He began performing classical music in concert as a teen and became inspired by Dixieland jazz soon after; he combined the two styles in his Pablo Ziegler Trio, which performed classical pieces with jazz arrangements.

After his years with the trio, Ziegler was invited to play with Astor Piazzolla's New Tango Quintet in 1978, and performed and recorded with the group for over a decade. He also performed with international artists like Milva, an Italian singer with whom he collaborated on an homage to Maria Callas at the Arena de Verona, as well as American vibes player Gary Burton.

Ziegler played with Piazzolla throughout the '80s, appearing on albums like New Tango and Astor Piazzolla: The Central Park Concert. After Piazzolla's death in 1992, Ziegler formed the Quintet for New Tango, performing internationally and releasing albums like 1999's self-titled work. He has also collaborated on albums with Emanuel Ax and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, both of which showcase Piazzolla's music. ~ Heather Phares