Born: May 5, 1962 Primary Instrument: Bass
Argentine-born bassist and composer Pablo Aslan is a leading figure in the tango revival. In addition to directing Avantango, he is a founder and co-director (with Latin Grammy nominee Raul Jaurena) of New York-Buenos Aires Connection and the acclaimed NewYork Tango Trio.
He is a member of the Pablo Ziegler’s Quintet for New Tango, and has toured US and Japan with Yo-Yo Ma.
Pablo has performed and recorded with Grammy Award Winner Shakira, Grammy winner and Academy Award nominee Jorge Calandrelli, Latin Grammy nominee pianist Adrian Iaies, Latin Grammy winner Carlos Franzetti, Lalo Shiffrin, Joe Lovano, Gary Burton, Paquito D’Rivera, as well as the New World Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness, among many others.
“There’s been a raft of tango albums from classical performers trying to give a different spin on Argentina’s musical gift to the world. But no really successful jazz spin on the tango until now. Aslan, a native of Buenos Aires, (…) has created a thoroughly-realized amalgam of both musical forms. A fascinating project and totally successful musically!” AUDIOPHILE AUDITION
“Led by double bassist Pablo Aslan, the ensemble brings us the best of both worlds as they rely on beautiful melodies to create a mood before launching into powerful improvisation. The themes are clearly defined, while each improvised adventure comes complete with thrills and beauty. Recommended, Aslan’s Jazz/Tango project works wonders on the soul.” CADENCE
“Aslan creates improvisatory alchemy with artists at home in both genres. A subtle convergence results as the milonga and guajira roots of these familiar classics sound through in a brilliant jazz quintet setting. Tango as Miles, Coltrane, Evans and Chambers might have conceived it.” GLOBAL RHYTHM
“Pablo will continue to define the tango idiom in his musically inimitable way…Pablo Aslan..The right man….In the right way…At the right time for tango jazz.” EJAZZNEWS
“Buenos Aires Tango Standards is a leap forward from his well-received Avantango and a work, unlike many “fusion” projects, that so completely and artfully integrates two musical worlds, here tango and jazz, that it is impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins. (…) a string of delicate numbers with all the characteristic elegance and melancholy of classic tango. From the level of play to the artistic conception, there is nothing “standard” about this work and that is both its strength and beauty.” JAZZTIMES
“You may read about merging jazz with tango, or jazzing up tango, but the real goal here is to push tango to unimagined extremes.” TOM HULL (Village Voice)
“This is a very special recording, capturing the inherent longing of Tango and contextualizing it in a completely up-to-date jazz idiom. Quite an accomplishment.”
“Pablo Aslan, on his second release, proves he’s the absolute master of the New Tango. What we’ve got here is a very compelling blend of Tango and jazz, certainly never before so forcefully and beguiling presented. The results are nothing less that spectacular.” AMAZON.COM
Primary Instrument:
Bass
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
Credentials/Background:
Queens College - Aaron Copland School of Music
Bass
Tango - technique, arranging, ensemble (all instruments)
