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To quote from the cover "Every
year in the third week of June hundreds of accordion enthusiasts
from around the world converge in Las Vegas for a convention.
Accordion Evolution gives a glimpse into the world of this often
maligned instrument…"
This is exactly what you get with this video . . . a peak into
the convention! Several attendees are interviewed but one of the
most interesting aspects of the video is the answer given by passers-by
on the Vegas streets to the question of "What is the accordion?"
The most popular answer seemed to be "Music" but there
were others quite honest and revealing about the way most people
think of the instrument.
The video attempted to give a better and more complete answer
to all the things an accordion is and can be. Some of the featured
artists at the convention were shown during their performances
on the numerous concerts. The comedian Pete Barbutti opened and
closed the video with his own special manner of monologues built
around the travails of the accordion and its players. Again, the
video provides a very brief glimpse of this highly popular accordion
convention. But it may indeed be the impetus for you to pack your
suitcase and attend the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention
if you want to mingle with a crowd of accordion enthusiasts, players,
manufacturers, people of all ages who are hungry for anything
relating to the accordion.
Very briefly heard on the video were Mario Stephani Pietrodarchi,
young Italian concert artist and winner of several solo competitions.
performing the Rossini Figaro aria, vivacious Ginny Mac, 17 year
old entertainer from Ft. Worth, TX, featuring Tex-Western Swing
music, who garnered a special showmanship award, Mirco Patarini
from Castelfidardo, Italy, showing his outstanding right hand
technique, Janet Todd from Salt Lake City, UT and Renzo Ruggieri,
from Italy, both showing the many attributes of electronic instruments.
There were short interviews with Mady Soave, a fine French performer
(who is the wife of the very famous American soloist, Peter Soave),
and the young French player, Julien Labro, winner of several European
competitions, who explained some of the differences in the musical
culture between Europe and the USA. Also seen in the background
vignettes were many others including Myron Floren, Count Guido
Robert Deiro, speaking of his Student Scholarships for Showmanship
and Musicianship, Gina Branelli, from England where she is President
of the National Accordion Organization, and, of course, the person
behind the whole concept of the International Accordion Convention,
Paul Pasquali. Again, if you wanted a glimpse of what this convention
is about, then this is the video for you!
Reviewed
by Joan
C. Sommers .
April 2004
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