Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Want to help our nation’s beleaguered retailers and stimulate the economy? Never fear: Let’s Polka’s 2008 Accordion Gift Guide is here! We’ve got music, books, DVDs, and more for the accordion aficionados on your list — and for those folks you’re looking to convert to the squeezin’ side.
25 Songs: Gogol Bordello
Let’s see, so far on our accordion advent calendar we’ve had gypsy jazz and Irish punk… for day #8, how about some gypsy punk? Led by charismatic frontman Eugene Hütz, Gogol Bordello has built a following on the back of its raucous, sweaty live shows and eclectic musical stylings since 1999. The band is a melting pot in and of itself, including the Ukranian Hütz, an Israeli guitarist, an Ethiopian bassist, an American drummer, two percussionist/dancers, and 53-year-old Yuri Lemeshev on accordion.
25 Songs: Frankie Yankovic
This is the one that started it all. Recorded in late 1947, “Just Because” sold over a million copies and catapulted Frankie Yankovic — and polka music — into the national spotlight. Legend has it that Columbia Records didn’t want him to even bother recording the old tune, but Yankovic was so confident in his Cleveland-style rendition that he promised to buy the first 10,000 copies himself. There are two accordions playing here: Yankovic (on piano accordion) and another Cleveland polka legend, Johnny Pecon (on chromatic). Pecon may not be as widely recognized but, in polka circles, he is regarded as one of polka’s greatest accordion players.
25 Songs: Pistolera
Bouncy cumbias, a pumping accordion, Spanish lyrics… you would assume this music comes from somewhere south of the border. But no, Pistolera comes straight outta Brooklyn, combining Latin rhythms and instrumentation with indie-rock guitar and politically conscious lyrics. Which makes sense given the background of leader Sandra Lilia Velasquez, who grew up in San Diego listening to a combination of alternative rock and her mom’s cumbia records. They recently released their second album, En Este Camino, but this track comes from their excellent debut, Siempre Hay Salida.
25 Songs: Feufollet
Over the past several years, there’s been an explosion of energetic, young Cajun bands coming out of the Lafayette, Louisiana area. Feufollet is a perfect example: 20-somethings raised on Cajun jam sessions, now reviving and revamping the old styles for a new generation of listeners. Like fellow local bands the Pine Leaf Boys, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Lafayette Rhythm Devils and others, they demonstrate a deep respect and awareness of their roots, but with a drive to keep moving the music and culture forward.
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2009 Grammy Nominees Announced
It’s that time of year again. The nominees for the 51st annual Grammy Awards were announced yesterday and, as usual, accordions dominated at least two categories. First up, the nominees for Best Polka Album:
- El Maestro Del Acordeón Y Sus Polkas by Paulino Bernal
- Speechless by LynnMarie & Charlie Kelley As The Boxhounds
- Back To Back Hall Of Fame Polkas by Walter Ostanek & His Band, Jerry Darlak & The Touch and Bob Kravos & His Band
- Hungry For More by Polka Family Band
- Let The Whole World Sing by Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra
It’s many of the same nominees we’ve seen in previous years including LynnMarie, Walter Ostanek and, of course, 17-time winner Jimmy Sturr. But I’m excited to see conjunto legend Paulino Bernal in the mix this year; he’s certainly long overdue for this recognition.
This is the second year for the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album award; here are the nominees:
- Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival by BeauSoleil & Michael Doucet
- From Now On by Michael Doucet
- Homage Au Passé by Pine Leaf Boys
- Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival by Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
- Cedric Watson by Cedric Watson
Meanwhile, our daughter’s favorite album — Here Come the 123s by They Might Be Giants — was nominated for Best Musical Album For Children. It’s certainly been played enough at our house to earn some sort of award.
We’ll post clips and reviews of many of these albums between now and the awards ceremony, which takes place February 8th in Los Angeles.
25 Songs: The Pogues
For day #4 of our accordion advent calendar, we return to holiday music, but this isn’t your typical, cheery Christmas tune. Instead of Santa, Rudolph, or Jack Frost, we’ve got an alcoholic gambler and his heroin addict wife hurling insults at each other. And yet, year after year, The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” heads the lists of top holiday songs in the UK, as perhaps the ultimate seasonal ode to dysfunctional family. James Fearnley’s accordion takes a backseat to the sparring vocals of Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl on this one, but it’s hard to argue with the end result.
The Pogues (feat. Kirsty MacColl): Fairytale of New York mp3
25 Songs: Jo Privat
Few musical scenes could compare to 1930s Paris, where bal-musette, jazz, and gypsy influences came together as “jazz manouche” or “gypsy jazz.” Guitarist Django Reinhardt is the name most often associated with this music, but there were plenty of excellent accordionists involved, too. Gus Viseur, Tony Murena, Joseph Colombo, and the artist on today’s advent calendar song: Jo Privat. This Privat track, from his album Manouche Partie, features musette guitar legend Jean “Matelot” Ferret and was recorded at the end of gypsy jazz’s reign, just before its popularity was eclipsed by rock and newer dance music in the 1960s.
25 Songs: Renato Borghetti
Day #2 of our “25 Songs” accordion advent calendar takes us to the Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil, near the Argentine border. There, we find the music of the gauchos, and of the incredible Brazilian accordionist Renato Borghetti. For more than twenty years, Borghetti has been adapting and modernizing the folk sounds of his native land, using the gaita-ponto (diatonic button accordion) as his tool of choice. This track comes from one of his earliest albums, Renato Borghetti, and was also included on the Planet Squeezebox compilation (sadly out of print).
25 Songs: An Accordion Advent Calendar
Longtime readers have probably noticed the decline in our posting frequency the past few months. (Work + baby = no time for Let’s Polka.) But this month, we promise to make up for it. Today we’re kicking off “25 Songs” — an accordion advent calendar featuring MP3 downloads of awesome accordion tracks every day from now until Christmas. It’s our way of wishing you a happy holiday season and an opportunity to showcase some our favorite accordion-toting artists from around the world.
Our selections won’t always be holiday-themed, but we’ll kick off the month with Cafe Accordion Orchestra’s cha-cha version of “Winter Wonderland,” from their excellent Cafe Christmas album. Listen for the sounds of one of Minnesota’s hardest-working accordionists: Dan “Daddy Squeeze” Newton.
Cafe Accordion Orchestra: Walkin’ In A Winter Wonderland mp3