Beginner looking for your favourite accordionists?

[CC_PDX]

The trad group I play with has added "Da Lounge Bar" to our performing roster, a lovely composition by Scandinavian diato player Annlaug Borsheim, titled in honor of a trad music pub in the Shetland Islands:

That is a great tune! It sounded SO familiar and, sure enough, it showed up at least 6 different times as liked/saved in my YouTube history, played by various artists. Archie Churchill-Moss does a nice version as does this group:


It just jumped to the front of the line for tunes to learn today during Arctic blizzard lockdown.

 

[Thomas N]

They had great stage performance talent. Them along with Frankie Yankovich made accordion playing appear to be fun and easy. That may be why accordion was so popular in the states during the late 50's and early 60's. I remember as a kid (I'm 68) going to see Myron Floren with my parents. I really enjoy this forum and I am learning so much.

I'm on the younger end (55) of those that experienced The Lawrence Welk show in real time. My grandmother would come over every weekend to watch us while our parents went out and at 7pm on Saturday night there was only one thing on our TV. Because I played accordion I would always wait for Myron's performance but in the meantime I would get quite accustomed to The Champagne Lady, Bobby and Sissy, Guy and Rana (sp?), etc. It was a good time in life.

 

[JeffJetton]

The trad group I play with has added "Da Lounge Bar" to our performing roster, a lovely composition by Scandinavian diato player Annlaug Borsheim, titled in honor of a trad music pub in the Shetland Islands

Hey, I know that bar from watching "Shetland"! They've set a few scenes in it.

 

[JeffJetton]

Archie Churchill-Moss does a nice version as does this group:

And what an excellent job the accordionist does in that video! Always contributing a little something lovely, but only when it's needed. Never stepping on anyone. Judicious use of the left hand. Just plain good all-around:

 

[nou]

It’s my first post here, so first and foremost - Hi to you all!

For years I loathed accordions, being exposed to them solely in the form of poor gypsy buskers making noise on the sunday mornings. But then I heard some finer performances, that got me hooked on the free reed sound. Those are all over the place, but in each case thise are my favourites in the particular genre.

First, polish rock bands, Kult, Hurt, and Grabaż i Strachy Na Lachy. A fun fact I learned later on - it’s the same accordionist in those latter two

Next up, unoriginal I know, but I can’t help it - Yann Tiersen. He, Beirut mentioned above and Dansbanan were the ultimate triggers that ignited my own free reed journey. At first into concertinas, currently branching to accordions since concertinas have a ceiling of what can you do with them.

And the ultimate love of mine, Cracow Klezmer Band. Simply stunning, both compositions and renditions, so in their case, a link:

 

[Tom]

Let’s not forget “Mestrinho” as an introduction to jazz accordion in the forró style. Here with Chico Cesar and Mariana Audra at Canto da Ema:

 

[Alan Polivka]

It's beautiful of course, but I have heard nicer renditions... what I noticed is that she literally used the entire keyboard on that song and even manages to run out of notes up top, nicely hidden with a register change instead. That song may be a good example of why NOT to have a keyboard with fewer notes.

While some people play Indifference with more embellishments, I've never heard anybody play it with better phrasing than Karen. And, she plays very cleanly ... a bit of "light between the notes" where appropriate, great timing, etc. Personally, it drives me crazy to play an accordion with less than 41 keys, but Karen seems to make the best of it.

 

[KillTheAlarm]

I'm interested in any style/type of music, especially those that feature interesting or unique ways of playing.

I love Yegor Zabelov, his album NITI always gives me goosebumps.

And my favorite is Kimmo Pohjonen, I'm he wasn't mentioned here at all, he is like one of the top accordionists of all time. He made his best stuff with KTU, on 8 Armed Monkey.

 

[saundersbp]

I love Yegor Zabelov, his album NITI always gives me goosebumps.

Been listening to this today - really interesting and I like the fact button mechanism noise of the accordion is an integral part of the music.
You've got amazing knowledge! - how did you discover all this stuff?

 

[Walker]

And my favorite is Kimmo Pohjonen, I'm he wasn't mentioned here at all, he is like one of the top accordionists of all time.

Ah, well if we're talking the top accordionists of all time...

I can't see beyond Salvatore Di Gesualdo. Here he plays Toccata by Bernardo Pasquini, (1637 to 1710). Enchanting...

 

[KillTheAlarm]

Been listening to this today - really interesting and I like the fact button mechanism noise of the accordion is an integral part of the music.
You've got amazing knowledge! - how did you discover all this stuff?

Thank you! Zabelov, I had a pleasure of meeting him, and then I've seen him perform live in Poland (he still often performs in Germany and other EU countries). Honestly, a shame he is not more well known, I don't know many accordionists who surpass his emotional intensity.

And Pohjonen, once I've seen this performance, I just went down the rabbit hole and researched everything I could find on him.
What also helped with discovering good stuff? I was an active participant in accordion competitions during the 2010s, so I talked with participants about music sometimes. I used to go to every half-decent accordion performance in my city, especially during an autumn Vilnius Accordion Festival, that always had something interesting.

Ohh another good find, Claudio Jacomucci

 

[ryan97103]

I enjoy listening to Finnish accordionist Veikko Ahvenainen

 

[Alan Polivka]

Joey Miskulin
Frank Marocco
Jozsef Csontos
Eric Bouvelle
Matteo Bensi

 

[xocd]

Stefan Hussong
Mie Miki

 

[Xiane]

Hi all! I'm a total beginner at accordion, I've been playing for about four months now and am completely self-teaching (I had piano lessons as a small child but that's all). I'd love to be listening to more accordion music! Who are your favourite artists? I'm interested in any style/type of music, especially those that feature interesting or unique ways of playing. But I tend to have a particular enjoyment of French musette and Eastern European folk/klezmer. Thanks!

Check out the Accordion Noir podcast. Every week you get a hour or two of accordion music from all over the globe. I've made a ton of "discoveries" that way without having to do any discovering.

 

[murathan]

I ve made a small list of best classy videos I could find:


I was very interested in Klezmer music, my own list of Klezmers:


I kindly advise to you to get lessons. Starting wrong makes irreversable damages to your future developments if you think to make this a long hobby.

 

[Tom]

I ve made a small list of best classy videos I could find:


I was very interested in Klezmer music, my own list of Klezmers:


I kindly advise to you to get lessons. Starting wrong makes irreversable damages to your future developments if you think to make this a long hobby.

Nice playing Murathan!

 

[Ffingers]

I ve made a small list of best classy videos I could find:


I was very interested in Klezmer music, my own list of Klezmers:


I kindly advise to you to get lessons. Starting wrong makes irreversable damages to your future developments if you think to make this a long hobby.

When you begin learning on your 80th birthday "long hobby' hardly enters into it

( I do have a teacher, and we have a lot of fun philosophising and playing things not included in any "method" book that we have come across so far. )

 

[Tom]

When you begin learning on your 80th birthday "long hobby' hardly enters into it

( I do have a teacher, and we have a lot of fun philosophising and playing things not included in any "method" book that we have come across so far. )

Yes, but you have already played longer than 90% of people who try playing accordion, young man!!!!

 

[murathan]

Yes, but you have already played longer than 90% of people who try playing accordion, young man!!!!

I started accordion at age 32 (after 20 years in music, bassoon). Many people said you cant start that after this age. Play something easier like sax. I said I will be able to do that. I m stubborn.