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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.
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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! *****
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