Often referred to as the originator of the "nuevo tango," Piazzolla was an Argentine visionary who endured the wrath of many of his countrymen for adapting their national dance to his own modern ends. A soulful and accomplished performer on the accordion-like bandoneon, Piazzolla's many recordings have placed him as a leading international composer. Besides his own hand-picked groups, he recorded with a mix of jazz and classical players in the US.