December 2008 posting:

In this issue of my column I would like to share with you two articles that I have come across that I feel have merit and should be shared with you. The first is a review by Joan Grauman of Dr. Carmelo Pino's piano accordion CD titled "Carmelo, Celebrating the Accordion." She refers to it as "a true masterpiece."

Her review reads as follows:

Four years in the making, this magnificent compilation celebrates not only a technically and musically flawless accordion performance, it also showcases the amazing composing and arranging skills of this accomplished and acclaimed accordionist, Dr. Carmelo Pino.

The album features twenty-one musicians considered by Carmelo to be among the finest, and includes his award-winning composition "Concertino for Accordion and Strings," which has been performed by several symphony orchestras. There are a number of beautifully arranged jazz pieces featuring Carmelo with well-known trombonist, Dave Steinmayer, plus Carmelo's celebrated medley of Gershwin tunes, "Gershwiniana," and David Diamond's "Night Music," a composition for accordion and string quartet commissioned by the American Accordionists' Association.

The CD also includes three very lovely and uniquely different Italian dance tunes, which were composed by Carmelo for the Italian film, "54 Roses." Accordion great, Peter Soave, is featured in Carmelo's jazz arrangement of J.S. Bach's "Two Part Invention in A Minor." This piece is just wonderful.

The entire CD is truly a gem. It flows seamlessly from one mood and musical style to another. Dr. Carmelo Pino has taken our beloved instrument to a new level. This CD is a real masterpiece. BRAVO!

-- Joan Grauman is on the governing board of the American Accordionists' Association, vice president of the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society and co-directs the annual Frank Marocco Accordion Event with her husband, Dan.

This CD review was originally released in 2007. Dr. Pino has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and is now residing in a convalescent center in Maryland. His CDs are now handled by his close friend and student, Joan Grauman and all proceeds will be turned over to the Pino family.

To obtain a CD, please contact Joan Grauman by phone (301 279-8716), via email ( joangrauman@comcast.net ), or by mail at POB 2001, Rockville, MD 20847-2001.

CDs are $15 each, plus $2 shipping (within the US). Please make checks payable to Joan Grauman

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December 2008 posting:

At the recent AAA Governing Board meeting my colleague Sam Falcetti presented all members with a copy of a great article from the Music Trades Magazine 2008 issue written by Bob Popyk.

After reading the article I thought that it had great merit and should be circulated to all our members because it is such a positive article about accordion. I have obtained permission from Mr. Popyk to publish his article in its entirety and I thank him for the opportunity to share it with you.

Mr. Popyk is the founder and CEO of Bentley-Hall, Inc., a marketing firm specializing in creative sales and marketing strategies. His sales meetings and seminars are presented internationally to major companies and industries. For more information on Bob Popyk please see: rpopyk@aol.com or write to Bentley Hall, Inc., 120 Walton Street, Suite 201, Syracuse, NY 13202 or also see www.bentley-hall.com.

His company also publishes a magazine that might be of interest to our members. It's called Making Music, and is a lifestyle magazine for all types of musicians, all instruments, and all skill levels. He is offering our AAA members a link to receive a free sample issue if they are interested in subscribing. Please see http://www.makingmusicmag.com for information on the magazine. For a free trial issue, members can click on http://www.makingmusicmag.com/offer1.

I hope all will enjoy reading the article which is listed below.

ACCORDIONS AREN'T QUITE THE PUNCHLINE ANYMORE
By Bob Popyk
as published in Music Trades Magazine 2008

Q. What's the difference between an accordion and an onion?
A. No one cries when you cut up an accordion.

Q. What do an accordion and a court case have in common?
A. Everyone is relieved when the case is closed.

Q. What's the best way to make an accordion player's car look better?
A. Take the Domino's Pizza sign off the roof.

Q. What is the definition of a gentleman?
A. Someone who knows how to play the accordion, but doesn't.

Q. What's the definition of an optimist?
A. An accordion player with a pager.

OK. Had enough? Hope so, because the jokes are starting to fade, now that Roland is doing its best to make the V-accordion an instrument to be reckoned with. Don't just take my word for it. Over the past few weeks, The New York Times, the Los Angles Times, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have been singing the praises of the accordion's new popularity, particularly the emergence of the Roland V-Accordion. You would not believe the national press the instrument has been getting.

I'm biased. I'm an accordion player. I used to play for a living. Of course when the accordion lost favor, I started playing "keyboards." I've played some of the best upholstered-sewer piano bars around, as well as many of the more obscure Moose Lodges, VFW halls, and no-name clubs in the North East. But I came into this world as an accordion player, and am going out the same way. I am not apologizing for it either. While I wasn't looking, all of a sudden the accordion got hip again. I guess part of the credit goes to the Zydeco, Cajun, Tex-Mex and American folk. You can put part of the blame on the Montreal band Arcade Fire, that uses accordions for the instrument's remarkable range and unique sound. The Decemberists use an accordion. The instrument has been recently featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show. It's been picked up by Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney. Cult country singer Dwight Yoakum's steel guitar player doubles on accordion on his hit "Streets of Bakersfield." Go to YouTube and see how many pops the accordion jazz legends including Art Van Damme get. Here's an exact quote about the new popularity of the accordion from the New York Times:

"One success story in the outreach effort came about four years ago when Roland, the music manufacturing giant, began making accordions. Roland's instruments are digital; which initially caused a bit of a stir among purists, but they have been picked up by the likes of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and Paul McCartney."

Nowhere did it mention that accordion players were still playing "Who Stole the Kieshka?," "Lady of Spain," and the "Beer-Barrel Polka."

I don't know if you've seen or played the Roland V-Accordion, but it's a total gas. It is entirely digital, has the sounds of the New York Philharmonic, coupled with a gutsy rock organ sound, plus every accordion sound known to man. At a flick of a switch you can get a French accordion, Cajun accordion, Zydeco accordion, or the sound of a Hammond B-3. There is a trombone sound with expression and a clarinet voice that seems to have breath-control. The tenor sax voice is a killer. The bass buttons play like a regular accordion, or a string bass. And that's just the tip of this iceberg. The Roland V-accordion was the brainchild of Roland founder Itauro Kakehashi who invented the Rhythm Ace, fostered all of the Roland musical products, and seems to have a crystal ball when it comes to seeing what the future holds when it comes to musical instruments. He's a bulldog when fighting to make the best possible product, then getting it out to a mass audience.

So, when Roland's Chris Halon and Ron Lankford invited me out to Los Angeles for the Roland Accordion Festival, I didn't even think twice. I was there. You should have been too. Music dealers included Joe Petosa from Seattle, WA, Lilliana and Alex Chudolij from New Jersey, and Sam Falcetti from Springfield, MA. The passion that the contestants and audience had for this new instrument was truly amazing. Initially, entrants from all over the country were narrowed down to seven finalists. These finalists went before some of LA's top music professionals to pick a winner. (The winner received a new Roland FR-7 accordion and a trip to Rome, Italy to compete in the world finals). The U.S. winner was Joe Natoli from Lewis Center, OH. Joe is not a professional, but a hobbyist who is a self-described "computer geek." He played his fanny off. No contestants played a polka or "The Sharpshooter's March." There was no "Lady of Spain" (even though Joe figured out how to replicate a few measures of bellow-shake just to show it could be done). Dick Contino's name never came up, and it was like nobody even knew who Lawrence Welk was. (Except me, who was probably the oldest person there.) This was one cool program with some really talented musicians.

Here's the kicker, Roland is coming out with a smaller V-Accordion that can easily be used by keyboard players who play a standard digital piano, and want the versatility and portability this new axe provides. There are also three larger V-Accordions for musicians wanting a certain size and weight, coupled with a different array of sounds. Get this… Roland has their own team of clinicians for the V-Accordion who include Don McMahon, Cory Pesaturo, Chris Rybak, and Eddie Montiero. When's the last time you heard of product specialists for accordions?

I guess the music industry is indeed cyclical. If you hang on to something long enough it becomes hip again. Do you know that there were more accordions sold last year in the U.S. than there were organs? Do you know that over 200,000 accordions were sold last year in China alone?

So, before you snicker about even the thought of stocking an accordion, think about what the potential of selling something no one else has, for three times the margin of your most expensive guitar.

I remember when Gary Larson, creator of "The Far Side," did a cartoon panel where a person heading into heaven is being handed a harp, and the hell-bound are handed an accordion. Well, I'd like you to know that in Joe Petosa's music store he has the cartoon framed, with a note of apology from Gary Larson. Maybe it was a sign of things to come?

Accordions will probably never have the popularity they once did during the Post-war years, but they didn't die out either. And little by little they seem to be sneaking back into the main fray of American music. And I, for one, am very happy to see it.

Bob Popyk is the founder of Bentley-Hall, Inc., publishers of the International Musician, a monthly journal for the American Federation of Musicians and Making Music, a consumer magazine for music hobbyists and recreational musicians. For over 25 years, Bentley-Hall has helped to promote companies, establish brands, and deliver results. Bob has been a featured speaker at sales meetings and seminars presented internationally to major companies and industries. For more information on Bob, or his company, e-mail RPopyk@aol.com, write to: Bentley-Hall, Inc., 120 Walton Street, Suite 201, Syracuse, New York 13202, or visit www.bentley-hall.com <http://www.bentley-hall.com> .

For a free sample issue of Making Music magazine, visit: http://www.makingmusicmag.com/offer1

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The success of the Amazing Accordion Kings CD featuring Manny Corallo, Angelo DiPippo and Frank Toscano has opened many new doors for this new and very talented ensemble. The impetus of their new CD has propelled them on a very exciting concert schedule with recent performances at the June 21, 2008 “AAA 70th Anniversary Concert” at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY and the July 17, 2008 Concert at the Italian American Community Center in Rochester, NY. Their upcoming Sunday, October 19, 2008 performance at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center at Five Towns College (Dix Hills, NY) seems to be attracting a very large crowd according to ticket sales. For more information on the Amazing Accordion Kings please see: http://www.amazingaccordionkings.com

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Ray Oreggia and I had the great pleasure to do two performances on consecutive days in May. Thanks to the efforts of Dan and Joan Grauman, who set up the “mini tour” for us, we were able to have a great accordion weekend performing for Joe Fertitta’s Maryland Accordion Club on Saturday, May 17th at the Bloomsbury Community Center in Catonsville, MD and on the following day for the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (Karen Denice, president) at the Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, Falls Church, VA. At both events we performed a program of Valtaro Musette music.

These organizations really made us feel comfortable, welcomed and gave us the opportunity to meet some of the nicest people ever. Many thanks to all for their kindness and hospitality. These two fine organizations are really making tremendous strides to promote our beloved instrument. Whenever possible please support their efforts. For more information on the Maryland Accordion Club please contact Joe Fertitta at (410) 744-3352. For more information on the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society please see their great web-site at http://www.washingtonaccordions.org

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On Sunday, August 24th Magnanini Winery (Wallkill, NY) once again hosted its nineteenth edition the Valtaro Accordionists’ Reunion. The event was again a sell out and very noticeable in recent years is the fact that more dignitaries from the accordion industry are on hand to join in the celebration. This musical style definitely has its ardent fans and seems to engender an ever growing number of new aficionados. The two-hundred and twenty guests attending were not disappointed with the afternoon’s entertainment supplied by the likes of Aldo Bruschii, Manny Corallo, Frank Carozza, Kevin Friederich (CIA), Dominic Karcic, Ray Oreggia, Linda Soley Reed (AAA), Frank Toscano, Mike Zeppetella and operatic vocalist Vicki Atwater, Marino Nicolich, Bruce Reed, Regina Possavino. Andy Feretti, and Phil Battiston.

For a more detailed description of the event please see Kevin Friedrich's article “19th Accordion Reunion of Valtaro Music at the Magnanini Winery” on the Accordion USA web-site: http://www.accordionusa.com

In line with this ever growing interest in Valtaro Musette music mention should be made that the up-coming issue of ER Magazine (Emilia Romagna Magazine published in Italy) will feature a major article on Valtaro Musette music and its founders John Brugnoli and Pete Delgrosso. More information may be obtained by e-mailing Claudio Bacilieri: CBacilieri@Regione.Emilia-Romagna.it or writing to:

Regione Emilia-Romagna
Consulta emiliano-romagnoli nel mondo
Attention: Mr. Claudio Bacilieri
Viale Aldo Moro 52 / 11° piano
Bologna, Italy 40127

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A one-day festival was recently co-sponsored by Accordion Connection LLC and the New Hampshire Accordion Association on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel Manchester (Manchester, NH). It was a full day of concert performances, workshops, jam sessions, and vendor displays. Some featured artists included the great Tony Lovello, Nils Lundin, Scandi-Dancers, Chad Huval, John Leeman, Gary Morin, the fantastic Mary Tokarski and the Festival Orchestra conducted by Donna Maria Regis. For future events and information please see: http://www.accordionconnection.com/Home.htm

Mary Tokarski was a recent headliner at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention (September 29th through October 2nd). On October 10th she and Dessie Vaughan – also known as the accordion and piano duo "Buttons & Keys" - will present the world premier of "Retrospections" - an original work by Bulgarian composer Todor Gerov at the AAA CUNY Concert event. (Please contact Linda Soley Reed (203) 335-2045
/ E-mail: Lsoleyreed@aol.com or AAA1938@aol.com
for more information about this event.) November 15th will find Mary at the Florida Accordion SMASH in Orlando and she will also be a guest artist at the Frank Marocco Accordion Event at the Dobson Ranch Inn in Mesa, AZ from January 21st-25th, 2009.

If you haven’t heard Mary you are missing something. She, through her great talent and much hard work, has elevated herself to being one of the top soloists on the accordion circuit. Bravo Mary!

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Mary Mancini and Mario Tacca inform me that they will be part of an “Unforgettable week in Sicily,” October 26th to November 2nd. For more information on this great vacation event please contact ABC Destination at 1-800-227-5858. They are also currently putting together their annual Christmas Concert at the Walton Theatre (Walton, NY) on Friday evening December 19, 2008 and will be joined by David Winograd and The Saints of Swing Orchestra. They can be contact them for more information at info@gioiaproductions.com or visit their website at www.gioiaproductions.com.

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Jeremie Buirette – French Accordionist
By Dominic Karcic

At the Coupe Mondiale 2007 in Alexandria, VA I got my first opportunity to meet and hear the very talented accordionist, Jeremie Buirette. One could not be but impressed by his stage presence, energy, musicianship and virtuosity. It’s quite obvious that the judges were also impressed because he won first prize ($1,500.00) in the International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment.

Once again at this year’s AAA Festival (Aug. 13-17) in Arlington, VA we met again and once again he walked away with the first prize ($3,000.00) in the Vivan Stolaruk Entertainment Competition. His competition performance was so impressive that he was asked to perform at
the gala AAA Saturday night dinner and concert. Each of his solos was met with a standing ovation.

Jeremie was born on December 27, 1981 in Paris, France. He is the second born of three brothers and started playing accordion at the age of six. He studied with Ruy Rodriques for seventeen years and has also studied with Max Bonnay, J.M. Marroni and is currently studying with Frederic Deschamps. Jeremie is a graduate the University of Aix-en-Provence where he majored in music.

He has performed in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the USA. He was a winner in the Coupe of Europe 2002. He has finished his first CD which is due out this fall.

He makes living solely by performing. He performs solo, with other artists and also with his very talented wife, Clemence, who plays piano and cello. Their duo performance repertoire consists of classical selections, jazz and Argentine Tangos. Please see http://www.myspace.com/buirettejrmie

He has also performed with other musicians that include Eric Bouvelle, Jerome Richard, Dimitri Saussard, Julien Gonzales and Tony Culvis.

He informs me that in France once a performer completes forty-three jobs in a calendar year he is eligible to receive a financial stipend from the government. He goes on to explain that there are also municipal organizations like the chamber of commerce that helps to promote musicians by getting them jobs, helping with advertising/posters etc. In fact, his trip last year to the Coupe Mondiale 2007 was paid for by one of these organizations.

Jeremie is married three years to his childhood sweetheart, Clemence, and they have one child. Jeremie’s contact information is buiretteclemence@neuf.fr