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Highlights |
NAO UK Championships 2012, Liverpool – UKby Anna Bodell of Charnwood Publications |
![]() Picture left, NAO 2012 Poster, click 2012 NA for full size poster This year, the festival will incorporate: - the Instrument and Music Trade displays; - the UK Qualifying sections for the CIA Coupe Mondiale 2012 to be held in Spoleto, Italy in August; - the National Finals of the Roland V-Accordion Competition in conjunction with Roland UK in which the UK Representative for the 6th International Roland competition will be selected; - the NAO Composers’ Competition; - a diverse range of solo, duo and ensemble categories which go to make this a renowned UK competition. The event includes the International Category for Classical and Virtuoso Entertainment Music with all the rules and regulations listed on the NAO website. Entry closing date is 28th February 2012. For further information view the NAO website or email: naouk@btinternet.com |
Accordion Expo Festival, Sümeg - Hungaryby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() ![]() This event, in addition to concerts and dancing, also features an exhibition and demonstration of Scandalli and Paolo Soprani accordions from Italy and the range of Hungarian-manufactured Petromaestro accordions. Péter Móger, the designer/builder of Petromaestro accordions, is the festival organizer. The festival involves international accordion personalities such as Navracic Miroslav, Marjan Krajna (picture right at the AATA Finale concert in Australia), Mirco Patarini, Jovica Djordjevic (picture left), and Vlada Panovic. For further information email: mogerp@freemail.hu |
Rotary Club Gent Sponsors International Accordion Competition - Belgiumby Koen Walraevens |
![]() At the specific request of the candidate, Rotary Club Gent can help in finding accommodation during the contest. The category requirements are a two round program. Download the Rules and Regulations at: 2012 Gent Entry closing date is 15th February 2012. |
Yuri Medianik Jury Member, Danish National Song Contest, Copenhagen - Denmarkby Harley Jones |
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![]() The winner, Soluna Samay, goes on to represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest. Denmark will compete in one of the two semi-finals on either May 22nd or May 24th for a place in the Final on May 26th, to be held in Azerbaijan. Yuri Medianik had a number of high profile concerts in the last few months of 2011 as a soloist, with groups and conducting his own orchestra. There are two CD's are available on the Yuri Medianik website. |
Renato Borghetti Quartet New DVD & Europe Winter Tour - Europeby Harley Jones |
![]() 18 February Brüssel/Meise (Belgium), De Muze van Meise 19 February Bad Hofgastein (Austria), Jazz im Sägewerk 21 February St.Pölten (Austria), Cinema Paradiso 22 February Stockholm (Sweden), Stallet 24 February Kokkola (Finland), Winter Accordion Festival 26 February Vienna (Austria), Akkordeonfestival 28 February Bratislava (SK), TBA 29 February Weiz (Austria), Kunsthaus 01 March Koblenz (Germany), Café Hahn 02 March Feldkirchen (Austria), Amthof 03 March Feldbach (Austria), Zentrum 04 March Frankfurt (Germany), Brotfabrik 05.March Düsseldorf (Germany), Filmmuseum The newly released DVD is titled “Renato Borghetti Quartet Europa” and is a charming road movie by René Goya Filho about the quartet's summer tour of 2010. The players for the DVD are the same for the tour 2012: Renato Borghetti (accordion), Daniel Sá (guitar), Pedro Figueiredo (sax, flute) and Vitor Peixoto (piano). For further information, contact Management booking office CultureWorks, Sabina Schebrak, email: sabina@cultureworks.at |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Jacques Pellarin Quartet ‘Sup Dude’ CD Review, Grenoble – Franceby Rob Howard |
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French accordionist Jacques Pellarin has branched out significantly from his classical origins to front a jazz and world music influenced quartet. His latest CD, ‘Sup Dude’, was reviewed in the website All About Jazz’ by Bruce Lindsay, and is reproduced here: ? French accordionist and composer Jacques Pellarin has the welcome ability to craft music which is technically challenging, yet immediately accessible and engaging. ‘Sup Dude’ is a joyous album, filled with refreshingly unpretentious tunes performed with skill and obvious pleasure by his quartet - a pleasure readily communicated to others. ‘Sup Dude’ follows 2010's self-produced trio date, ‘Karenita’, adding to that album's winning mix of jazz, Latin and folk music with another collection of tunes in a similar vein. Pellarin is a superbly lyrical player, his lightness of touch showcased on the sprightly ‘Squeezebox Samba’ and ‘So Frenchy’. Pellarin and saxophonist Diego Fano form a great frontline partnership; the combination of accordion and saxophone is especially fruitful on the delightful melodies of ‘Le Temps De Souffler’ and ‘Stevenson Bossa’, where Fano's warm, reedy, tone contrasts with Pellarin's brighter sound. The addition of Renaud Bourquard on bass helps to fill out the band's sound, giving the music more depth and richness. Most notably, his presence seems to give percussionist Yann Pajean added power and freedom when he's behind the drum kit. Bourquard's use of effects works well on the first part of the title track, when the slinky, snaky bass sound complements Pellarin's accordion; but overuse, as on the mid-section of ‘Irish Diversion’, tends to overwhelm the other instruments. The bassist is at his most effective on tunes such as ‘So Frenchy’, when effects are kept to a minimum and he focuses on anchoring the rhythm. Pellarin and his fellow musicians imbue ‘Sup Dude’ with a great sense of fun and a welcome lack of pretension. Pellarin's writing emphasizes catchy hooks, danceable rhythms and light, upbeat, melodies. The resulting tunes have a brightness and optimism, as well as an apparent simplicity that belies both his virtuosity and the talents of his quartet. Track Listing: Sup Dude; Le Temps De Souffler; Irish Diversion; Stevenson Bossa; CML Song; Live at Champlong; Squeezebox Samba; Tango Addiction; So Frenchy; Luz y Fuerza. Personnel: Jacques Pellarin (accordion), Diego Fano (alto and soprano sax), Renaud Bourquard (bass), Yann Pajean (drums, percussion). For further information email: jacques.pellarin@wanadoo.fr |
Ta Fechu Nominated for ‘AMAS’ 2012, Asturias – Spainby Rob Howard |
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![]() Also competing, in the instrumental section, will be the Spanish accordionist Maraya Zydeco. The awards will be made on March 9th at the Philharmonic Theatre, Oviedo, Spain. |
Accordion is Cool Workshop and Yuri Shishkin Concert - Austriaby Harley Jones |
![]() Yuri Shishkin is one of the highest respected Russian artists regularly making concert tours outside Russia. There are 6 CD's available on the Yuri Shishkin site. |
Skylah Jeffries Entertains & Fundraises, Herne Bay – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
![]() Skylah is a member of the North Shore Music Makers Accordion Orchestra and a regular competitor at the New Zealand Accordion Championships and Festival held in Auckland in June each year. For further information email: ca@ihug.co.nz |
‘14 Years Ago’ – Jimmy Shand Rememberedby Rob Howard |
![]() In 1999 he was the first accordionist to be knighted. The Accordions Worldwide news for January 23rd 1998 reported that BBC Scotland had screened a program about the great man’s life in music. Few accordionists anywhere could match the long term success of the 20th Century’s most famous Scotsman BBC TV FEATURES JIMMY SHAND – UK The Herald (UK 27/12) featured an article on Jimmy Shand MBE who will turn 90 on January 28th. BBC Scotland is celebrating Jimmy Shand's life with a programme on Hogmanay called Button Box Wizard, featuring Jimmy and his band. Jimmy's father was a keen melodeon player and Jimmy learnt to play the accordion before he went to school. At the age of 10 he was performing with a dance band. Jimmy has played the length and breadth of the British Isles, sometimes to crowds estimated at 20,000 as well as tours abroad including New Zealand, Canada and six times around Australia. Jimmy Shand MBE has had a locomotive, a racehorse and a pub named after him, and his portrait is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. |
Future events |
NAO Northern Ireland Championships, Carrickfergus – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() The finals of the 2012 NAO UK Championships are to be held for the first time at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, April 27th/29th. For further information email: asrz33@dsl.pipex.com |
Di Galitzyaner Klezmorim Concert, Krakow – Polandby Rob Howard |
![]() Di Galitzyaner Klezmorim was formed in 1996, and its present line up is Mariola Spiewak (clarinet), Grzegorz Spiewak (accordion) and Rafal Seweryniak (double bass). All three are graduates of the Academy of Music in Kracow. The trio, which specializes in klezmer, original and Polish music, has participated in a number of cultural events Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. |
Shand Morino Gathering, Scotland – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Pictured left is a beautiful colored Shand Morino featured at a recent gathering. |
Julien Labro’s February Tour Dates – USAby Rob Howard |
![]() February 8th, 8pm - Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, Michigan February 9th, 8pm – Katerina’s, Chicago, Illinois February 10th and 11th, 8.30pm – The Brink Lounge, Madison, Wisconsin February 12th, 7.30pm – Lafayette, Indiana February 13th and 14th, 7.30pm – Nightown, Cleveland, Ohio February 15th, 7.30pm – The Purple Fiddle, Thomas, February 16th, 7.30pm – Germano’s, Baltimore, Maryland February 17th, 8pm, Reston Community Center, Reston, Virginia For further information email: julien@julienlabro.com |
Black Pencil Concert, Galway – Republic of Irelandby Rob Howard |
![]() February 1st, 1pm - The Cube, Galway February 2nd, 8pm - Aula Maxima, Galway February 4th – details to be announced, Dublin February 5th - details to be announced, Dublin Black Pencil will soon be traveling to perform in Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba and China. For further information email: info@visisonor.org |
Sergio Zampolli @ Brasserie de Paris, Pretoria – South Africaby Rob Howard |
![]() Every first Thursday of the month, Sergio Zampolli entertains at a dinner featuring wine from different regions in South Africa, France, Spain, Italy, etc. Brasserie de Paris is a fashionable up-market French fine dining restaurant located in Waterkloof Ridge in close proximity to the Pretoria Country Club, and is rated one of the top ten restaurants in South Africa. For further information email: sergio@duo2000.co.za |
Christos Kalaitzopoulos Concert, Thessaloniki – Greeceby Rob Howard |
Left handed accordionist Christos Kalaitzopoulos performs at Gaia Live, Thessaloniki, on Saturday February 11th, 10pm. For further information email: starr63@gmail.com |
Printemps des Bretelles Festival, Strasbourg – Franceby Rob Howard |
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Strasbourg's annual Printemps des Bretelles Festival, which takes place from March 23rd to April 1st, celebrates accordion music from around the world. Concerts take place at outdoor markets, restaurants, even libraries, as well as at more traditional venues across town including Illiade and Au Magic Mirror. For further information email: contact@printempsdesbretelles.fr |
Veikko Ahvenainen and Carina Nordlund Concerts, Yllas - Finlandby Rob Howard |
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Mazaika perform at the Valentine Masquerade Party, London – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() Mazaika are Igor Outkine (vocals, `magic`accordion), and Sarah Harrison(violin, vocals). Their passionate musical cabaret is guaranteed to transport audiences from the Russian Steppes to the Gypsy Campfire, and the Opera House to the Parisian Cafe, full of Russian soul and Tango Passion. For further information email: info@mazaika-music.com |
West Sussex Accordion Club Meetings, England – UKby Rob Howard |
![]() ![]() Future meeting dates are February 25th, March 31st, April 28th, May 26th, June 30th, September 29th, October 27th, November 24th and December 15th. No meetings in July or August. For further information email: ukao@aol.com |
CD Reviews |
Trio Vadim Fyodorov CD Release "Swing for Sergey" - Icelandby Holda Paoletti-Kampl |
![]() The Trio was founded by Vadim Fyodorov (accordion), Leifur Gunnarsson (double bass) and Gunnar Hilmarsson(guitar). CD “Swing for Sergey” is the Trio's follow up on their first album ,,Papillions Noir" from 2009. On the new album Vadim shows his talent as a composer, with 3 original compositions, which blend well in along with the gipsy classics on the album. The title song of the album, “Swing for Sergey”, is dedicated to Sergey Fyodorov, the son of Vadim. Sergey began at young age to play guitar and he is very intresting for music, specialy for Gipsy Jazz. Members of the trio are at this moment living in Reykjavík, Copenhagen and Weil am Rhein. That didn't prevent them from releasing a new CD which was recorded in august 2011 in Iceland. The photos decorating the new album are taken by the German photograph Frank Höhler and there is a story how the trio got to know him: "We were on tour in one of Iceland’s most sparsely populated areas. On one of the heights we drove over we made a rest stop to enjoy the landscape. We packed our instruments up and played a song surrounded by the amazing view. Then a truck with german registration number approaches us and stops. To your surprise stepped you of the truck guy with big cameras and wanted to take our photos for an exhibition. In return for the favor we got permission to use it for our new CD." For more information fedvadim@gmail.com |
Accordéon liturgique CD by Philippe Borecekby Alessandro Mugnoz |
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New and Updated Sites |
Renzo Ruggieri Releases New CDby Renzo Ruggieri |
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Karen Fremar Releases New Compositionby Karen Fremar |
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Amy Jennings eSheet Site is Updatedby Amy Jennings |
Amy Jennings eSheet Music Site is Updated. |
Jay Latulippe eSheet Music Site is Updatedby Jay Latulippe |
Jay Latulippe eSheet Music Site is Updated with further information available about the works. |
Paul Chamberlain selling his new CDby Paul Chamberlain |
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H S Productions eSheet Music Site is Updatedby H S Productions |
H S Productions eSheet Music Site is Updated with new music added and further information available about the many works. |
Drazan Kosoric - accordionist, composer, professor releases new worksby Drazan Kosoric |
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Franco Cambareri releases new compositionsby Franco Cambareri |
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Accordions TV |
Deschamps Channel Activitiesby Frédéric Deschamps |
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UPCOMING Deschamps Channel events: Saturday 28th January to 4th February International Master Class LIVE on INTERNET on "DESCHAMPS CHANNEL" TIME : 17.00 (EST) Guest Artists : Chris Gorton (USA), Semen Kuzovchikov (Russia), Augustinas Rakauskas (Lithuania), Pietro Adragna (Italia), Laimonas Salijus (Lithuania) RECENT Video Library you can view includes: Friday 27th Of January 19.30 (Est) Web TV show International Accordion Master Class By Frédéric Deschamps (France) in collaboration with the French National Magazine Accordéon et Accordéonistes. - Live Lessons Students: Chris Gorton (USA) - Skype Lesson LIVE, Augustinas Rakauskas (Lithuania) – LIVE from France, Last Minute surprises. Luc Cornet (France), Nikola Pekovic (Serbia), Benoit Nortier (France), Martynas Levickis (Lithuania), Adriana Sanchez (Brazil), Guglielmi Brothers (Italia), Denis Novato (Slovenia). - Accordion Got Talent – vidéos from accordionists around the World who participate to the famous international TV show. - Interview – Pietro Adragna (Italy), winner of Coupe Mondiale, Trophée Mondial, Klingenthal, Roland Competition, etc… Présentation of his new CD – LIVE from France. - Kings of Diato : some of the Best diatonic accordion players Languages: English French Italian Sunday15th to Friday 20th January Video Library, masterclasses in three languages, French, English and Italian. Performers : Semen Kuzovchikov (Russia), Guillaume Fric (France), Elsa Gourdy (France), Antonio Simeone (Italy), Sebastien Innocenti (Monaco). December:19 to 23 and 26 to 30 Deschamps Video Library, Two weeks of Master Classes (Classical and Variete programs) with Frederic Deschamps with students from around the world, broadcast live. Artistic realisation: Mike Rossi, assisted by Samuel Leton Prods. |
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vintage accordionby | Modify | Delete |
Would love to know more about this..ie history, maker,etc. My son plays many instruments and this is his newest!! Thanks so much!! Sincerely; Jan Henley |
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