No summer slowdown on the accordion calendar. What’s going on this week?
Camp Accordionland (Sat-Sun in Berkeley, CA) It’s a weekend full of workshops, jam sessions, ensemble playing, and general merriment with 50 other accordion lovers at beautiful Tilden Park in Berkeley. We went last year and had a blast.
Mamou Playboys School of Music (Tuesday in Lafayette, LA) Louisiana Folk Roots presents a one-of-a-kind learning experience: four weeks of accordion, fiddle and guitar lessons led by Steve Riley and his band, the Mamou Playboys. On the final week, every participant gets a chance to play with the full band!
Accordions By The Sea Festival (Fri-Sun in Victoria, BC, Canada) Head north of the border as the Victoria Accordion Club hosts its first-ever accordion festival, with performances by Mario Pedone, S-Bahn, Bertram Levy, and many more.
And if you’re a San Francisco Giants fan, check out Italian Heritage Night this Tuesday night at AT&T Park. SF’s own Bella Ciao will be performing the (American) national anthem. Oh, and you might see Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run, too.
Cajun/Creole Accordion Builders A project from the creator of the Cajun Squeezebox Blog — a list of Cajun accordion builders both past and present, with contact information.
Zydeco Vets Host Grammy Awards 101 The Memphis chapter of the Recording Academy (including Terrance and Cynthia Simien) is holding a presentation in Vermilionville, LA for artists interested in joining the Academy and participating in the Grammy voting process. The event isn’t limited to Cajun/Zydeco, but I imagine anyone interested in the new Cajun/Zydeco Grammy category will want to attend.
Just a couple weeks ago, They Might Be Giants released their new album The Else bundled with a super special bonus disc called Cast your Pod to the Wind, which contains music previously released only on their podcasts. It’s no doubt They Might Be Giants is one of the hardest working (and prolific) rock bands out there; releasing the equivalent of two albums at the same time is an impressive feat!
I love both of these discs. Yes, I am a long time fan, but every song included is quintessentially They Might Be Giants. From Flansburgh’s energetic power-pop guitar hooks to Linnell’s cleverly written lyrics and meticulously orchestrated geek-rock, both discs are a fabulous collection of musical experiments. I’ve listened to it about 20 times over, and yet I continue to get “Aha!” moments when I catch a lyrical phrase with a double meaning or a clever melodic riff. I can’t help but think “These guys are geniuses!”
Although light on accordion solos, I think any musician would appreciate the vast array of other instruments and effects used to enhance this otherwise straight-forward rock album and bonus disc. It’s a must for dedicated fans, and a great ‘starter’ album for people less familiar with the band.
Anna and I recently saw the new Disney-Pixar film Ratatouille (two thumbs up!) and we came away big fans of Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack, particularly for its liberal use of the accordion. (As you might expect from a film set in Paris.) But who was squeezing the bellows as Remy and his buddies took over the kitchen at Gusteau’s? Sure enough, it was the hardest-working accordionist in Hollywood, Frank Marocco.
Frank Marocco grew up just outside of Chicago (Waukegan) and started playing the accordion when he was only seven years old. By the 1950s, he had formed his own trio and played the hotel and club circuit around Las Vegas and Palm Springs before moving to Los Angeles. There, he played with the Les Brown Band, joined Bob Hope on countless tours overseas, and began his career as a highly sought-after session musician. His hundreds of credits range from the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds to the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
Odds are, if you hear an accordion in a movie, TV show, or commercial — it’s Frank Marocco.
One of Marocco’s hallmarks has always been his versatility. Jazz, classical, latin… regardless of the genre, he always plays flawlessly and passionately. Here’s a video clip of Marocco performing his own arrangement of Astor Piazzola’s classic tango, “Oblivion”:
International Polka Association Festival (Thu-Sun in Independence, OH) The 39th annual International Polka Association (IPA) Polka Festival brings together polka fans and bands from across the nation. Forget Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr.; come see Henry “Hank” Guzevich and Dennis Polisky inducted into the Highlights Polka Music Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Lost Bayou Ramblers (Fri-Sat in Austin, TX) Hot on the heels of the release of their new CD, Live: a la Blue Moon, the Lost Bayou Ramblers head over to Texas for a pair of shows this week.
Fritz’s Polka Band (Saturday in Saratoga Springs, NY) For over 10 years, German liqueur maker Jägermeister has been sponsoring hard rockers like Slayer and GWAR. But did you know they also sponsor a polka band? Fritz’s Polka Band, from Verona, NY, proudly carry the banner for the second most sought after sponsorship in polka (after Mrs. T’s Pierogies, of course).
Earlier this evening, I stumbled across an interesting item on eBay: a Civil War-era flutina. Flutinas were a predecessor to the diatonic button accordion, with one or two rows of treble buttons and no basses.
Often made in France (though the name “flutina” came from the English), they’re sometimes seen in old daguerreotypes and tin-types as they were used as photographers’ studio props here in America during the mid-1800s. (They made subjects appear more cultured, even if those subjects didn’t actually play the flutina.)
The flutina in this auction appears to be in good condition, rarely played, and with all leaks repaired. Place a bid and play some tunes for the troops at your next Civil War re-enactment.
Historic Accordion Recordings on CD Remastered versions of classic accordion records on CD — including albums by Anthony Galla-Rini, Palmer & Hughes, Jo Basile, Charles Magnante, and Myron Floren. Must-haves for any accordionist’s music library.
Sounds like last weekend’s Pulaski Polka Days, where “polka rhythm filled the air and infiltrated people’s bones,” was a rousing success. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s recap, there was a lively turnout — young and old alike — for the 29th edition of one of the nation’s biggest polka festivals:
“If you think polka music is uncool or only for the elderly, talk to Eric Niziolek, 25, and his buddies, who have been coming to the event from their homes near Wausau every year for about the last five years. ‘Good music, good people, girls and beer,’ said Niziolek when asked what kept him coming back.”
I also found a Flickr photoset that captures the festival parade, as well as some of the bands, including the shot below — appropriately titled “Only in Wisconsin.”
It’s another busy week on the accordion calendar. Let’s see what’s on tap:
Accordion Master Class and Concert Series (Fri-Sun in New York, NY) The American Accordionists Association presents a series of master classes and concerts led by the incomparable Dr. William Schimmel. He promises “a weekend romp of questionable, useless and far-fetched information.”
42nd Annual Pillar Polkabration (Fri-Sun in Uncasville, CT) Organized by Dick Pillar, the longest-running polka festival in the country brings the biggest names in polka (Blazoncyzk, Gomulka, Forman, etc.) to Mohegan Sun for a weekend of nonstop polka music.
Very Be Careful (Friday in Santa Monica, CA) Los Angeles vallenato kings Very Be Careful return home to California after a brief trip to Europe.
In addition, there are plenty of artists squeezin’ their way across North America, including Buckwheat Zydeco in the Southwest, Jason Webley in the Midwest, and Weird Al in… Medicine Hat? Yep, and Saskatoon, too!
Remember, if you have an accordion event for our calendar, just let us know!
If you enjoy the great Brazilian accordionist Renato Borghetti, check out this video of Firmino Tebaldi playing “Missioneiro” by the legendary “gaiteiro,” Antônio Soares de Oliveira (“Tio Bilia”). When most people think of Brazilian music, they think samba, but this is very different — traditional gaucho music from southern Brazil, in the Rio Grande do Sul region near the border with Argentina.
Earlier this evening, I stumbled across an interesting item on eBay: a 