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"The
Squeeze" 25th September 1998 |
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"The
Squeeze" 25th September 1998 |
| This weeks news | Past news | Send
us your news 
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| The new Accordion Yellow Pages are now an online database!
You can search the Yellow Pages just as before, but because you can now
use a more detailed search, you will find what you want a lot faster.
Once the new Yellow Pages in English have been fully tested to handle
the large number of people using it, other languages will shortly follow.
If you experience any initial problems, please send me an email: bellows@accordions.com
Wayne Knights Webmaster |
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The Independent Newspaper (UK) recently included an article about accordionist Martyn Jacques, who is due to unveil his album "Low-Life Lullabies". Martyn has spent seven years playing in transvestite bars, pushing drugs and hanging out with prostitutes and recalls the day a gangster burnt him out of his flat reducing his accordions to piles of ash. He produces "sinister effects from his accordion that chills the marrow in your bones". Previous albums with his group the "Tiger Lillies" have included "Spit Bucket", "Ad Nauseam" and "Farmyard Filth". The group has just returned from a tour to Paris and Hamburg and have plans to perform in Broadway. |
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 Contributed
by Li Cong
On August 17th, a group of accordionists from Vladivostock, Russia performed a concert in the Harebin Music Hall, organised by the Heilongjiang Accordion Association. Seven accordionists played over 20 solos and duets including "Sonata" (Scarlatti), "Carnival of Venice" and "Voices of Spring". The audience of over 1,000 people enjoyed the skill and expressiveness of their performance. |
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| Contributed by Harley
Jones
The Czech Accordion Association in co-operation with the CTA Concert Agency is currently organising their 1st European Festival and Competition of Accordion Orchestras in Prague during 2000. The event will be held from June 22nd to 25th as part of the "Prague - European Culture City 2000" celebrations. They are planning several categories of accordion orchestra competition including a Junior (under 16 years) category and a Light Music category. For further information phone Professor Lad Horak: +420 2-538868 |
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 Contributed
by Frédéric Deschamps
From September 17th to 20th "Les Nuits de Nacres" was
held in Tulle, Corrèze region. This year's event was so successful,
all concerts were sold out. Included was a special night dedicated to
the newly released CD by accordionist Marc Bertoumieux. Following this
there was an "accompanists" night with Jean Corti, Armand Lassagne,
Marc Bonnel, Marc Bertoumieux and Sergio Tommassi, and "Off" concerts
with Sebastien Farge, the Jasmine Band (USA) and traditional music groups.
Other events included a concert by the group "Les Têtes Raides",
an afternoon featuring Guy Ferla (teacher from the Toulouse C.N.R.),
a ball with musette specialist René Grolier and a special tribute
afternoon to Jean Ségurel.
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Contributed by Kevin
Friedrich Popular Kansas City Cajun-Zydeco group the "Rajin Cajuns" is drawing in large audiences during their weekly performances. The interesting thing however, is that you're never sure who the Rajin Cajun will be. Sometimes it is Juha Silfverberg, the founding accordionist in the group. However, due to his busy performing schedule, he now calls upon his wife Julie to be the featured accordionist on regular occasions.
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| Contributed by Dennis Gurwell
Accordionist Flaco Jimenez has released a new CD
called "Los Super Seven" which is a collection of traditional Mexican
and Tex-Mex tunes and includes the old Woody Guthrie song "Deportee".
The CD also features a young accordionist named Joel Guzman and
Max Baca (bajo sexto guitar).
Flaco performed at the popular venue "Taste of Texas" in California
on September 19th and 20th.
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Contributed by Raquel Ruiz Spanish accordionist Angel Luis Castano performed at the Zaragoza Auditorium on September 18th to over 200 people. His program included Suite Troileana and Preludio, and Fuga e Divertimento by Astor Piazzolla with the Ciudad de Segovia Ensemble conducted by Flores Chaviano. The enthusiastic audience requested two encores. Two days later, Castano performed at the prestigious Festival of Contemporary Music in Alicante to an audience of over 150 people including 20 composers. His program included Gubaidulina, Ligeti, Jesus Torres, and 3 new pieces by Spanish composers: "Sonata 15" (Claudio Prieto), "Luz Azul" (Cesar Camarero) and "Vol" (Gonzalo de Olavide). This successful concert enabled the public to see the versatility of the accordion and encouraged the composers to write further works for the accordion. The concert will also be broadcast by the Spanish National Classic Radio Station on October 3rd. |
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| Contributed by Christine
Adams
On October 15th Mika Väyrynen will perform "Concerto"
by Astor Piazzolla with the Kotka Orchestra (conducted by Juha
Nikkola) at the Kotka Concerthouse to an expected audience of
over 150 people. Following this, Mika will hold a seminar at
the Kotka Music Institute on October 17th. He will give a lecture
about the technical aspects of accordion playing.
Mika will then travel to Nijmegen, Netherlands to adjudicate
at the Coupe Mondiale
from October 21st to 25th.
For further information email: mika.vayrynen@pp.inet.fi
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 Contributed
by Cemex
After years of absence, the accordion was featured at the Carrara Fair recently, with displays of various models from traditional professional instruments to electronic models. Many visitors stopped in front of the various stands to attend demonstrations which were held at regular intervals including a performance by popular accordionist Sylvia Pagni as well as a variety of orchestras. |
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Paul Scourfield (melodeon) and Michael Davidson (guitar) are scheduled to play a 1½ hour concert in the Foyer of the Royal Festival Hall, London on October 8th. Paul has been playing the melodeon for 11 years and the duo recently released their first album "The Wayward Daughter", which captures the sound and feel of their live performances. They will be performing tracks from this CD at the concert, which is one of a series of free concerts, organised by "Mrs Casey Music" (organiser of the Sidmouth and Yowersey Festivals in the UK). In addition to performing as a duo, Michael and Paul play in a ceilidh band "Chalktown", which also includes saxophone, percussion and bass. For further information email: P.Scourfield@SpectrumAcoustic.com. |
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| Contributed by Tatiana
Lanchtchikova
In the April 23, 1998 issue of Nature,
Researchers at the University of Munster in Germany reported
their discovery that music lessons in childhood actually
enlarge the brain. An area used to analyse the pitch of
a musical note is enlarged 25% in musicians, compared
to people who have never played an instrument. The findings
suggest the area is enlarged through practice and experience.
The earlier the musicians were when they started musical
training, the bigger this area of the brain appears to
be.
For more information.
http://www.accordions.com/index/art/music_brain.shtml
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Duo Contraste which consists of Esteban Algora (accordion) and Avelina Vidal (guitar) will tour to Hong Kong in October. They will take part in a Television Hong Kong interview, performing Torcal op.32 (E. Igoa), Dhatar (J.M. Sánchez-Verdú), Villa Luro (Tomás Gubitsch) and Paso a dos (A. Santos). . They will perform concerts at the Hong Kong University, Fringe Club Theater and a recital at the Academy of Performing Arts. Their concert program will include Extraños compañeros de juegos (J. Iges), Mobile 86 (P. Busseuil) and Cenit 1342 (M. Ruiz). For further information email: h194766503@abonados.cplus.es |
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| Contributed by Uli
Ebner
On Sunday, October 4th the German
Harmonika Association committees (Dreiländerecke district)
will hold their Annual General Meeting in Bad Säckingen.
On the agenda will be the election of new committee
members as well as discussions regarding future events.
Entertainment will be provided by the Hochrhein Ensemble.
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| Contributed by Christine
Adams
The Allan William Jones Memorial
Scholarship evening was held on September 21st in
Auckland. The scholarship is named in honour of
the late Allan Jones who was a foundation member
of the New
Zealand Accordion Association. Six orchestras
entertained at the event, with dance music provided
by Maurice
Jones, Grant
"Yogi" Martin and Tracey
Collins.
Six scholarships were presented and the Certificate
of Merit to honour contribution to the advancement
of the accordion movement in New Zealand was awarded
to Gary Stratton.
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Contributed by Li Cong Accordionist Yang Yi performed a concert recently in Wuhan. His program included "Concerto in Bb Major", "Bulgarla" (Semionov), "Maple leaves" (Li Yuqiu) and a variety of Chinese music. Yang Yi graduated from TianJi Conservatory in 1987, is a past competition champion and is now part of the Beijing Comrade Ensemble. He has performed many concerts all over China with an exquisite and expressive style. |
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Australian duo "Voxion" consisting of Elizabeth Jones (accordion) and Mina Kanaridis (vocals) performed a 1½ hour concert for the Bay and Basin Music Club, Vincientia on September 13th. They entertained the audience of over 60 people with a variety of works from Mozart, Ravel, Gershwin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Narushima, McGuire and some traditional folk pieces. On September 19th, Elizabeth's music school "Music Education Maroubra" held a successful concert which featured students playing accordion, piano and guitar solos, duos and ensembles. |
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| Contributed by Toru
Katou
On October 18th the "Tokyo Accordion Mates" will hold two concerts at the Shinkigen Art Gallery Hall Tachikawa, Tokyo at 1pm and 4pm. This popular group consists of accordionists Tetsuya Kuwayama, Yuichi Otsuka, Yoshiaki Sato, and Masahiro Ogawa. For further information email: t_tmnr@olive.plala.or.jp |
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| Contributed by Sam Gentry
Accordionist Octa Clark
recently passed away at the age of 94.
As a lifelong resident of Judice, he was
a well known Cajun accordionist who began
performing at the age of 14 and continued
to play until just a few years ago. Honoured
by the CFMA (Cajun French Music Association),
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Festival
Acadiens, Festival International de Louisiane
and many others, Octa was most noted for
his weekly performances with his lifelong
music partner, Hector Duhon at Mulate's
Restaurant.
He performed with other musicians such
as Paul Simon, Michael and David Doucet,
Steve Riley, David Greely and Peter
Schwarz and many others who have joined
his band, "The Dixie Ramblers".
Octa was best noted for the combination
of his accordion style and soulful vocals,
along with a very vivid and light-hearted
humour that kept both his audiences
and friends captivated and amused.
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The Scottish Daily Record recently included an article about the search for an accordionist named John who lived in Carntyne, Glasgow, and played in a Lonely Hearts Club. He had a friend named Steve who played the guitar. If anyone can help with this search please phone: + 353 1247-457192 |
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Ralph Stricker has
written a jazz tutorial called "Jazz
Theory and Improvisation Studies for
Accordion", edited by Frank Marocco
and endorsed by Frank and Eddie Monteiro.
The book shows how to play "stride
piano" on the accordion, with explanations
on how to use the diminished scale
for jazz and applying this and other
jazz form to both the left and right
hand.
For further information email:
bjpro21@ix.netcom.com
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The group will play at folk clubs, arts centres and the Canterbury Festival during their tour. In November Sandy plans to play at the Hong Kong Celtic Festival. For further information email: sandy@squeeze.demon.co.uk |
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Contributed by Hans Rytter 1999 dates have been confirmed for two popular festivals in Denmark. The Accordion Festival "Ringe 99" will be held from June 18th to 20th in Ringe. This year over 1,000 musicians performed to over 10,000 people from all over Europe. The Lundeborg Festival will be held from September 3rd to 5th in Lundeborg. Over 8,000 people attended the festival this year, which included 65 visiting bands. For information email: hr@dalumls.dk |
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| http://www.accordions.com/atg This site has been extensively updated, with an organisation name change also! |
It
is quite unusual for two such accomplished and versatile accordionists
(also members of 
Accordionist
Sandy Brechin will be touring
England with his band "Seelyhoo"
from October 2nd to 24th. Seelyhoo
is the Scottish word given to
the thin membrane sometimes found
on a new-born baby's head and
is an omen of good luck. Sandy
produces a versatile performance
on the accordion and his highly
acclaimed style has taken him
around the world, performing and
recording.