world. For him it was like attending the New Tango University.
In 1992, Ziegler started his own quintet and changed the instrument mix, replacing the traditional violin with a drum to explore new rhythm structures. In addition to leading his own ensemble, Ziegler has also collaborated with jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton, the Italian singer Milva and other internationally renowned artists.
A chance encounter during the summer of 1997 in Buenos Aires sparked the idea of a musical collaboration between Ziegler and Orpheus, the celebrated, New York-based chamber orchestra that performs without a conductor. The result was Tango Romance, a recording with new arrangements or adaptations written especially for the recording by Ziegler of his own music, works by Piazzolla and two classics from the late 1930s by Juan Carlos Cobián.
In 2018, Ziegler released Solo, an album of brand new arrangements of his nuevo tango pieces, as well as some new compositions and works by Astor Piazzolla, Alejandro Dolina, and Juan Carlos Cobián. Although Ziegler is used to playing his music with orchestra or small ensemble, this new solo set is a natural extension of his love and affinity for his instrument. He said, “The piano is a way to have a conversation for me; I express my feelings through piano rather than words. I always hear music in my mind, and the piano has been always accompanied my journey.”
“Releasing this solo piano album is a new chapter of my life as a musician,” says Ziegler. “There is always a first time for everything. This album happened to be one of them.”
Pablo Ziegler is also active composing music for film, theater and television.
Discography
* La Conexión Porteña, cassette (Sony Music 4-461745, 1991)
* Los Tangueros, Emanuel Ax and Pablo Ziegler (Sony Music SK 62728, 1996)
* Asfalto: Street Tango (BMG/RCA Victor 09026-93266-2, 1998)
* Tango Romance – Music of Buenos Aires with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (BMG/RCA Seal 09026-63233-2, 1998)
* Pablo Ziegler &Quinteto (BMG 0902663500-2, 1999)
* Bajo Cero (Enja ENJA 9145-2/US: Khaeon, 2003)
* Tango and all that Jazz, with Stefon Harris (Zoho, 2007)
* Buenos Aires Report, with Walter Castro and Quique Sinesi (Zoho, 2007)
* Amsterdam Meets New Tango, with the Metropole Orkest (Zoho, 2013)
* Desperate Dance (1201 Music, 2015)
* Tango Nuevo (Steinway & Sons, 2016)
* Jazz Tango (Zoho, 2017)
* Solo (Steinway & Sons, 2018)
Web Site www.pabloziegler.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Updated discography and biography.