Oscar Lopez

A 10 CD box of always interesting, often great, music by Piazzolla- and at this price? Wow. Though recorded over different years, the sound quality, while not uniform, is always clear, and appears to be true stereo. The company that issued this also has a number of other bargain boxes of great jazz musicians- the others I have are excellent as well.

So many american citizens names what is below Mexico as Banana Republics and confund what is country, capital, state, etc. in Brazil/Argentin/Buenos Aires/Rio/Sao Paulo/Brasilia. Brazil speaks portuguese, its capital is Brasilia, the national music is samba and it won 5 times the Socker worldcup. Argentina speaks Spanish, its capital is Buenos Aires, the national music is Tango and it won 2 times the socker worlcup. There is a lot of competition between the 2 countries, mainly Argentina at the end of WW II was the 4th largest econimy in the world and from this time it has been continuosly lost position, while Brazil in opposite is today the 8th largest economy in the world with all the indicators going up. But the subject is music.
Astor Piazzolla is in my opinion the greatest Argentine contribution for the world music. He in life was hated for some (a lot) purist Argentine because he lived many years abroad and of course shows in his music the influence of others music styles, creating a Fusion Jazz TANGO. Of course what Argentines hate Brazilian will love.
In South America music he is only behind Antonio Carlos (TOM) Jobin, the Bossa Nova Icon.

While there are several repeats of songs (works) in the 10-CD set, they are recorded at different periods in the late Astor Piazzolla's musical life, with different groupings of musicians. There is an incredible amount of song material in this set for such a small amount of money. The recording quality is variable, no doubt due to the quality of the original recordings, but it is still very good overall for the collection as a whole. For anyone just newly learning about Piazzolla, this is a very good collection to have as a starter set, at a very low price. And, for an oldtimer like me who already has a lot of CD albums of both Piazzolla performances and those of others who have covered his work with different instrumentation, I still added a lot of new song titles to my Piazzolla song list. I was lucky enough to have seen Piazzolla perform in concert in Miami about 1-2 years before his stroke, and 3-4 years before he died in 1992. I was also lucky to have heard and learned about his work before that time, even though it was long after he became famous (I never owned a Piazzolla record). It would have been nice to have an explanatory booklet ("liner notes") about the various works, even if the set cost a couple bucks more, which is why I downgraded to 4 stars.

An amazing musician. It's a great price and a wealth of material to enjoy, study and love. Beautiful.

I already own more than fifty Piazzolla CDs and so was more than a little curious about what new material could be gleaned from this ambitious box set. What I found is that despite thinking that my collection must be nearing completion, my collection is far from complete indeed! While most of the songs are very familiar, at least eighty percent of the arrangements are not.
The songs within are mostly from the late 60s-70s period of Piazzolla's long and glorious career. There are some live recordings, some recordings in Portuguese, some in Italian, and some recordings made with some of the more obscure Piazzolla ensembles as well as a modest number of arrangements as presented on recordings I already own. In short, this is a veritable treasure trove of some of the twentieth century's finest compositions. After hearing this set for the first time, I wondered just how many more of Piazzolla's recordings have yet to be released.
There are no favorite songs here, they are all good. This box set is an incredible bargain-do the math-which belongs in every music lover's collection. In addition to 10 CDs, the buyer gets an informative booklet. Get it while it is still available, it is one of the best deals I have ever gotten.

Very nice compilation of Flamenco guitar music with a modern twist. I find this album to have the perfect selection of songs to ride my horse to. It is great music for the dressage rider as well as anyone who loves the Spanish guitar.

Purchased for a friend, who reports that it is a nice collection of flamenco music.

Flamenco or not. The album has great music. I love to play this in the night with sub-dued lightling. It gets you into a great mood. Audio quality is great at low or high volume. My favorite piece is by Mediteranean Breeze by Nova Menco.

This CD is absolutely fantastic!!! I have been listening to this almost everyday since I bought this a few months back. Its really great, especially after a long day at work - a fabulous way to unwind..it totally transforms your mood. Its soothing and at the same time invigorating, very rarely can something be both.

Also goes well with a glass of wine, with a book, for a nice evening with your partner, almost anything!! Even my 10 month old daughter just loves it!

And, oh yes, the guitar work is stupendous, out of the world - if you are a guitar aficionado, you GOT TO HAVE THIS.

Worth its weight in gold.

This CD is absolutely fantastic!!! I have been listening to this almost everyday since I bought this a few months back. Its really great, especially after a long day at work - a fabulous way to unwind..it totally transforms your mood. Its soothing and at the same time invigorating, very rarely can something be both.

Also goes well with a glass of wine, with a book, for a nice evening with your partner, almost anything!! Even my 10 month old daughter just loves it!

And, oh yes, the guitar work is stupendous, out of the world - if you are a guitar aficionado, you GOT TO HAVE THIS.

Worth its weight in gold.

I was originally looking for Oscar Lopez's Seduction CD when I saw Flashback and got it also. I liked Flashback better because it was a very nice mix of all his songs from his different CDs. I did not like the song Armando's Fire, however. Too jazzy, just not in keeping with the rest of the songs on the CD. It just did not fit and it spoiled the mood the rest of the songs created. That one could have been left off this CD (and anywhere else as well). Oscar Lopez has a very nice style similar to Ottmar Liebert, Armik, Jesse Cook and other similar artists. I must say that I prefer Jesse Cook, however, over Oscar Lopez. There seems to be more variety and a definate passion that I don't really feel in Oscar Lopez's songs which are very great guitar work but so similar to others that it gets old after awhile. All in all, though I am happy with the 2 CDs Flashback and Seduction that I have and if you love good classical Latin type guitar, you should love Oscar Lopez.

I find the music of Oscar Lopez in this CD to meet all my expectations and I would highly recommend this purchase to those seeking the music of an accoustical latino guitarist This was my first selection by Oscar Lopez, but I have no doubt it will not be my last. He is very talented and his music is very rewarding.

Up-tempo, heel-clicking, collection of his best stuff. More lively than Ottmart Liebert's usual work. A definite buy for guitar fans.

If you really enjoy nuevo flamenco, and like Oscar Lopez, buy this cd, don't even hesitate. It is a wonderful compilation of the best of his work. The cds these tracks came from are all very good, but don't waste your time on Armando's Fire, very substandard for Lopez. This cd is highly listenable from beginning to end. Enjoy!

I went in the store to find an Ottmar Liebert CD I had heard and I came away with Flashback. I listened to this CD in the store and loved it--I am new to this genre of music but got hooked listening to my sister-in-law's Opium CD. I recently had a baby and wanted some peaceful soothing music for the baby and I. I now want to buy more of Lopez' music after purchasing this CD! It truly is beautiful.

A master of the nylon-string guitar, Oscar Lopez can match the brilliance of metal-strung instruments any day of the week. His flamenco-style numbers are fiery and stirring, while his slower compositions are beautifully mellow. From stirring to calming, soulful to fun, "Heat" is a nicely varied album that finds a balance between extremes. Though steeped in the traditional, minor harmonic structures of traditional flamenco, Lopez's playfully intricate strumming gives this music a predominantly uplifting feel. Joining him are Brent Gubbels on electric and acoustic bass, and Gustavo Estrada on percussion. If you like this CD, you may also enjoy the work of Robby Longley and Behzad. Oscar Lopez is also featured on Narada compilations such as "Obsession" and "Gypsy Fire."

I feel this is some of Oscar's best work. It is great playing on very interesting tunes.

I'm not expert on music by any stretch of the imagination, however I know what I like: and I like the music that Oscar Lopez puts out. If you want lively "new flamenco" tunes that are close to the traditional format yet provide an upbeat experience, this is it. Definitely buy this album.

Oscar plays it very nice and fast..but the type of music is not suitable for his style, the music is too soft, it is better for oscar to play with a different style of music, i think playing solea will be very good for him or harder music maybe like Strunz and Farah will be very much suitable for him

I got this CD as a donation gift for supporting my local public radio station (KUHF 88.7), and it was a worthwhile recompense for my donation dollars. I like it well enough--it's not
bad, by any measure. Other reviewers have pointed out that it's not "true" Flamenco. I don't especially care...it sounds nice, I like it, nuff said. But to be completely honest, I would more quickly reach for 1) The Gypsy Kings 2) Jessie Cook 3) Willy and Lobo (not necessarily in that order) if I was suddenly moved to want to hear some "Latin" sounds. I used to put HEAT in the CD player when I wanted some nice background/mood music get me in the mood to do my Spanish homework. (Even though Jessie Cook is a total gringo [hey, so am i], the man can work a guitar pretty darn good!)...but to be fair if someone asked me to go to see Oscar Lopez perform live somewhere, I'd go along.
HEAT makes a good first CD if you are just getting in to the various kinds of music of the Spanish-speaking world.

Whenever I feel my emotional prowess waning, "The Flavor" brings me charging back. It's viagra for the soul. The CD reminds us what real manly and womanly romance and passion are about. Oscar's singing? Well, Oscar, don't quit your day job as a guitarist.
I've spent money on this stuff and here is want I have learned. The heirarchy of this genre': (1) Jesse Cook, good variety, particularly his double album, (2) Lopez "Seduction", (3) Ottmar Liebert fun, but after a while it all sounds alike, (4) Armik, much flashy technique, but little soul or depth. Stick with the top two guys and you'll be OK. Keep searching.

Lopez knows how to play and he does it well here. I've enjoyed this for a couple of years. I ordered it after listening to Heat. Heat amazed me for the technical playing. Seduction is more of a heartfelt cd, with a ton of emotion coming through on every song. If you're not relaxed after the first few songs then you have too much stress in your life.

I have been a big fan of guitar music for the last 30 years. There have only been a handful of musicians that have impressed me. Oscar Lopez is one of them. I bought this album a couple of years ago...along with others like Jesse Cook and Ottmar. This album is an incredible piece of work. I play this album over and over and find new riffs that I discover. The music penetrates your soul and is addicting. All of the songs are excellent. My favorites are; Baila, Baila, Cerca de Ti, Corrientes, Gentle Seduction, and Mulata. I highly recommend this album...it is well worth a listen but once you hear it, you'll get hooked, Oscar is so passionate in his playing, you can almost see him play the guitar.

This CD will sweep the listener to a musiclandscape of lush color and passions. Evoking emotions of yearning, desire and all the subtle nuances of love. My favorite is definately the melodic and hypnotizing track "Loving You" which flows with seducive musical magnetism. Listen once and you will want to listen a thousand times more. Try it.

This CD reminds of music I heard when I was a child growing up in Mexico. It is nice but not original. I have a lot of CDs that I bought before this CD came out that sound the same.
I like most of Narada products but not this one.

The tango is a tragic crossroad. An existential detour; an everlasting pain by the anguish of having been an not be anymore: a love that died before was born, a troubling doubt and the winter hopeless inside the soul. An impossible love that it came too late and above all the tango concerns with the memory. Yours or mine, no matter the darkness makes all of we have the same identity under the neon twilight: once you crossed the forbidden line there is no way to look behind, but the tango rides on two merciless words: if and maybe. The tango is always winter, and the darkness its fellow partner.

Astor Piazzolla made a glorious with this overwhelming ensemble. Verano Porteño is simply an evanescent old picture inside a memories book. The insight textures interweaved by Astor mean a real journey through our otherness loaded with elegant rapture and discrete virility, and that it can be perceived in Caliente.

Decarísimo is an apparent happy statement, a half smile in the rainy and lonely night. An impressive and heartfelt homage to the dead love affairs, hidden lovers and forbidden loves.

Libertango works out as an incisive wound in the center of the soul. The musical obstinate is listened over and over with light and shadows modulations that appear and vanish suddenly as fugacious memories in a tired body and a spirit lack of the joy of living.

Revirado is a lovely theme; it goes directly to our youth roots when the time was our slave and the life was an eternal whisper.

And finally we have arrived to the two highlights tracks of the record: Invierno Porteño a real poem in which the words are explicit though we can not listen them. It' s a nocturnal theme, where the dignity, the sadness and the melancholy permeate the first two minutes of the work. Then a sudden change of character will allow to show the main motive , a lovely and introspective Chamber Etude; the Bandoneón writes its heart rending complaints but without self indulgence or pity. There' s a serene grief floating in the rest of the piece.

Adios Nonino perhaps is the most intimate personal portrait ever written by A.P. Dedicated to his father's memory . It's absolutely notorious the admirable and growing up poetry that makes a real journey since the childhood and the adolescence, the leit motive erects as a transient link that works out such a warm solitude that cries for his absent father. And then the fury and rage will appear briefly defying the destiny, a return to the opening theme will raise to the farewell theme of admirable courage and hope that vanish through an incredible pianissimo.

If you really want to explore the grandness of this Legendary Giant Artist, come for this record. It will engage you from the first bars.

Unforgettable issue.

If you are new to Tango Nuevo, know that no one gets this great combination of fire and technical control as Piazzolla & company.

If you've some of Astor's previous works, this is a 1983 live recording; as Astor says "it is extrememly difficult to give such a good live performance in a recording studio." There's lots of solo showcasing. Mucho bandoneon ("My bandoneon is my second wife. I make love to it. I hit it - all the things I don't do wth my wife")
If compared to "The New Tango" live recording, featuring the quintet with the adition of Gary Burton's vices, I'd say I prefer "New Tango" because of the denser rhymic textures; however the Vienna Concert showcases the bandoneon which is hidden in New Tango.

1. Fracanapa : lively, bright opener.
2. Verano Porteño : Lovely, dark
3. Caliente : despite the name, tame. Like a soundtrack to laughter.
5. Libertango : Top performance here. Sizzling. Worth the CD price.
7. Invierno Porteño : as track 2, also very fine.

Fine playing throughout, this CD does not deliver to me the psychic punch that Zero Hour or La Camorra do.

I don't know what's the name of this music, maybe it is not tango, nor jazz, whatever. All I know is that it's a beautiful feeling to listen this CD. The group was inspired, their best performance ever made could not be better that this Vienna Concert. So, if you buy this CD, I know it will be among the best in your collection.

If you like Classical music, buy this CD. If you like Jazz, buy this CD. If you like Tango, buy this CD. This is a masterpiece, with all Astor Piazzolla's band in top form, playing with the energy and soul of a live concert.

Adiós Nonino is unsurpassable, with a moving introduction by Pablo Ziegler on piano. All musicians play with deep expresiveness, complementing each other perfectly and creating a very rich sound, being both virtous (Libertango, Fracanapa)and expressive (Invierno Porteño, Adiós Nonino).

I recommend this CD to anyone who likes music. I cannot understand why so many tango musicians hated Astor Piazzolla for what he did to Tango. He took it to another level completely.

Frankly speaking, I didn't have interest in Tango but Astor Piazzolla. So, I'm collecting his pieces..his own performing or not. "The Vienna Concert" is, I think, at least in my collecting, the execellent masterpiece of his. I think it expresses the enthusiasm fot Nuevo Tango, the activity and the hope of life..very well. Especially, 'Libertango' is all that Nuevo Tango tell us. If you want to feel Astor Piazzolla, you'd better choose it. It is the essensial of Astor Piazzolla.

Based on the other reviews, I held off on this CD until now. I figured that if I like Lopez's work and these people did too, well, I'd better trust them and save my money. But, I'm now going through the disc for the second time and I just can't agree with the others. Perhaps the music is different from his other works; this one reminds me more of a feista in the town square sort of music. Admittedly, it's not the hard driving creations that we've come to expect from Mr. Lopez. But, I have to say, having it on in the background while I work is a good thing. It keeps the atsmosphere pleasant and energized. At other times, I can imagine this gifted musician sitting in front of an adored loved one and playing a sweet song in an intimate environment. What could be wrong with music that takes you to those sorts of visions? I'd say, give it a try for yourself; if you like the proficiency with which Lopez runs his instrument, this one will not disappoint you even though it may be different from his first three discs. Enjoy!

Oscar's playing is great, but this release lacks the wonderful compositions that made the first 3 Cd's some of my favorites.

This recording is the same musical ideas and techniques that he played on his earlier albums, but the tunes are not as creative.
It is mostly boring "vamps" (repetitive figures), with only a few good tunes mixed in.
The resulting album is uneven, and doesn't "gel" as a whole.

On the first 3 CD's, the tunes, musical ideas, technique, and groove "all came together" in a fantastic manner!
I hope Oscar will do better next time!

Oscar Lopez's "Mi Destino" was mostly a hit at home here. Our resident guitar fan grabbed it out of my hands and ran to put it on. "Ottmar Liebert on steroids!" we shouted in eerie unison.

The steroids calm down about track 3, and the album is about 30% not-so-good Latin wedding band vamping but there is quite a bit of listenable music to enjoy. While "Seduction" is Lopez's mega-hit album, fans will surely find some treats here. "What's not to like here!" purred the guitar fan to me. I like it too--it's a keeper. Just beware, that not every song is terrific. The guitar fan liked all of it; I didn't care for the galloping wedding ballroom sound in some of the cuts but I liked a good portion of the rest.

I have been an avid Oscar Lopez fan for years and own all of his Narada studio albums. My Destiny is by far the worst one. Being a composer/flamenco student myself, I looked to Oscar Lopez, Armik & Strunz & Farrah as mentors in the art. All of Oscar's previous Narada releases are a must have. Heat, Seduction and Armando's Fire contain truely magnificent compostions. My Destiny has only 3 tracks worth listening to:

Trk. 4 - My Destiny - elegant intro followed by soulful melody.
Trk.11 - Emotions - relaxing rhythm
Trk.14 - Changes - faster paced piece