Review of "Avantango" Zoho Music

Dave McElfresh, Goldmine, March 19, 2004

"Bassist/composer Pablo Aslan is hot stuff in the New York tango scene - and with good reason. The Buenos Aires native is not content to ape the monumental musical influence of Astor Piazzolla - though even mimicry of the bandoneonist supreme is no small feat for any contemporary tango player. Instead, on 'Avantango' he goes much further with his own compositions and impressively stark reworkings of Piazzolla classics. Much of the latter's romanticism is replaced with a more cerebral investigation of form and composition far removed from the conservative backlash once endured by tango composers only half as adventurous as Aslan and his septet. Roxana Fontan's sophisticated vocals on three cuts are particularly appreciated, given that most tango recordings these days sledom step out of the instrumental camp."   

JAZZ, CLASSICAL AND BEYOND: JOHN STEVENSON’S 30 DISC REVIEW
MARCH 2004 (PART ONE)

ejazznews.com
Pablo Aslan: Avantango (Zoho)

Acoustic bassist Aslan, following in the tradition of Astor Piazzola, is a proud carrier of the jazz tango flame in New York City. Avantango witnesses him push the genre’s envelope, and features 12 stunning numbers including Piazzola’s “Escualo” and “Verano Porteno”. Aslan has a unique instrumental approach, as he one minute caresses the strings, the next minute tapping out drum patterns on the body of the bass, bowing the strings and then plucking them aggressively as the mood dictates. There is strong support for his efforts in classically-trained diva Roxana Fontan, pianist Gustavo Casenave, and bandoneonist Hector del Curto, among others.