Pablo Ziegler: Buenos Aires Report

Pablo Ziegler (piano), Quique Sinesi (guitars) and Walter Castro (bandoneon) fly in on the wings of their Grammy-winning Best Tango Album 2005 Bajo Cero (Zoho) with another enticing set of tunes. Ziegler composed five new ones, revamped two more, added a tune by Sinesi as well as the Astor Piazzolla classic "Libertango.

The music was recorded over two shows at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam. Nine tunes were selected from the sixteen that made up the night. The choice is judicious, showcasing the repertoire of the band that moves beyond the boundaries of the tango.

The trio revamps "Libertango. The tone is set by Sinesi, on acoustic guitar. He is a sensitive player who fills every note with a potent passion. His chord work serves as an integral complement. Here he builds the momentum, single lines singing in tandem with fleet runs, setting the parameters for Zeigler and Castro. Zeigler was pianist with Piazzolla, and the tune carries a familiar refrain for him. He moves out of the predictable with some exciting conceptions and, with Castro letting the melody billow and fan, the composition gets a new and enduring manifestation.

Sinesi wrote "Milonga Para Hermeto for the great Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal. Sinesi sets the mood using the body of the guitar for some percussive slaps and then picking the delectable melody. Castro brings in the heady dance atmosphere and Zeigler improvises on the melody, keeping the feel and pulse. It's a perky composition, a twirling fantasia that tantalises.

Elegante Canyenguito is an elegant song that sparkles in the lyrical lines that flow from Zeigler, who extends the melody with his captivating inventions, nestling in jazz harmonies. He is constantly forging ideas, making his music appealing and uplifting. Sinesi carves out his own niche, letting the music impel both in its rush and in its gentle quest for unseen nooks.