Search-Accordion is a new search site for all bellows-driven instruments and from last week they became a co-sponsor of the English Weekly News.

In the enormous world of the Internet with millions of internet sites, you need search engines to try and find information. Even with search engines it can take hours to find the information you want, because reports often find hundreds of sites that are poorly categorised (such as accordion doors!!) and not in order of importance, so you have to spend a lot of time searching.

It was for this reason that Search-Accordion was created to specialise only in bellows instrument internet sites. It allows you to quickly obtain sensible reports on a large number of different categories of sites concerning our favourite instrument.

Over the past few days we have been experiencing problems with our email server. If any email you have sent has not been replied to, please resend it. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wayne Knights Webmaster

Contributed by Heather Smith

Four albums and artists nominated for the 41st Grammy Awards took advantage of accordionist Joey Miskulin's musicianship. Joey embellished tracks on "Best Female Country Vocal Performance" winner Shania Twain's latest album "Come On Over", which was also an "Album of the Year" and "Best Country Album" nominee. He also played on "Love Still Remains" (Emmylou Harris) "Best female country vocal Performance" nominee and "Mission" (Carman) "Best pop/contemporary gospel performance" nominee.

Recently, Joey won the Wrangler Award for "Outstanding Original Music Composition". The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center will present Joey this award on April 24th for his production of Michael Martin Murphey's "Summer Ranges" (from the album "Cowboy Songs Four").

It's great to see the accordion being a part of such high profile successes. Congratulations to Joey Miskulin - editor.

Contributed by Gary Blair

The Musselburgh Accordion Festival took place on March 6th in Musselburgh. This is one of the most popular accordion festivals in Scotland and this year a large number of entries was received. Competition sections ranged from solo, duet, trio, Scottish Dance Band to polka, musette and own composition. Many of Scotland's top accordionists attended this event as competitors, adjudicators or spectators. The event finale included a concert followed by a Ceilidh.

Winners include:

Senior Traditional Solo: Michael Phillip
Junior Traditional Solo: Liam Stuart
Scottish Dance Band: Colin Brown
Open Classical Solo: David Nesbit
Open Polka: Lindsay Ann Allen

Contributed by Raquel Ruiz

Spanish accordionist Angel Luis Castaño, gave a concert to celebrate the opening of the new Conservatory Auditorium in Langreo, North Spain. Over 200 people enjoyed Castaño's performance with the "Ensemble Ciudad de Segovia" conducted by Cuban Flores Chaviano. The program included works by Astor Piazzolla such as Preludio, Fuga e Divertimento, Suite Troileana, Oblivion, Adios Nonino, Soledad and Ave Maria.

This successful event will be followed by solo concerts in the Auditorium by Castaño over the next few months.

Contributed by Marie-Odile Chantran

Two diatonic accordions were stolen from Marc Perrone on Saturday February 27th in front of the building at 4, Avenue Parmentier, 75001 Paris. Both are Castagnari accordions, one with two rows of twelve basses, the other one very small in size. Any information which could lead to their recovery is welcome. Please phone: + 33 1 43 79 64 43

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

New York accordionist, Will Holshouser will be appearing solo at the Brecht Forum on March 13th and at Madame X's on March 14th with the Will Holshouser Trio.

Will Holshouser is well known accordionist in New York and is a student of William Schimmel, who was on the popular movie "Scent of a Women" soundtrack and also recorded the best selling "Tango Project".

Contributed by Toru Katou

On April 10th a "Let's Take a Rest Concert 1999" will be held at Izumi Hall, JR Nishi Kokubunji Station, Tokyo, at 6:30 pm. Students from the "Santama Accordion Class" at the Ongaku Center will perform solos and ensemble music. For further information phone the Ongaku Center: + 81 3-3208-8377

On March 27th the Hohnerklang Orchestra will hold their annual traditional dance party at the Dr-Ernst-Hohner-Konzerthaus. This popular event will include music by well known Trossingen bands including the "Blue Sharks", the Hohnerklang Orchestra and the Hohnerklang Party-Band.

For further information and tickets phone: + 49 7425 7767

Contributed by Li Cong

Over 200 accordionists are expected to attend the 4th Children's Summer Camp in July organised by the Beijing office of the Chinese Accordion Society.

The 5-day camp will be held in a beautiful mountain area 200 km from Beijing. The camp program will include 3 to 5 hours of daily accordion practice, basic music and accordion theory courses, accordion band rehearsals, concerts and a campfire evening.

Over 20 accordion teachers will attend the camp, which will also include lessons and exam preparation, with participants able to sit their examinations at the completion of the camp.

For further information phone Xu Zhi Jie: + 86 10 68464485

Contributed by Dennis Gurwell

Joe Simien, one of Southern California's favorite Creole/Cajun accordionists was laid to rest in Palmdale, California, on March 3rd. Joe passed away on February 24th after a long bout with stomach cancer. He had colon cancer a few years ago and was out of the music scene for about a year. He bounced back for several years and performed with as much energy as ever almost up until his death.

Joe was a 3rd generation accordion player in the Simien family, having learned from his father at the age of five. He played for dances, parties, and festivals in California and other parts of the U.S. for many years. He was always ready to play and invariably had a smile and a joke for everyone who came into contact with him.

Joe had a loving family and many friends and fans who will greatly miss him and his music.

Contributed by Mario Bruneau

Didier Dumoutier and Mario Bruneau are currently organising an exciting accordion night at the "Le Lion D'or" club, Montreal on May 23rd. Québec accordionists have been booked to perform including French musette specialists Didier Dumoutier, Mario Bruneau, Walter Palmieri and Bernard Farraire.

For further information please email: pmbrut@concentric.net

Contributed by Guenther Stoll

Over 80 accordionists are expected to perform at the March 20th entertainment concert at the Schwabenlandhalle, Nufringen. Orchestras and soloists will perform a variety of pieces including Beauty and the Beast, Rhapsody in Blue, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Libertango (Astor Piazzolla), Y.M.C.A., Pop Kids Techno Time and Melodien aus aller Welt (melodies from round the world).

For further information email: Guenther.Stoll@t-online.de

The next "Celebrity Interview" with Professor Walter Maurer, Secretary General of the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA), President of the Austrian Accordion Association (HVO), President of the International Accordion Orchestra Society (IAOV), teacher, conductor and member of the Viennese Accordion Chamber Ensemble will be published on March 16th.

Readers questions to Moderator Wallace Liggett for this interview have now closed.

Contributed by Dr Herbert Scheibenreif

Well-known Austrian accordionist Klaus Paier started the project "Jazz & Tango Nuevo" with Gerald Preinfalk (saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet). The duo are currently touring Austria performing in Graz, Klagenfurt, Neunkirchen and other cities. Their program includes many different elements of both jazz and tango nuevo.

Klaus Paier founded "Accordion Project" in 1993, was a first prize winner at international competitions and was invited to concerts all over Europe. Gerald Preinfalk studied in Vienna, Boston and Paris and has played with famous groups including Klangforum Vienna, RSO-Symphony Orchestra and the ViennaArt Orchestra.

For further information phone: + 43 4355-3318

Contributed by David Batty

Leyland Accordion Club will feature on a BBC program, which was recorded at their March 10th club night. The program which includes interviews with the players and performances will be broadcast in three weeks.

This week will be the last opportunity for readers to submit their ideas for improvements to Accordions Worldwide and be in the draw for 10 CD prizes. The survey has been designed to help identify readers interests and ideas, with the information helping Accordions Worldwide to provide an improved service.

Contributed by Blair Kilpatrick

On March 6th a benefit concert was held for accordionist Dick Richard in San Francisco. Accordionist Dick makes hand-built Cajun accordions. Sadly, he has suffered a stroke and now needs round-the-clock care. Performers Included the "California Cajun Orchestra" (including accordionist Danny Poullard), "Frog Legs", "Billy Wilson and Friends", the Zydeco Flames Duo and "DP & the Rhythm Riders". Over 150 people attended the concert, which raised over US$1300.

Fund-raising efforts have also been taking place in Dick's home town of Church Point, Louisiana. The March newsletter of "The California Friends of Louisiana French Music" included several tributes to Dick.

Contributed by Helle Duedahl Pedersen

Danish group "White Wables" featuring Mette Duedahl Pedersen (accordion), Kristina Friis Hansen (accordion), Helle Duedahl Pedersen (bass) and Maria Uhrenholt Klavsen (guitar) are currently working on a CD "Dansetakt" (dance beat) which is due for release in May.

Their music is inspired by Norwegian folk music including waltzes and polkas. Pieces include "Brandbilen" (fire engine by M. D. Pedersen) and "Trædballehus Polka" (Frederik Iversen).

The all female group play at many Scandinavian festivals. Their next performance will be on March 27th in Skagen Harmonikatræf, Denmark.

For further information email: helleduedahlww@hotmail.com

The Baltika Harmonika 99 will be held in St Petersburg, Russia from April 10th to 17th. The main event will be the International Accordion Competition organised by the St Petersburg State Conservatory with participants invited from all over the world. Prizes include a P. I. Govorushko Diploma, an A. I. Kuznetzov Diploma and a Boris Nikitin Diploma.

Other events include a concert by competition guests of honour, which will include Laureates of famous competitions and festivals; informal seminars to exchange experience and repertoire, videos and discussions concerning prospects of accordion playing.

Contributed by Kevin Friedrich

CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band appeared at "Tramps" in New York last weekend, the show being preceded by a Zydeco Dance workshop.

CJ's father, Clifton Chenier was one of the pioneers and masters of zydeco music, which draws from diverse musical influences such as jazz, blues, country, Cajun and pop.

In 1987 when Chenier senior's health faltered, his son took over the band and has now led it for 12 years.

Contributed by Sergio Zampolli

A South African accordionist would like to receive information on accordionist Dermot O`Brien. He thinks Dermot plays a I Busilacchio 13 treble coupler, 7 bass coupler instrument With a double cassotto, which is similar to his own model. It is possible that Dermot is now in the USA.

If you can assist with any information please email: duo2000@global.co.za

There is now a new search system made for the accordion - "Search-Accordion". The term "accordion" is used throughout this site as a generic term that applies to all free-reed bellows instruments. This is a free service for everyone, which helps to find information you need.

There are two types of search: "Simple Search" (search on popular subject categories) and "Advanced Search" (which allows you to search in such files as - keywords, title, description and URL).

Unlike other search-engines, "Search-Accordion" allows Webmasters to submit each page of their site separately, with its own description and keywords as described by the site webmaster. This helps webmasters to show their site comprehensively with accurate information. The Search-Accordion database is updated weekly.

Also, Search-Accordion features a "Site of the week" reviewed by well-known accordionist Lionel Reekie.

We suggest you have a look at this unique service for accordion, which supports and promotes the merits of all bellow-driven instruments

Julia Boik would like some information on her ornate A. Rosati accordion. Please email: wolf@crtelco.com

Harry Groupp has an old wooden piano accordion with the name "Novitat" on it. He has been unable to find any information on where the instrument was made or how old it is. If you can help please email: RGroupp@aol.com

Send your "Antique Information Requests" to: news@accordions.com

http://www.accordions.com/jimmyb Information on entertainer Jimmy Bubaloni

http://www.accordions.com/garyblair Information on accordionist Gary Blair and his group the "Gary Blair Ceilidh Band".