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24 September 2004This weeks news | Past News  | Send news
Fisitalia
Fisitalia

This Weeks News

  • Maria Kalaniemi's London Concert - UK
  • James Crabb in Australia
  • Norwegian Accordionist's Airport gigs, Sola - Norway
  • Accordion Legends' Evening' heralds new CD release, Cranleigh - UK
  • International Accordion Camp in Montreux - Switzerland
  • Los Lobos Tour Dates - Japan and USA
  • Café Accordion Orchestra, Minnesota - USA
  • Accordion Evolution', video/DVD - Canada
  • 6th Festival Namurois de l'Accordeon - France
  • Cajun and Zydeco Festival, California - USA
  • K Trio Tour Europe - USA
  • Carl Fortini's Special Concert Celebrations - USA
  • Festitalia Concert, Hamilton - Canada
  • Accordion Help/Information required
  • Quote of the Week
  • CD Review
  • New and Updated Sites
     
  • Ángel Luis Castaño

    Maria Kalaniemi's London Concert - UK

    Maria Kalaniemi, known as 'Finland's Queen of the Accordion', is to appear in a concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on September 30th, in a program that also features the Finnish folk group JPP and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The concert begins at 7.45pm, and will be recorded and broadcast at a later date by BBC Radio 3. Maria Kalaniemi is highly regarded internationally and has eight CDs to her credit, with a new solo project scheduled for 2005.

    For further information about the concert, email joanne.Johnson@bbc.co.uk

     
    A to Z of the Accordion

    James Crabb in Australia

    The local press in each of the towns and cities where he has performed has followed Scottish accordionist James Crabb's tour of Australia. For example, his concert at Hamer Hall in the Victoria Arts Centre drew the following comments from reviewer Clive O'Connell:-

    "Accordionist James Crabb, here on his second Australian Chamber Orchestra tour, led a distinguished quintet…the performance's fire came from Crabb, who made few overt attempts to dominate, but did so unconsciously by the unpredictable nature of his attack. At one moment musing, then driving the others along with aggressive chording, he demonstrated full identification with the dreamy Mumuki and the urgent energy of the popular Libertango. So the image I carried away from Sunday was of Crabb and his passionate style of address…". Another reviewer, Peter McCallum, said this of Crabb's September 4th concert at Sydney's City Recital Hall:-

    "The musical calibre and rhythmic refinements of the ensemble were outstanding, Crabb wheezing out the pain of single notes as though dragged dying from a Buenos Aires dive clutching his last cigarillo"!
      


    Norwegian Accordionist's Airport gigs, Sola - Norway

    Nils-Helge Brede is to perform at the Quality Airport Hotel, Sola, from October 15th to 17th. The function on the 16th is a dance. Nils, who is a member of Norsker Trekkspillerers Landsforbund (the Norwegian Accordion Association), usually plays alone using midi rhythm accompaniment, specialises in playing evergreen popular standards, including Latin music, and has two CDs available.

    For further accompaniment, specialises in playing evergreen popular standards, information email nils.brede@start.no
     

    Benetoux


    Accordion Legends' Evening' heralds new CD release, Cranleigh - UK
    Contributed by Rob Howard

    On Friday October 1st, Jack Emblow and Tony Compton are the chief guests in an accordion concert, styled the 'Accordion Legends' Evening', to be held at the Cranleigh Arts Centre, Surrey, England. The concert marks the release of a new CD by the chief guests, titled 'Jack and Tony'. Featuring mainly music from the duo's jazz repertoire, this CD is the first recording Emblow and Compton have made since their long-since sold out LP 'Flying Home', produced in 1986 by the late Malcolm Gee.

    For further information about this new recording, email robaccord5@hotmail.com

    Also on the concert program are accordionist Harry Hussey and The Crawley Accordion Orchestra (MD Bill Booth). The concert starts at 7.45pm, and there will also be trade show representation.

    For further information email accordionfriends@aol.com

     


    International Accordion Camp in Montreux - Switzerland
    Contributed by Holda Paoletti-Kampl

    The International Accordion Camp in Montreux, featuring the outstanding artistes Peter Soave (accordion bayan and bandoneon), Mady (accordion) and Jean-Louis Noton (accordion), was a great success and was enjoyed by all participants, who came from Canada, Texas, Florida, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France. Next year's event takes place from the 20th to the 27th of August 2005.
      
    Fisitalia

    Los Lobos Tour Dates - Japan and USA
    Contributed by Harley Jones

    Los Lobos, the Mexican-American quintet featuring David Hidalgo on accordion and lead vocals, have some tour concert dates in Japan and California during October. Formed in 1974 as a rock n' roll band, Los Lobos later added Tex Mex and Latino numbers to their style and repertoire.

    They shot to international attention via the 1987 movie soundtrack for La Bamba, the film biography of the late Ritchie Valens. The Los Lobos version of the song La Bamba was a worldwide hit record, and has been followed by several successful CD recordings and concert appearances in many countries. Their dates are as follows:-
    October:
    4th - Shinsaibashi Club Quattro, Osaka, Japan
    5th - Club Quattro, Nagoya.
    7th - Liquid Room, Tokyo
    22nd - Universal Ampitheater, Universal City, California
    23rd - Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, California
     
    Gary Dahl

    Café Accordion Orchestra, Minnesota - USA

    The Café Accordion Orchestra is promoting a new CD, titled 'Le Disque Français'. Dan Newton leads this sextet on piano accordion, and their repertoire includes French musette, vintage swing, European and Latin dance music.

    The new CD includes such well-known pieces as the valse musette Indifference, La Mer, The Sheik of Araby, and two compositions by Django Reinhardt - Nuages and Swing 42.

    For further information email daddysqueeze@yahoo.com

    The Café Accordion Orchestra's imminent bookings include:-
    September:
    29th - Medina Ballroom, Minnesota (8pm to 11pm)
    October:
    5th - Kitty Cat Club, Minneapolis (9pm to 12pm)
    24th - Augustana Church, West St Paul (4pm to 6pm)
    29th - The Times Restaurant (9.30om to close)
     

    Accordion Evolution', video/DVD - Canada

    Edited highlights (on VHS and DVD) of the June 2003 Las Vegas Accordion Convention have been issued as a 48-minute souvenir of the event by Canadian accordionist, Len Imbery. The contents is a mixture of interviews of people present at the Convention discussing the accordion and its future, plus selected accordion performances from Janet Todd, Mario Pietrodarchi, Pete Barbutti, Julien Labro, Ginny Mac, Renzo Ruggieri and Mirco Patarini. Please note that the DVD version works on the UK PAL system.

    For further information email limbery@accesscomm.ca
     

    6th Festival Namurois de l'Accordeon - France

    The Namurian Festival of the Accordion takes place on October 17th, at L'abbaye de Florette. The doors open at 11am, followed by a dinner accompanied by music. The Festival, which is supported by Radio Nostalgia, begins at 2pm, involving stars of the accordion representing various generations.

    Representatives of the press, radio and television will be present. Present day established accordionists include Jean-Marc Torchy, Christian Gauchy, Daniel Dropsy, Erika, Jean-Yves Laroche, Roger Fynon and Cathy Minet. Young players appearing - Jeunes Espoirs - are Joris Gilson, Florence and Steven Herbiet, whilst 'Les veterans du musette' includes Marcel Demaret, Adolphe Duquenoy and Roger Decoeyer.
     
    Charnwood

    Cajun and Zydeco Festival, California - USA

    On Saturday 25th, the eighth annual Cajun/Zydeco Festival takes place from 11am to 7pm, at Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont, California. Guests include Queen Ida, Motor Dude Zydeco with Edward Poullard, Mark St Mary, and T. Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers. Louisiana music and food will be on hand all day, plus the park's regular features such as the horse-drawn tram, blacksmith and farm animals.
     
    Fisitalia

    K Trio Tour Europe - USA

    Accordionist siblings Walter Kasprzyk, Mary Toparski and Julie Cardona - known professionally as the K Trio - are visiting Europe during October. Their concert dates are as follows: 17th, (5 p.m.) Schwerzenbach, Bahnstr.14, Chimli-Saal, Zurich; 19th, Coupe Mondiale, Pontarlier; 30th, Bayreuth, Germany; 31st 10:30 a.m. matinee -- A New Theater -- Kulmbacher Strasse 3, 95028 Hof, Germany.
    Each member of the trio has won numerous accordion championship titles in the USA during the 1960s and 70s, and both Mary and Julie have competed in the Coupe Mondiale. Since the K Trio was formed in 1996, they have produced three CDs and have performed in venues in many parts of the USA, and have also appeared in Canada Australia and New Zealand.

    For further information email mary.toparski@comcast.net
     
    Ángel Luis Castaño

    Carl Fortini's Special Concert Celebrations - USA
    Contributed by Jon Hammond

    Accordionist Peter Di Bono of San Francisco Bay Area Accordion Club organised a concert on September 12th by Carl Fortini, the accordionist who played on over 600 movie soundtracks with everybody from Elvis Presley to Dean Martin and The Beatles. Art Van Damme made a surprise appearance at the end of Carl's concert and afterwards 40 accordionist friends joined Peter, Carl & Art for a fine evening of dinner and music at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco California.

    Peter Di Bono and Ron Borelli serenaded the accordionists with a medley of Art Van Damme classics including "Green Dolphin Street" & "A la Mode". The general verdict was that a fine time was had by all! San Francisco Bay Area Accordion Club meets every 2nd Sunday of the month at the Moose Lodge in Daly City California.
     
    SilvioDePra


    Festitalia Concert, Hamilton - Canada

    The 3rd Festitalia concert on September 10th starred Italy's Roberto Lucanero on diatonic accordion and occasional vocals, and Canadian-based Russian Alexander Sevastien, on bayan accordion, presenting a program of classical music plus Russian and Italian evergreen tunes. Richard Szymczyk, representing Excelsior Accordions, and assisted by Mary Romeo, President of Festitalia, produced the show.

    A to Z of the Accordion
     

    Accordion Help/Information required

    A German reader is in need of information about an Ariola Rauner, an accordion that has been in his family for three generations. Can anyone with any information about this model please email Ulrich Roessle at Roessleweyhe@t-online.de
     
    Walshe
     

    Quote of the Week

    Edited Willoughby Walshe

    "Play difficult passages as dotted eighth and sixteenth notes"

    Find out More… The Art of Bayan Playing or Playing the Accordion Artistically by Friedrich Lips
     
    Lips

    CD Review



    A new CD by Lydie Auvray titled "Tango Tojours". Review done by Musicologist, Paolo Picchio

     

    New & Updated Sites
    www.accordions.com/ruggieri - Updated site of jazz performer and tutor Renzo Ruggieri

    www.loucoppola.com - Updated site of performer Lou Coppola and the Stereo Strings

    www.accordions.com/garydahl - Updated information on music and books available from composer and arranger Gary Dahl. The updated site includes some new .mp3 sound files offering examples of his work. Site contains information on ordering books and music as well as other services such as correspondence courses and biographical information.

    www.accordion-fantone.com - Active entertainer Bob Fantone performs a wide variety of accordion music for a large variety of events within a 50 mile radius from Long Beach, Califor
    nia.

    www.accordions.com/contet - Pascal Contet's updated website

    Article titled 'Craig's Excellent Accordion Adventure' - "This year, my band, the Gypsy Wranglers, was hired to play at Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordeon in Montmagny, Quebec".
     
    Gary Dahl
    Fisitalia

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