Nonesuch Records releases a three-CD box set of albums from the great Argentine composer, bandleader, and bandoneón player Astor Piazzolla— originally released by American Clavé Records in the 1980s and reissued by Nonesuch more than two decades ago.

The set’s liner notes include original and new notes by the albums’ producer and American Clavé founder Kip Hanrahan as well as an in-depth essay from journalist Fernando González, who translated and annotated Piazzolla’s memoirs and wrote liner notes for four of his albums. Originally scheduled for release in Piazzolla’s centenary year 2021, the set now inaugurates the beginning of the second century of Piazzolla’s lasting influence.Tango: Zero Hour was recorded in New York with Piazzolla and his classic New Tango Quintet, which worked with Piazzolla from 1978 to 1988 and included Fernando Suárez Paz (violin), Pablo Ziegler (piano), Horacio Malvicino, Sr. (guitar), and Héctor Console (bass). González says of Tango: Zero Hour: “These are demanding pieces, yet the individual playing remains consistently precise and intense throughout. As an ensemble, Piazzolla and his New Tango Quintet sound focused, loose, and forceful. They are in total control of the music and prove it by casually changing direction, moods, and dynamics on a dime. Piazzolla immediately recognized that the quintet had accomplished something special, believing it to be ‘the greatest record I’ve made in my entire life. We gave our souls to [it].’” Tango Zero Hour was originally released by American Clavé in 1986.

First released in 1989, La Camorra was recorded in New York in May 1988, also with the New Tango Quintet. González writes: “La Camorra not only delivers a late masterpiece, the three-part title piece, but it also serves as a marker completing two significant chapters in Piazzolla’s life and musical career. Set up as three separate but related pieces, La Camorra is more than a summation. It suggests Piazzolla reflecting on tango, now lovingly, conjuring old players and styles, now angrily fighting with tango history, demanding his place in it.The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night, also originally released in 1989, was recorded in New York in September 1987, with an ensemble that included Fernando Suárez Paz (violin), Pablo Zinger (piano), Paquito D’Rivera (alto sax, clarinet), Andy González (bass), and Rodolfo Alchourrón (electric guitar). González says, “The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night (Tango Apasionado), recorded by Piazzolla without the Quintet, occupies a unique place in his discography. It is based on the music Piazzolla composed for Tango Apasionado, a dance and theater piece created by Graciela Daniele based on stories by Argentine short-story writer, poet, and essayist Jorge Luis Borges. But what truly sets The Rough Dancer apart in Piazzolla’s discography is how it was created. Up to this point, the studio for Piazzolla had been, for the most part, a means to document the music he was producing. But [at this point], Piazzolla was intrigued by the idea of using the studio as a creative tool, perhaps even for composing and arranging.”

Disc: 1
1 Tanguedia III (2009 Remaster)
2 Milonga Del Angel (2009 Remaster)
3 Concierto Para Quinteto (2009 Remaster)
4 Milonga Loca (2009 Remaster)
5 Michelangelo '70 (2009 Remaster)
6 Contrabajísimo (2009 Remaster)
7 Mumuki (2009 Remaster)

Disc: 2
1 Soledad (2009 Remaster)
2 La Camorra I (2009 Remaster)
3 La Camorra II (2009 Remaster)
4 La Camorra III (2009 Remaster)
5 Fugata (2009 Remaster)
6 Sur: Los Sueños (South: The Dreams) [2009 Remaster]
7 Sur: Regreso al Amor (South: A Return to Love) [2009 Remaster]

Disc: 3
1 Prologue (Tango Apasionado) [2009 Remaster]
2 Milonga for Three (2009 Remaster)
3 Street Tango (2009 Remaster)
4 Milonga Picaresque (2009 Remaster)
5 Knife Fight (2009 Remaster)
6 Leonora's Song (2009 Remaster)
7 Prelude to the Cyclical Night, Pt. 1 (2009 Remaster)
8 Butcher's Death (2009 Remaster)
9 Leijia's Game (2009 Remaster)
10 Milonga for Three (Reprise) [2009 Remaster]
11 Bailongo (2009 Remaster)
12 Leonora's Love Theme (2009 Remaster)
13 Finale (Tango Apasionado) [2009 Remaster]
14 Prelude to the Cyclical Night, Pt. 2 (2009 Remaster)