Barnes & Noble

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was the ultimate crossover artist. A master performer on the bandoneón (an Argentinean accordion), he took the traditional tango and infused it with elements of jazz and classical music to create tango nuevo. Reviled by traditionalists at first, he is now celebrated by musicians of all stripes. Yo-Yo Ma is one of the many classical performers seduced by the sexy sway of Piazzolla's music. The Grammy Award-winning Soul of the Tango features the cellist playing with musicians who worked closely with Piazzolla. Ma slides his bow around the music's waist like a seasoned tanguero, his espresso-dark sound singing these sad songs of love and betrayal. Piazzolla favorites are here, such as the blistering "Libertango" and languorous "Milonga del Ángel," as well as "Le Grand Tango," a concert piece for cello and piano originally composed for Mstislav Rostropovich. In "Tango Remembrances," Ma actually plays a duet with Piazzolla himself -- one of recording technology's small but priceless miracles. "Tango is not just about dancing," Ma says. Soul of the Tango provides ample proof of that. Andrew Farach-Colton

All Music Guide

Inspired by a general love of the tango, and more specifically the tango of Astor Piazzolla, on the part of Yo-Yo Ma, the Soul of the Tango album is a masterful work of the nuevo tango, played by Ma's cello and many of Piazzolla's former associates. Piazzolla's old guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad even showed up to work on a pair of tracks arranged by Sergio: the Tango Suite (consisting of "Andante" and "Allegro"). The sheer beauty of one of Piazzolla's tangos is generally enough to warrant the purchase of an album involving them. An album such as this one, where all of the songs (save one: "Tango Remembrances," where Ma plays along with outtakes from Piazzolla's recording of The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night album) are compositions by Piazzolla is even better. Add to this the masterful playing of Ma, and the surprising facility in which the cello fits into the tango, and you've got what could become a classic album, if only it weren't on the classical label from Sony. The album begins with "Libertango," a composition from Piazzolla's first album that became the theme song for the movie The Tango Lesson. Following is the pair of tracks in the Tango Suite from Sergio Assad. Then comes "Sur: Regreso al Amor," a softer work, though with some definite virtuosity displayed. "Le Grand Tango" is an eleven minute tour de force in the tango, and "Fugata" is a tango written under the guidelines of a classical fugue. The next work is the aforementioned "Tango Remembrances," which is a particularly nice work, probably due to the appearance of Piazzolla's own playing. "Mumuki" is a more complicated composition, and "Tres Minutos con la Realidad" is a choppier, peppier work. "Milonga del Angel" is a seemingly sentimental work that shows off Piazzolla's ability to express the emotions of a song perfectly and purely. To finish the album, Ma presents "Café 1930," a rather slow paced work, but again, as in "Milonga del Angel," expresses emotion very fully in its nostalgia. Overall, the album is a stunning work of art, and even those that may not have heard of Piazzolla could easily be lured to his music via this single album. Adam Greenberg