Pablo Ziegler (born September 2, 1944) is aGrammy Awards winning Argentine composer, pianist, arranger based in New York City.[1] He is an exponent ofnuevo tango, and has worked extensively asÁstor Piazzolla's regular pianist from 1978 until Piazzolla's retirement for health reasons in 1989. During their collaboration, they performed withMilva,Placido Domingo,Gary Burton among others. He played with Piazzolla's re-formedConjunto 9 in 1983 for hisTeatro Colón concert with theBuenos Aires Philharmonic. In 1985 Ziegler composed the music for the filmAdios Roberto, and in 1990, he established the New Tango Quartet.[2]
His playing style, both sharply percussive and metallically lyrical, bears some similarities to that ofVladimir Horowitz as well as some of the wistfulness ofBill Evans. As a composer he has taken Piazzolla'scontrapuntal approach to tango music and added more jazz influence, notably with the regular use of a drum kit, lighter harmonies similar to those used inbossa nova, and extended passages of improvisation. His 2003 albumBajo Cero received aLatin Grammy award.[3]
He has worked with of classical, jazz, and Latin musicians includingEmmanuel Ax,Gary Burton,Regina Carter,Branford Marsalis,Paquito D’Rivera,Kenny Garrett,Stefon Harris,Joe Lovano,Christopher O'Riley, Quique Sinesi, Walter Castro,Nestor Torres,Joe Locke,Randy Brecker,David Sánchez (musician), andMiguel Zenón.[citation needed]
In 2012, he performed withLara St. John, Andrew Roitstein, Claudio Ragazzi andHector Del Cuerto to celebrate the 25th Anniversary ofAstor Piazzolla’s 1987 Concert on theNaumburg Orchestral Concerts, in the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, in the summer series.[4]
He orchestrates and collaborates with orchestras as a soloist that includeBBC Proms,[5]Orchestre National de Lyon,Orpheus Chamber Orchestra,Metropole Orkest,Sydney Symphony Orchestra,Presidential Symphony Orchestra,Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra,Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wellington Chamber Orchestra, with whom he performed in New Zealand in June 2014.[1]
Ziegler's 2017 album,Jazz Tango won the 2018Grammy Award forBest Latin Jazz Album.[6]
Ziegler’s 2013 recording, theLatin Grammy-nominated Amsterdam Meets New Tango (Zoho Music 2013), saw his quartet paired with the Netherlands’Metropole Orkest, playing his most famous works arranged for jazz orchestra. His work as music director, arranger and pianist for bass-baritone opera starErwin Schrott received anEcho Klassik Award in 2011 for the album Rojotango.[citation needed] Ziegler’s 2003 release, Bajo Cero, won theLatin Grammy Award for Best Tango Album,[citation needed] and in 2008, his album Buenos Aires Report made the final list of nominees for the same award.[citation needed] Other major recordings include 1998’s Tango Romance with theOrpheus Chamber Orchestra and 1996’s Los Tangueros withEmanual Ax.[citation needed]
Pablo Ziegler isSteinway Artist[7] and Honorary Citizen ofNew Orleans.
WithÁstor Piazzolla
