accordion sightings
Gunther
every year there is big international accordion festival here in Vienna,
Austria, that lasts a whole month and features really some of the best
accordion acts in the world.
The festival ended on Sunday, you can find photos from the concerts with
lots of accordions (obviously) here:
http://www.akkordeonfestival.at/d/fotos.html
(click on "Galerie 1" and "Galerie 2")
I have been at 7 concerts and noticed several things, that may be
interesting for the group:
1. Most accordionists used either mics attached on the accordion with a
wireless connection to the soundboard, or the used two mics standing in
front of the player. Only one of them had a build in mike (C.J. Chenier).
2. The accordionist I found most amazing was Chango Spasiuk from
Argentina. He played a music called Chamame, a mixture of music from the
indigenous people in Argentina and from the european immigrants. He
played a piano accordion that looked rather old (maybe 1940ies or 50ies)
but sounded marvellous.
3. Other really good musicians were Luciano Biondini, an italien CBA
player who plays a wild mixture of folk music and jazz, and Riccardo
Tesi (diatonic button accordion) and Michel Macias (CBA).
4. I also saw C.J. Chenier, who was also quite good, but I personally
don't like the kind of music he plays. I have never heard zydeco before
and was therefore curious and went to his concert.
5. The guys on this group who say that Paolo Sopranis are not good
instruments any more are wrong. I heard a Paolo Soprani that was only
about 2 years old (the accordionist told me) that sounded just perfect,
very strong and clear. But it was from the top end of their product line.
enough said, have fun watching the photos,
Günther
Roger Gawley
On Tue, 28 Mar 2006, Gunther wrote:
> 2. The accordionist I found most amazing was Chango Spasiuk from
> Argentina. He played a music called Chamame, a mixture of music from the
> indigenous people in Argentina and from the european immigrants. He
> played a piano accordion that looked rather old (maybe 1940ies or 50ies)
> but sounded marvellous.
Chango is rather wonderful. He played at The Sage a few weeks ago. His
instrument certainly looks unusual: anyone know anything about it?
Cheers, Roger
ralph
of Europe, going to Germany and Italy. He said that the accordion is
amazingly popular with jazz being very well received.
Regards
Ralph Stricker
Ricky Dietsch
> don't like the kind of music he plays. I have never heard zydeco before
> and was therefore curious and went to his concert.
His dad, Clifton, gave him a box and told him to start playing on stage,
with little training when he was quite young.
I don't know who he had backing him up when you saw him, but his regular
bass player is a killer. His organist wails too.
I have all his CDs, and it is just about time for an all day Chenier party.
Bon temps roulette. (or something like that).
alexrat
Roger Gawley wrote:
(snip)> Chango is rather wonderful. He played at The Sage a few weeks
ago. His
> instrument certainly looks unusual: anyone know anything about it?
Does anyone have information on any North American tour dates for
Chango Spasiuk? I agree, he is wonderful, but haven't found his website
yet.
Thanks
BOba
Gunther
"alexrat" <bale...@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
His website address is www.changospasiuk.com.ar
The backing band of C.J. Chenier was the Red Hot Lousiana Band. You are
right, the bass player was indeed very good, but also his drummer.
gazzapt
I have met both CJ chenier and Michel macias and enjoyed both . I have
also heard
Chango many times and he too, is a top player. Michel Macias plays
right from the heart.
I have seldom heard an accordion played with as much feeling as he does
Sounds like a great festival to visit!
Regards
gary Blair