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Primo piano |
by Harley Jones
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This week and next week will be holidays for our News Translators excepting Chinese language. We wish them and all those enjoying holidays around this time of the year, a very safe and enjoyable holiday. |
by Rob Howard
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Tejano accordionist Esteban ‘Steve’ Jordan (1939-2010) died on August 13th of complications from liver cancer. He was 71 years old. Known as ‘El Parche’ because of his eye patch, the innovative Steve Jordan started his career in the 1960s, and incorporated rock, Latin, Zydeco, jazz, blues and salsa into Tejano’s traditional polkas and rancheras. He developed new techniques on the diatonic accordion and introduced electronic sounds and devices into his playing. A multi instrumentalist, Jordan was reputed to play 35 different instruments. Born in Texas to migrant farm workers and partially blinded as an infant, Jordan was unable to work in the fields. At a very young age he was introduced to the accordion, and was influenced by the accordionist Valerio Longoria, and went on to become one of the best known players of his genre, both nationally and internationally. In 1986 he was nominated for a Grammy, but lost out to his old friend Flaco Jiménez. He appeared in the film ‘Texas Conjunto: Música de la gente’, a documentary about Texas conjunto music, and in ‘True Stories’, a movie musical film, and also appeared as an accordion street player in the film ‘Born in East L.A.’. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() On August 21st, 3pm, at the Cadogan Hall, Ian Watson will be playing a piece by Betty Olivero with the Britten Sinfonia, and on August 22nd, 4pm, he performs in the Royal Albert Hall with the John Wilson Orchestra and their Rogers and Hammerstein tribute. Also on August 22nd (at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith) he will be playing Michael Zev Gordon’s 'Pebble in the Pond', with the CHROMA ensemble, and in the same concert will play a 5 minute extract from a new opera Michael is writing with the accordion at the heart of the orchestral writing. Ian continues: “I am also talking to him about writing a solo piece for accordion for next year. When I'm not doing all of that you can see me every night, or rather hear me, doing 'Aspects of Love' at the Menier Choccolate Factory, cute theatre near London Bridge. This new version of the show, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, has had rave reviews and is on until September 26th. On August 23rd I'm playing with ICEBREAKER at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh. We are playing with Brian Eno to 'For all mankind', an amazing film about the Apollo Moon landings. The 13 piece ensemble play Eno's score live and the film is played behind us. We will also be doing this programme at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on September 15th and 16th, and on tour through Europe and North America in the Autumn and Spring”. The BBC Proms, founded in 1895 and previously known as The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, is an eight week series of about 100 summer concerts, held in the Royal Albert Hall and other London venues. In the UK, all concerts are broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and many are televised on BBC 1, BBC 2 and BBC 4. Sir Henry Wood (1869-1944), the original principal conductor, aimed to take classical and contemporary music to the population at large, and as such was receptive to new ideas and innovation. It is within this spirit that the accordion and other instruments generally considered to be non-orchestral have been featured over the years. For further information email: i.watson99@googlemail.com |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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![]() Anne Landa (born in San Sebastian, Spain, 1971) studied at the Conservatory Superior of San Sebastian, and later at the National Conservatory of Grenoble, Switzerland, graduating in 1993. She has since performed as a soloist, in the duo Acco Land, in numerous collaborations with other Spanish and Italian musicians, and with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles around Europe. For further information email: alanda@musikene.net |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() This major international accordion festival including competitions has had enormous support from its sponsors and the organizing team headed by Professor Wang Hongyu, the Head of Keyboard department, Music College, Harbin Normal University. This is the first major accordion event held in Harbin and the great success of the event will no doubt encourage further major competition and festival events. Attending were many famous accordionists and you can read the detailed Daily Reports of the event and the competitions at Harbin 2010. |
by Rob Howard
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The players featured include André Verchuren, Yvette Horner, Harry Williams, Maurice Larcange, Alexandra Paris, Zinzin, Andre Blot, Michel Pruvot, Jacky Noguez, Louis Corchia, Raymond Boisserie, , Loulou Legrand, Andre Brocoletti, and Bruno Lorenzoni. The DVD has 23 tracks, and the CD has 20 tracks. The CD tracks are entirely different to those on the DVD. For further information email: jpm@andre-verchuren.com |
by Harley Jones
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![]() Very interesting reading is the Introduction to "My Images" by Anatoly Beljaev, Peoples' Artists of Russia – link: vs805. There is also a Foreword by Viatcheslav Semionov on the page vs805 too. |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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The 2010 Cotati Accordon Festival takes place on August 21st and 22nd, 9.30am onwards, at The La Plaza Park, Cotati, California. There will be a pre-Cotati Accordon Festival Roland V-Accordion event on Friday, August 20th, at Friar Tuck’s Pub in Cotati, from 7pm to 9pm. Performers will include Eddie Monteiro, Steve Albini and others. The Cotati Accordion Festival guests include Dick Contino, Eddie Monteiro, Flaco Jimenez, The Alex Meixner Band, The Great Morgani, the Golden State Accordion Band, Il Fuoco (featuring Steve Albini), Shamalamacord, Sourdough Slim, Steve and Mike Trucco, Mad Maggies, The International House of Accordions, Tara Linda, and Los Texmaniacs. The trade show includes a Roland U.S. stand. For further information email: info@cotatifest.com |
by Rob Howard
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![]() August 25th, 2pm – Sillé-le-Philippe August 26th, 2pm – St Pierre-sur-Orthe August 27th, 2pm – Avezé August 29th, 2pm – Montfort-le-Gesnois September 2nd, 2pm – Vibraye September 4th, 12noon – St-Jean d’Assé September 10th, 2pm - Le Leroux-Beconnais |
by Rob Howard
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The Minnesota State Fair takes place at various locations within the state from August 26th until September 6th, and involves acts featuring accordionists. Dates include: August 26th and 27th - The Cloggers and the Meister Yodeler August 28th and 29th - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band August 28th and 29th - The Pigs Eye Jazz Band, Ramberg Senior Center August 30th and 31st - Rod Cerar, Ramberg Senior Center September 1st and 2nd - Dale Dahmen and The Polka Beats September 1st and 2nd, 10.30am and 11.45am - Steve Meisner at Leini Lodge September 5th,10.30am, 11.15am, 1pm - Bill Koncar September 6th, 3.15pm, 4.30pm, 5.15pm - Bill Koncar September 5th and 6th, 3.30pm and 4.45pm – Edie Blaczonzyk’s Versatones, Leini Lodge September 5th and 6th, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm - Richie Yurkovich at Heritage Square For further information email: vip@mnstatepolkafestival.com |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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CNIMA J.Mornet, based at Les Ludines, 63950 Saint-Sauves d'Auvergne, offers well established training courses for accordion and other musical studies all the year round. New courses for accordion are due to start in September. For further information email: cnima@wanadoo.fr |
by Harley Jones
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![]() Jon Hammond is very proud to announce the line up and happy to return again to the world famous stage of Jazzkeller Frankfurt, the oldest jazz club in all of Germany. Joe Berger guitar and Jon Hammond organ are both from USA, known affectionately to their music friends as Ham-Berger (we're on a roll! Jon and Joe often say) long-time associates and a fixture at many trade shows, as seen on the long-running NYC based TV show "The Jon Hammond Show" now in 27th year. Tony Lakatos the great Hungarian tenor sax star from Budapest. Tony will be rejoining the band in Jazzkeller, along with another long-time musical associate, Giovanni Gulino drums from Sicily Italy. Giovanni has been the house drummer for many years in Jazzkeller Frankfurt and Jazz Kneipe. Jon Hammond calls Jazzkeller his "Good Luck Room" and Frankfurt his "Good Luck City". |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Originally from the Scottish Highlands, now Glasgow-based, Mairearad Green plays the accordion, the pipes and the piano. A finalist in the BBC ‘Young Scottish Traditional Musician’ competition in 2001, when aged just 16, Mairearad is now a full time musician and composer, regularly performing with The Anna Massie Band, the all female band The Poozies, and the accordion quartet, Box Club, with Gary Innes, Angus Lyon and John Somerville. She has also toured with singer Eddi Reader, singer/songwriter Karine Polwart, and performed with Scotland's unique Celtic big band, The Unusual Suspects. September 3rd - Rosolis Village Hall, Blas Festival, Scotland (Mairearad and Anna) September 4th - The Aros Centre, Portree, Blas Festival (Mairearad and Anna) September 10th - Raasay Village Hall, Blas Festival (Mairearad and Anna) September 22nd - Astley Hall, Arisaig (The Poozies) September 23rd - The Pavillion, Strathpeffer (The Poozies) September 24th - The Aros Centre, Portree, Skye (The Poozies) September 25th - The Eastgate Theatre, Peebles (The Poozies) October 7th - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich, England (The Poozies) October 9th - Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham (The Poozies) October 11th - Nettlebed Village Club, Nettlebed (The Poozies) October 28th - Mückenschlößchen, Leipzig, Germany (Mairearad and Anna) October 29th - TBC October 30th - Kulturkonsum, Oranienburg (Mairearad and Anna) October 31st - 2.30pm: Kulturhaus Centre Bagatelle, Berlin-Frohnau October 31st - 8pm: Alte Bahnhofshalle, Berlin-Schöneberg (Mairearad and Anna) For further information email: info@mairearadgreen.com |
by Rob Howard
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![]() September 1st, 1pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 2nd, 12.30pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 3rd, 2pm – ‘The Bell and the Glass’ (Open Rehearsal), and at 4pm – ‘The Bell and the Glass’ (with Peter Evans, Okkyung Lee) September 4th, 12.30pm – ‘Screen Play’ (Open Rehearsal), and at 2.30pm – ‘Screen Play’ (with Peter Evans, Okkyung Lee) September 5th, 4pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 15th, 1pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 16th, 1pm – ‘The Bell and the Glass’ (Open Rehearsal), and at 2pm – ‘The Bell and the Glass’ (with Ned Rothenberg) September 17th, 3pm – ‘Screen Play’ (Open Rehearsal), and at 4pm – ‘Screen Play’ (with Ned Rothenberg and o.blatt) September 18th, 4pm – ‘The Bell and the Glass’ (with Ned Rothenberg) September 19th, 12.30pm – ‘Screen Play’ (with Ned Rothenberg, o.blatt) September 22nd, 1pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 23rd, 1pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) September 25th, 2.30pm – ‘Ephemera’ (solo) For further information email: gklucevsek@si.rr.com |
by Harley Jones
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![]() Aug 19-22: Tampere, Finland - Teatteri Monttu (Haitaripainia / Accordion Wrestling) Sept 1: Helsinki, Finland – Helsinki Festival (Kimmo Pohjonen Kluster and Dakha Brakha) Sept 5: Kiev, Ukraine – Gogol Festival (Kimmo Pohjonen Kluster and Dakha Brakha) Sept 16.17: Winspit, Worth Matravers, Dorset, UK: Inside Out (Pohjonen with Paper Cinema: The Rock Charmer) Sept 21: London, England - LSO St. Lukes, UBS Soundscapes, Eclectica (solo plus collaboration with Pekka Kuusisto) Sept 26: Helsinki, Finland - Love and Anarchy Film Festival (Pohjonen / Echampard: Kino Uumen) Sept 27: Tallinn, Estonia - Kinos Söprus (Pohjonen / Echampard - Kino Uumen) Oct 6: Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia (K Cube: Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen) Oct 8: Hyvinkää, Finland - Hyvinkääsali (K Cube: Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen) Oct 9: Lahti, Finland - Finlandia-klubi (K Cube: Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen) Oct 13: Tampere, Finland - Klubi (K Cube: Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen) Oct 14: Jyväskylä, Finland - Lutakko (K Cube: Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen) Dec: Stockholm, Sweden - (Haitaripainia / Accordion Wrestling) (TBC) Dec: Stockholm, Sweden - (Haitaripainia / Accordion Wrestling) (TBC) Kluster and Dakha Brakha Kimmo Pohjonen and electronic percussionist Juuso Hannukainen will perform as Kluster in a special collaboration performance with Ukrainian female vocal group Dakha Brakha at Helsinki Festival on Sept 1. Info. The performance will be repeated at Gogol Festival, Kiev on September 5. Info . Sept 1: Helsinki, Finland – Helsinki Festival Sept 5: Kiev, Ukraine – Gogol Festival Pohjonen UK concerts in September Kimmo Pohjonen returns to UK in September for three concerts: At the Inside Out Festival in Dorset, on Sept 16 and 17, Pohjonen collaborates with visual artists Paper Cinema in the program called The Rock Charmer. Info . Sept 16, 17: Winspit, Worth Matravers, Dorset, UK: Inside Out On September 21, Pohjonen will perform solo at LSO St.Lukes with a special collaboration with violinist Pekka Kuusisto. The show is part of the UBS Soundscapes, Eclectica series. Info . Sept 21: London, England - LSO St. Lukes, UBS Soundscapes, Eclectica UK concerts organized by Sound UK. Pohjonen and Echampard - Kino Uumen Improvisational duo Kimmo Pohjonen and French drummer Eric Echampard will perform improvised music under the name Kino Uumen for four short films. Pohjonen/Echampard. Sept 26: Helsinki, Finland - Love and Anarchy Film Festival, Bio Rex Sept 27: Tallinn, Estonia - Kinos Söprus Pohjonen, Kuoppamäki, Kämäräinen - K Cube tour of Finland The trio K Cube: Kimmo Pohjonen – accordion, Sami Kuoppamäki – drums and Timo Kämäräinen –guitar, will tour Finland in October 2010. K Cube. Oct 6: Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia Oct 8: Hyvinkää, Finland - Hyvinkääsali Oct 9: Lahti, Finland - Finlandia-klubi Oct 13: Tampere, Finland - Klubi Oct 14: Jyväskylä, Finland - Lutakko K Cube "Sumo" video. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Performers include: accordionists Roman Jbanov, Domi Emorine, Pierre Laval and Félicien Brut, Thierry Montcheny (guitar), Voyage en Sibérie with accordionists Dolmatov Michaël Alexandrovitch, Dolmatov Alexeï Michaëlovitch and other musicians and dancers. The main concerts are as follows: September 4th, 2.30pm – Opening Concert, Salle des Fêtes, Saint-Sauves d’Auvergne September 5th, 8.30pm – Espace Culture et Congrès, Ceyrat September 6th, 8.30pm – Salle des Fêtes, Perpezat September 7th, 8.30pm – Salle ‘La Passarelle’, Menat September 8th, 8.30pm – Salle des Fêtes, Saint-Nectaire September 9th, 8.30pm – Salle Socioculturelle, Messeix September 10th, 8.30pm – Foyer Rural, Egliseneuve d’Entraigues September 11th, 8.30pm – Casino Municipal, La Bourboule September 12th, 8.30pm – Salle des Fêtes, Bromont-Lamothe September 13th, 8.30pm – Closing Concert, Galerie des Thermes, Le Mont-Dore For further information email: duopm@sfr.fr |
by Rob Howard
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Shetland's 23rd Accordion & Fiddle Festival will be held between Thursday 7th - Monday 11th October 2010, taking place in 13 venues and involving lots of local and overseas guest artistes. The festival features a non-stop programme of concerts, dances and music sessions. Local accordion artistes performing include Brian Morrison, Callum Nicolson Quartet, Catticloo, Cullivoe Band, Da 8 o' Wis, Da Fustra, Drewie Hawick, Fradner Gamla, Graeme Garrick, Gussie and Co, James Leask Dance Band, Jim and David Halcrow, Jimmy Burgess Dance Band, Lana Thomson, Leeshinat, Ness Accordion and Fiddle Club, Northmavine Fiddle and Accordion Club, Peter Wood, Sandy Legget, Unst Music and Dance Club, and the Westside Fiddle and Accordion Club. Visting guest performers include Alasdair MacLeod Trio, Brothers Zamiskovci (Slovakia), Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio, Gary Donaldson Ceilidh Band, Gary Sutherland Ceilidh Band, Iain Angus MacLeod Trio, Ian Thomson Scottish Dance Band, Knerten & Co (Norway), Larry Gavin (Ireland), Matthew MacLennan, Neil Caul and Alastair McGirr, Nicky McMichan, Roya MacLean, Stella Wilkie and Joan Blue, Steven Carcary Scottish Dance Band, Susan MacFadyen Trio, The Alistair Wood Scottish Dance Band, The Burns Brothers Ceilidh Band, The Coisle Ceoil Group (Ireland), and Tom Byrne and The Henry Girls (Ireland). For further information email: info@shetlandaccordionandfiddle.com |
by Harley Jones
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![]() The music includes traditional Finnish - Swedish songs as well as Kalaniemi renditions, two of which are pieces by Lars Hollmer. Maria will tour the Vilda Rosor music in 2010 and 2011 starting with Folkelarm, Oslo, Norway on Sept 10 and 11, 2010. Maria Kalaniemi and guitarist Olli Varis will perform music from their Bellow Poetry album in Tokyo on Sept 22 and 23 at Star Pine’s Café and Musashino Hall. The concerts are organized by Music Plant. For further information, email: pap@hoedown.com |
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