Search - Astor Piazolla :: De Mi Bandoneon

Roots Tango

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 12/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those who are familiar with Astor Piazzolla as an avant garde musician are often unaware of how it is he began. De Mi Bandoneon takes the listener back to the late 40s when Piazzolla launched his recording career as a bandleader after many years of apprenticeship in some of the best tango orchestras of the day. Most of us had not heard his early material because traditional tango had begun to wane in popularity, both in Argentina and internationally, and so mid-century recordings have not been as readily available as those of tango's earlier golden era. I already owned about two-thirds of these recordings which had been released on the CDs "El Desbande" and "Se Armo", but there is enough other music I hadn't heard to warrant purchase of "De Mi Bandoneon". The musicians featured here include two who will form the nucleus of his later experimental group Octeto Buenos Aires, Atilio Stampone on piano and Hugo Baralis on violin. Throughout the recording, one can already hear snippets of Piazzolla's innovative urges as he strays beyond the strict confines of tradition. Although the entire CD presents a pleasant listening experience, this is also great dancing music. My favorites here are Orgullo Criollo, Maria, Se Armo, and the title cut. If you like traditional tango as I do or are merely curious about Piazzolla's earlier career, then I recommend adding this fine compilation of his roots tango to your CD rotation."