In 1968 Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992) composed the 'operita', (little opera) 'Maria de Buenos Aires' in which he combines classical contrapuntal techniques learned from Nadia Boulanger with the vertically harmonic 'milongas' and mid-century jazz.

'Fuga y Misterio' is an instrumental piece from this opera. The first part ('Fuga') begins with an agitated solo - in this arrangement played by the alto saxophone - that jitters around the scale and then is echoed in turn by the other instruments. M...