• the Bloodline
  Vincent Winterbourne’s blog devoted to “general, not-so-breaking news in the Tejano, Conjunto, and Norteño scenes in Texas.” A Texan version of Let’s Polka, really.
• Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin
  Biography and photos of Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin, the Louisiana accordion legend who passed away on Wednesday. Bois Sec was one of the first to bring rural Creole music to a worldwide audience.

We’ve mentioned A Hawk and a Hacksaw — the duo of accordionist/percussionist Jeremy Barnes (formerly of Neutral Milk Hotel) and violinist Heather Trost — here before. They play Eastern European-influenced gypsy/folk music and their latest album, When the Wind Blows was one of my favorites from last year.

Last November, Barnes traveled to Budapest and met a group of extraordinarily talented Hungarian folk musicians well-versed in a variety of musical styles including Serbian, Romanian, and Klezmer. The result of their collaboration is a new EP called A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble. It’s a vibrant collection, balancing driving, dance-worthy tunes with electic instrumentation, including pheonomenal cymbalom playing by Balázs Unger. (The cymbalom is a type of hammered dulcimer.)

The 8-song EP includes a bonus DVD with “An Introduction To A Hawk And A Hacksaw”, a documentary covering the band’s (practically) nonstop touring across Europe and the United States over the past two years. It’s also a limited edition run of 4,000, so grab it while you can, or pick up the digital version through iTunes.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw and the Hun Hangár Ensemble: Zozobra (MP3 download)

• CD Baby: Guyland Leday: Be My Girlfriend
  Be My Girlfriend is the new album by nine-year-old zydeco prodigy, Guyland Leday, with “Zydeco Family and Friends.” The future of zydeco is here.
• Flickr: Mom’s Accordion and Sheet Music
  Nice photos of someone’s mother’s old accordion and vintage sheet music collection. I “inherited” a collection like this several years ago and I recognize many of titles (like the “Sedlon Accordion Method”).
• News & Star: Isaac is King of the Accordion
  Profile of Isaac Thompson, an eight-year-old accordion prodigy from Carlisle, UK. He started playing when he was five and has already won prizes at the National Accordion Championships. Start ’em young!

The Norwegians clearly know how to do classical music right — with accordions! The Trondheim Accordion Ensemble aims to bring “youthful freshness and vibrant musical joy” to baroque music, as shown in this video of the group performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Allegro.

I have a question for the button accordionists out there: I am learning to play button accordion (after having played piano accordion for 15 years) and have been having a really hard time playing (remembering!) the correct button fingerings when I change the direction of air flow to my bellows. When beginners (like me) are learning a song, how do you recommend we go about it? Is it better to learn via rote memorization, breaking the song down into two-measure chunks — playing two measures with the bellows pulling out, then two measures pushing in? Or is there another method you prefer? Thanks in advance!

What’s on the accordion calendar this week?

• Squeeze Box Night (Tuesday in Monroe, WI)
  The first in a monthly series of informal accordion jam sessions at Turner Hall’s Ratskeller. Local accordionist Del Heins leads the session and will offer tips and advice for anyone who’s a bit rusty.
• Tri Tip Trio (Tuesday in Berkeley, CA)
  Every Tuesday night at Ashkenaz, they host a Cajun/Zydeco dance party with a local band (Tri Tip Trio this week) and a pre-show dance lesson.
• Smilin’ Scandinavians (Thursday in Seattle, WA)
  Led by accordionist Toby Hanson, Seattle’s #1 polka band invades the Leif Erikson Lodge #1.

Is there an upcoming squeezebox gathering in your area? Tell us about it!

• New York Post: Squeeze Play
  The Post talks to Walter Kuehr about the Main Squeeze Accordion Orchestra. “I had a dream that I would conduct an all-female accordion orchestra, and that the girls would wear pigtails and the music would be beautiful. It was the best dream I ever had.”
• Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: They Might Be Giants
  Recap of Saturday’s TMBG show in Rochester. “Linnell’s accordion, which he unleashed like a bag of gypsy weasels on ‘Particle Man,’ is the kind of untraditional rock instrument that goes with They Might Be Giants’ untraditional take on pop culture.”

If you prefer accordion music that doesn’t play by the rules, check out Paul Sullivan’s excellent biography of Finnish avant-garde/experimental accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen. Playing a 5-row chromatic accordion, Pohjonen uses electronic effects like samples and loops, as well as heavy doses of improvisation, to push his instrument into uncharted territory. In addition to his solo work, he has collaborated with percussionist/sampler Samuli Kosminen, the Kronos Quartet, and former King Crimson members Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn.

“Sometimes it can be a bit strange for people that an accordion player is doing the kind of stuff that I am doing. But I’m getting such good feedback… I hear comments like, ‘I have never liked accordion, and this is the first time that I’ve liked some accordion music.’ And that is the best comment that you can get.”

According to his site, Pohjonen’s mission is “to expand the capabilities, sound, performance, scope and experience of the accordion in many different settings to levels never before seen or heard.” Judge for yourself — here’s a video clip of Pohjonen performing solo in 2002:

Kimmo Pohjonen: Keko

• Accordion Floyd: Comfortably Numb
  Polka Floyd doesn’t have a monopoly on Pink Floyd accordion covers; check out Domenic Amatucci’s (of “Accordion Beatles” fame) excellent solo accordion rendition of “Comfortably Numb”.
• YouTube: Pingu Plays Accordion
  In this episode, Pingu the penguin plays the accordion — much to the annoyance of his family and friends. But after some lessons from Grandpa, his playing improves and suddenly he’s the center of attention (in a good way).