Argentine rock, recorded in Paris during the early 70s – a really unusual expatriate album that comes off with a sound that's pretty unique! Miguel Abuelo clearly draws inspiration from the heavier rock that was showing up in South America at the time – yet the overall execution of the record also shares some of the warmer, more optimistic qualities that marked some of the French groups during the period – occasional folksy elements, and a post-68 positivity that holds on even when things get somewhat trippy and jammy. Instrumentation is heavy on guitars – both acoustic and electric – and the longer tracks really take off with some wild sounds, especially when bits of moog or electronics are dropped into the mix. Titles include "Senor Carnicero", "El Muelle", "Estoy Aqui Parado Sentado Y Acostado", "El Largo Dia De Vivir", and "Tirando Piedras Al Rio". (Rock, Latin) CD

A cool collection of very unusual grooves from Argentine composer/guitarist Rodolfo Alchourron – part of a generation of groundbreaking musicians in his homeland that also included Lalo Schifrin and Gato Barbieri – yet unlike those artists, a talent that never achieved greater global fame! The first album here – the initial Santa Y Clarificacion set – is very much like something Lalo Schifrin might do, but even more offbeat – as it's a weird blend of jazzy instrumentation, funky rhythms, and spacious sounds that would definitely be right at home in a film score – yet which stretch out even more in the expanded space of the album's long tracks! Instrumentation includes Organ, tenor, alto, flute, and some great electric bass and drums – really romping at the bottom, and driving the tunes along wonderfully. There's a bit of wordless vocals at a few spare points – breezily grooving along – on titles that include "Clarificacion", "El Stanabancos", "No Divaguen", "Melopea", and "Pajaros Sueltos". The second album – Santa Y Clarificacion – has a similar groove, but one that goes out even more – almost a touch more of a fusion influence at points, although there's still some great horn charts that continue a soundtrack vibe. Horns cascade beautifully, falling into some great chord changes and washes of color that really warm things up – and titles include "Vals Trunco", "Esas Dos Cosas Benditas", "Casi Un Tango", "Vals En La Muy Sostenido", and "Algunos Dias Alguna Noches". (Jazz, Latin) CD

... CD

Fantastic 2 CD set compiling the tracks from Gato's first two LPs for Impulse, plus 5 previously unreleased tracks, and full length versions of tracks that were edited on the original albums. In case you don't know this stuff, it's amazing. Gato went down to Argentina to record the stuff, and it's an insane mix of nuevo tango, South American percussion, and Gato's wonderful reed work – which at this point has a hard edge with a lot of soul, and sounds a lot like Pharoah Sanders. Excellent stuff throughout, with a great booklet that tells the full story of the amazing sessions, and which really opens up the music. One of our fave reissues from Impulse! With the tracks "India", "Gato Gato", "To Be Continued", "Encontros", and "Encuentros". (Jazz, Latin) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

(Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A magical meeting of two tremendous talents – saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla – heard here in a rare Italian recording from the 70s! The album's a really unique effort for both musicians – a bit more pensive and thoughtful than some of Piazzolla's usual work from the 70s, and much less jazz-based than Mulligan's other records – more in a soundtrack mode, and one that seems to have echoes of Gato Barbieri's score to Last Tango In Paris! Like that great record, this one mixes Argentine styles with freer, more fluid ones – updating roots with a 70s sense of sophistication, and really letting Gerry Mulligan take off in long, open-ended solos that are among some of his best work of the decade. Other instrumentation includes marimba, guitar, keyboards, and percussion from Tullio De Piscopo – plus a bit of strings as well – and titles include "20 Years Ago", "Close Your Eyes & Listen", "Deus Xango", "Aire De Buenos Aires", "Summit", and "Years Of Solitude". (Jazz, Latin) CD

A magical meeting of two tremendous talents – saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla – heard here in a rare Italian recording from the 70s! The album's a really unique effort for both musicians – a bit more pensive and thoughtful than some of Piazzolla's usual work from the 70s, and much less jazz-based than Mulligan's other records – more in a soundtrack mode, and one that seems to have echoes of Gato Barbieri's score to Last Tango In Paris! Like that great record, this one mixes Argentine styles with freer, more fluid ones – updating roots with a 70s sense of sophistication, and really letting Gerry Mulligan take off in long, open-ended solos that are among some of his best work of the decade. Other instrumentation includes marimba, guitar, keyboards, and percussion from Tullio De Piscopo – plus a bit of strings as well – and titles include "Hace Viente Anos", "Deux Xango", "Viente Anos Despues", "Reunion Cumbre", "Reminiscencia", and "Anos De Soledad". (Jazz, Latin) CD

A magical meeting of two tremendous talents – saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla – heard here in a rare Italian recording from the 70s! The album's a really unique effort for both musicians – a bit more pensive and thoughtful than some of Piazzolla's usual work from the 70s, and much less jazz-based than Mulligan's other records – more in a soundtrack mode, and one that seems to have echoes of Gato Barbieri's score to Last Tango In Paris! Like that great record, this one mixes Argentine styles with freer, more fluid ones – updating roots with a 70s sense of sophistication, and really letting Gerry Mulligan take off in long, open-ended solos that are among some of his best work of the decade. Other instrumentation includes marimba, guitar, keyboards, and percussion from Tullio De Piscopo – plus a bit of strings as well – and titles include "Hace Viente Anos", "Deux Xango", "Viente Anos Despues", "Reunion Cumbre", "Reminiscencia", and "Anos De Soledad". (Jazz, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

(Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

A record that features a slightly expanded concept on the ideas that Astor Piazzolla had unleashed with his Zero Hour album – all those incredible twists and turns he'd been using to transform Argentine modern music – roots in the tango, but expressions that are up there with some of the most creative 20th Century performances from other parts of the globe! As before, Piazzolla's bandoneon is at the center – but the inflections on piano and violin are also key too – on titles that include "Fugata", "Soledad", "Sur Los Suenos", and the longer "La Camorra" suite. CD

A fantastic late life album by the Argentine musical genius Astor Piazzolla – and a set that shows just how far he'd transformed the format of the tango along his musical path of the previous decades! The sound here is completely unique – with some elements of modern string quartet modes, avant jazz, and other styles – blended together with guitar, violin, piano, and bass next to Astor's completely sublime lines on bandoneon! The whole thing's a treasure, and if there's one record to hear by Piazzolla, this is it! Titles include "Tanguedia III", "Milonga Del Angel", "Concierto Para Quinteto", "Milonga Loca", and "Contrabajissimo". CD

A fantastic late life album by the Argentine musical genius Astor Piazzolla – and a set that shows just how far he'd transformed the format of the tango along his musical path of the previous decades! The sound here is completely unique – with some elements of modern string quartet modes, avant jazz, and other styles – blended together with guitar, violin, piano, and bass next to Astor's completely sublime lines on bandoneon! The whole thing's a treasure, and if there's one record to hear by Piazzolla, this is it! Titles include "Tanguedia III", "Milonga Del Angel", "Concierto Para Quinteto", "Milonga Loca", and "Contrabajissimo". LP, Vinyl record album

A beautiful collaboration between vibist Gary Burton and the legendary Argentine tango master Astor Piazzolla – a key US release for Astor in the 80s, and a record that helped bring his talents to a whole new audience! The record's actually one of the most sensitive sides that Piazzolla ever recorded – and the presence of Burton's vibes really helps shape a whole new sound for the record – one that still holds onto some of Astor's "new tango" modes, but which also opens up with a freer sense of exploration on both instruments. The group appears to be Astor's own – with piano, guitar, violin, and bass alongside the two main players – and titles include "Vibraphonissimo", "Nuevo Tango", "Laura's Dream", "Operation Tango", and "Milonga Is Coming". (Jazz, Latin) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual set from the 70s Argentine scene – vocals and guitar from Yabor, with backing on fllute, electric piano, and percussion! (Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Pepe Aguirre and Orquesta Angel Capriolo, Jorge Omar with Francisco Lomuto and Orquesta Tipica, Orquesta Tipica Victor, Roberto Maida with Francisco Canalo, Alberto Reynal with Juan D'Arienzo, Alberto Vila, Roberto Ray with Osvaldo Fresedo, Jorge Abril with Orquesta Luis Veloso, Antonio Quintanilla with Orquesta Tipico Hermanos Carbone, Ada Falcon with Franciso Canaro, Oswaldo Pugliese, and Ricardo Ruiz. LP, Vinyl record album