Astor Piazzolla

Career overview

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer, film composer, bandoneon player, and arranger. Born on March 11, 1921, in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was a virtuoso on the bandoneon, which is described as a square-built button accordion. He died on July 4, 1992, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His musical work revolutionized traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango by incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. He left traditional Latin American tango bands in 1955 to create this new style. A virtuoso bandoneonist, he regularly performed his own compositions with a variety of ensembles.

Piazzolla is recognized as one of the world's most significant tango composers. In 1992, American music critic Stephen Holden described him as the world's foremost composer of tango music. His credits include work on the soundtrack for 12 Monkeys. He is also known for his involvement with the films The French Dispatch and Raw Deal. His oeuvre is noted for pioneering the classical and jazz-influenced Argentine nuevo tango music genre. He is remembered for his significant contributions to music as a composer and bandoneonist.