Pablo Ziegler

Pianist, Composer, Arranger

*** Pablo Ziegler nominated for two 2013 Latin Grammy Awards ***

"Ziegler... plays straight from the beating, bleeding heart of nuevo tango, with its Argentinian mix of swagger and sweetness"
— The Guardian

"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."
— Los Angeles Times

"the outstanding representative of the Nuevo Tango in his generation."
— Stereo Review

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,” and Dan Bilawsky of All About Jazz affirms “When [Astor] Piazzolla departed this Earth in 1992, the torch was passed to his longtime pianist who's been carrying it proudly ever since... Ziegler has taken the tradition one step further.”

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. Ziegler 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, the Charleston Symphony, the Metropole Orkest in Netherlands, 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.

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