ZINZIN- pocket sized mischief

[maugein96]

Take a little guy with an Italian first name and a Flemish surname, who was born in Normandy, France, and spent several years under the tuition of Maurice Larcange, a native of Valenciennes, on the Belgian border, who played a C system accordion with Belgian basses.

Here is the product of that exercise, the inimitable Bruno de Smet (dit Zinzin as they say in France). He eventually became accordionist to the late French singer and TV presenter, Pascal Sevran, who gave him the nickname Zinzin.

Add a Spanish tune, and you have a typical French mix of accordion styles. Brunos comedy act is free.



Here he is on the same set playing a selection of valses, Zinzin style:-



Was he sober, was he clean? No comment!

 

[dunlustin]

"Zinzin" = "Bonkers"

 

[maugein96]

Zinzin = Bonkers

Thanks for that, Dunlustin.

I guessed it probably had that sort of connotation, but couldnt get a translation for it. He always had a mischievous grin when he was under Larcanges wing, but that was before he acquired the nickname.

He does things like down pints in one go while hes playing and various other acts of showmanship. I hadnt seen him for quite a while until I found that clip, and his face tells me he has seen better days. Mind you, so have I!

I cant quite work out if the bonkers is just that, or is it the result of too much booze, or whatever? Its maybe just a very clever act, and if it is, he does it well.

He was a lot tamer when he worked with Pascal Sevran, but that whole show was tamer than tame. All the tunes were mimed and the accordion brand names had to be taped over due to advertising bans.

Just about all of his stage accordions are minus a few buttons, but at least hes still on the stage, and hasnt fallen off it yet!