Saturday, April 10, 2010

Neofonia Ensemble

Italy is the undisputed European center for Piazzolla's music and the group, Neofonia Ensemble, represents perhaps the most authentic Piazzolla Quintet sound in Italy. The group was formed in 1994 by the arranger, composer and pianist, Gianni Mola. In its original larger format, the group recorded some well received arrangements of Piazzolla's music on the now difficult to find CD, Homenaje. The current group has a wonderful CD - also available as downloads from several sources, Concierto para quinteto and have a second CD, Pasiones, in development. But you don't need to wait for that next CD to sample their work. Today's video provides their interpretation of the Finale from Tango Apasionado. The arrangement is by Mola and has retained all of Piazzolla's nuevo tango elements and added some marvelous jazz touches through imaginative and very appropriate use of the vibraphone. The musicians are all superb. In addition to Mola, they are Arturo Sica on violin, Raffaele Ceraudo on vibraphone, Pietro Bentivenga on accordion and Camillo Chianese on contrabass.

The video was made at a concert at the Kiron Espace in Paris in May, 2009. Neofonia Ensemble have also posted some other Piazzolla videos from that concert including Biyuya, Violentango, and Oblivion. All are worth watching.

If the video does not appear below, click here.



To learn more about Piazzolla videos, visit the Piazzolla Video site.

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