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Tania Lukic-Marx now gives the CD reviews a rating system. This system includes a number of stars at the completion of the review, for example 5 stars (*****) means the CD was "brilliant" or "excellent", 4 stars = impressive, 3 stars = good, 2 stars = satisfactory and 1 star = didn't impress.

Title:	The Flying Scotsman
Artist:	Tom Alexander
Supplied by:	Tom Alexander
Review date:	November 1st 2002
Tracks:	1. The Flying Scotsman 2. Pistonette 3. Mary Milne 4. The Game 5. Dollanes Malody 6. Happy Hours 7. The Floral Dance 8. The Dark Island 9. The Typewriter 10. Le Manage 11. Theme from Bilitis 12. High Level Hornpipe 13. The Jaqueline Waltz 14. The Swiss Polka 15. The Jiggin' Pig 16. The Cuckoo Waltz 17. Alpine Express

Tom Alexander has been playing the accordion since he was 9 years of age. In 1952 he won the Scottish Open Solo Championship in Glasgow. Since then he has toured the world many times with brother Jack, as the famous "Alexander Brothers", playing prestigious venues like the Massey Hall in Toronto (Canada), Carnegie Hall in New York (USA) and the Sydney Opera House (Australia). Although he was classically trained, Tom is as much at home playing Scottish, Irish and Continental music. Despite recording numerous successful albums as one half of the Alexander Brothers this is his first 'solo' album release. This is the first time that I have had the opportunity to hear the recording of Scottish accordionist Tom Alexander, and what a musician! Tom plays on this recording, as he puts it: "lively and popular accordion music" - a bit of Scottish traditional, some continental, polkas, waltzes as well as classical arrangements, using midi accordion. There are a couple of things I instantly liked about Tom's recording. Firstly, it is his style: I just loved its wonderful mellowness and delicacy - to me a clear sign of good musical taste. Secondly, I thought that the arrangements are very good, using right timbres, tempos, all the details polished and sophisticated. Overall, this is a pleasant, most enjoyable recording and I entirely enjoyed it. Out of all the accordion entertainment recordings I have heard over the years, this is probably the one I liked the most. It just has this wonderful style! *****