Hank Shteamer of Time Out New York summarizes the music of Pedro Giraduo: “Sometimes tender, sometimes brash and always arranged for maximum emotional punch.”Born and raised in Córdoba, Argentina, the bassist has worked with the likes of Paquito D’Rivera, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Miguel Zenón, and many others. Also a first call artist on the tango scene, Pedro has also lent his talents to Pablo Ziegler, Hector Del Curto’s “Eternal Tango,” Fernando Otero’s “X-Tango,” and Daniel Binelli’s “Tango Metropolis.” He is also the principal bassist of the Hudson Symphony Orchestra and the Música de Cámara String Ensemble.Pedro leads one of New York’s ace big bands, the Pedro Giraudo Jazz Orchestra, which has received numerous accolades including a four-star review from DownBeat for their last recording, Córdoba. Writing about the album in Step Tempest, Richard B. Kamins proclaims, “The music, bright, emotionally satisfying and mature, is filled with exciting solos, thoughtful melodies and fine harmonies.  2011 is proving to be another banner year for large ensemble recordings and Pedro Giraudo’s CD is among the best.” In 2011, The Latin Jazz Corner recognized Pedro with four “Best of 2011” awards, including Latin Jazz Large Ensemble Album Of The Year, Latin Jazz Boundary Breaking Album Of The Year, South American Jazz Album Of The Year, and Latin Jazz Composition Of The Year. In addition to his own group, Pedro has conducted both the WDR Big Band and the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.We commissioned Pedro to write a large ensemble work in 2008, and his group has appeared at The Gallery numerous times in the past. We welcome him back this weekend for a two-night run with his EXPANSIONS Jazz Orchestra, a group which also graced our stage last fall.Watch the first of three videos of that performance, and also check out a more hi-fi video of the group performing “Duende del Mate,” courtesy of WBGO.