Greatest Solo Accordion Recordings

[Eddy Yates]

For me, part of getting better at playing this amazing instrument is listening to as many recordings as I have time for. The best time for me is driving. I’d love to have a list of everyone’s favorite solo accordion CDs (yeah, I still play them because, well, they’re WAY better than mp3s).
Mine is “Altered Landscapes” by Guy Klucevsek. 
Hard to name an accordionist who covers as much ground as him. This has everything from his folk-derived suite to a really hard-to-listen-to piece by Alvin Lucier. Guy is clearly one of the wonders of the accordion world, and while every piece might not be to everyone’s taste, this recording gives you a good idea of what he and the piano accordion can do.
Love to hear what your favorites are, any genre, any type of box.
.

 

[george garside]

The late Will Starr playing 'under the double eagle' also Brandon Mcphee playing 'under the double eagle' on the same box the late will starr played it on! take your pick!
probably both are on youtube?

george

 

[wirralaccordion]

I dont go much for the virtuosos if that is what you mean. I prefer to hear playing that I can aspire to and for me I like to hear simple tunes played with feeling and emotion. Such a player is Basil Bunelik who plays a wide range of genres on his Youtube channel.
Here are a couple of examples

 

 

[maugein96]

Im biased towards CBA, but anything by this PA player, Edo Krilic, a Bosnian from Sarajevo.

Plays everything and anything, and has composed a lot of French musette tunes which are about as French as
Cevapi (Balkan kebabs), but great to listen to just the same.

---

I dont go much for the virtuosos if that is what you mean. I prefer to hear playing that I can aspire to and for me I like to hear simple tunes played with feeling and emotion. Such a player is Basil Bunelik who plays a wide range of genres on his Youtube channel.
Here are a couple of examples

 

I know what you mean Phil. Sometimes Id rather listen to stuff that I might have a remote chance of being able to play, but those virtuosi are there to be appreciated, nevertheless. There was a time when I couldnt listen to any tune if I didnt think I would be able to work it out and play it, but these days I can listen to all sorts of music without worrying whether it would be beyond my capabilities or not. I reckon Ive finally realised what my limitations are. 

Basil is a nice steady player who knows his stuff and has a very eclectic repertoire. Most of us would be more than happy to be able to play like he does. He makes it all look pretty simple, but he has the knowledge and experience to be able to tackle more genres than most would contemplate.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Eddy,

The answer to your question is very near to home for me. Jon Brindley, who you may never have heard of, is one of the finest musicians I know. It would be fair to say that he can play a huge array of instruments, including the piano accordion.

You can find Jon on YouTube, though you may have to dig a little to find him playing an accordion. In addition to Jon's great musical talent, he is a thoroughly nice man.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Eddy Yates]

Thanks, all. I’m getting the feeling that very few people listen to CDs and prefer to get their music free on YouFace.
I’ve learned a lot from watching videos, but was hoping to get a few LPs or CDs listed.

 

[wirralaccordion]

Thanks, all. I’m getting the feeling that very few people listen to CDs and prefer to get their music free on YouFace.
I’ve learned a lot from watching videos, but was hoping to get a few LPs or CDs listed.

For CDs the 5 disc set mentioned by JerryPH on another thread is superb. Only the 1st CD is solo accordion however and for the other 4 discs there are some tracks where the accordion plays the lead/tune but you wouldn't really be sure that it was an accordion playing if you hadn't been told!
"The world's greatest virtuosos play the 100 accordion masterpieces"

 

[OuijaBoard]

[[[Thanks, all. I’m getting the feeling that very few people listen to CDs and prefer to get their music free on YouFace.
I’ve learned a lot from watching videos, but was hoping to get a few LPs or CDs listed.]]]

I imbibe online only as a supplement to the joys of CDs and LPs. Like the poster above, I dont find the technical champion contest-winners very interesting. No pronouncements on Greatest recordings, but have loads of Favorites. Here are a couple, with focus on solo (or largely solo) recordings, will think of a few more later:

*****Ildo Patriarca---Undersung Argentine Maestro of jazz-flavored tango on PA--some lovely stuff viewable on Youtube. His 2014 obituary in Argentinas Nacion was headed:
Ildo Patriarca: el hombre que tocaba como los dioses

Two of his more available recordings:
Verana Porteno
Hollywood-Paris

*****Nick Ariondo---This IS one of the technical PA wizards. But also a very soulful and subtle stylist, master of classical, jazz, gypsy, Eastern European, etc. Lots of good Youtube stuff.
CD: Trilucence
Heres one thats on the CD, his rendering of Valse Brilliante:

*****Boris Karlov---Late great Bulgarian PA legend. A refreshingly delicate player. His recordings are out there, but can be hard to find, one must lie in wait on Amazon and Ebay, both sides of the pond. I do see a couple on Ebay US at the moment.
Theres some great stuff on youtube from various albums, heres couple from a record with him on the cover armed with a giant Scandalli with those big silver discs on the grille:



****Emil Prudhomme--CBA Musette maestro, more old-school than the current style. I love all his recordings, but this one is a favorite--jazzy solo accordion interpreretations of Piaf songs

LP: Accordeon A La Piaf
https://www.ebay.com/itm/EMILE-PRUD...m440a8d6cbf:g:bR0AAOSwlmxZbPjW&frcectupt=true

 

[debra]

Different people, different taste... my all time favorite solo accordion CD is the one Mie Miki made with old renaissance and early baroque music. Played wonderfully (and with the great Hohner Gola sound).

 

[george garside]

cd's worth listening to

Will Starr the early years.   Ross Records  

aand for those who like  historical box recordings from the days when boxes were much simpler  try 'melodeon greats' recordings warts an all from 1909  to 1920 by peter wyper. william hanna  danial wyper,james brown, pamby dick, william Hannah etc etc.  

all on one or two row button boxes  which were the first accordions long before piano boxes were invented

george

 

[Deleted member 48]

A few personal favorite solo accordion recordings:

Ludovic Beier: Swinging in solo 
(the Hora Lautaresca is incredible) 

Stefan Hussong plays Frescobaldi 
(the piece Canzon prima detta La Rovetta!) 

I love the poetic solo recordings of Marc Perrone, eg Cinema memoire,  Cine suite, Voyages,....

 

[Eddy Yates]

Now we’re talkin’!

 

[Eddy Yates]

Different people, different taste... my all time favorite solo accordion CD is the one Mie Miki made with old renaissance and early baroque music. Played wonderfully (and with the great Hohner Gola sound).

Just got this CD. Simply great music and playing! Thanks.

 

[Zevy]

My Desert Island CD - Frosini!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pietro-Frosini-Jolly-Caballero-24-Selections-ACCORDION-CD-/292372285486

 

[Jim2010]

This is a youtube video not a CD but I think it is pretty amazing. The accorionist is Julien Labro.

 

[OuijaBoard]

[[[my all time favorite solo accordion CD is the one Mie Miki made with old renaissance and early baroque music. Played wonderfully (and with the great Hohner Gola sound).]]]

This just arrived chez moi, and I also nabbed her recording of Grieg morceaux. Great recommendation! I see there is an all-Scarlatti CD as well, and plan to add that to the rotation too. I often don't care for classical accordion because I find the bass/freebass frequently overpowering. But she has wonderful taste and an exquisite feel for avoiding that.

 

[george garside]

have just found a great vid of Tollefson on youtube. - youtube Gokvalsen med Toralf Tollefsen-

there are several other you tube vids of his absolute mastery of the 5 row box all well worth looking at

george

 

[Eddy Yates]

Loving all these suggestions. I listen to them on iTunes or YouTube, then hunt down CDs.
Listening to all types of accordions is fun, because good music is good music, but it also makes me try to do new things on my PA. I’ll never ever sound like Frosini or anyone else recommended, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be, and they’re all inspiring and fun. Frosini can make me laugh and cry in the same piece!