With accordion (and bandoneon) players from: Argentina, Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Russia and the United States.
1- Best of Gotan Project.
With the debut album La Revancha Del Tango from 2001, the French Gotan Project delivered a strong calling card. In an exemplary way Phillippe Cohen Salalle, Christophe Müller and Eduardo Makaroff mixed melodies from the traditional Argentine tango with modern music forms such as dub and downbeat. The instrumental contributions (among others on bandoneon and violin) by top Argentine musicians such as Nini Flores and Gustavo Beijtelman are supported by the latest beats from electronic music. CD. Best of Gotan Project. Label: Discographe (2011), code: 3700426916943. VIDEO
2- French Touch – Richard Galliano.
The French accordionist Richard Galliano is accompanied by a number of excellent musicians: bassists Remi Vignolo and Jean-Francois Jenny-Clark (unfortunately died shortly after these sessions were recorded); drummers Daniel Humair and Andre Ceccarelli; guitarist Jean-Marie Ecay; and soprano saxophonist Michel Portal. On this album Galliano demonstrates his mastery in performing fast complicated changes full of jazz feeling. His influences are enormous, with inclusions ranging from the thundering Heavy Tango, to the italianising Caruso, and the Brazilian tune Bebe by Hermeto Pascual. CD. French touch – Richard Galliano. Label: Dreyfus Jazz (2013), code: FDM46050 369342. VIDEO
3- Cada um belisca um pouco of the accordion trio Dominguinhos, Sivuca and Oswaldinho.
This album brings together the three holy monsters of the ‘Forró’. Forró is a Brazilian popular and instrumental style of music with a lively and cheerful rhythm that is characterized by virtuosity and improvisation of the artists. Cada Um Belisca Um Pouco is a tribute to Luiz Gonzaga (king of baião) in which accordionists emphasize their virtuosity and their individual technique. CD. Cada um belisca um pouco – Dominguinhos, Sivuca and Oswaldinho. Label: Discmedi Blau (2006), code: DM 93702. VIDEO – FILM
4- The swinging accordion – Johnny Meijer.
Jan Cornelis Meijer (1912 – 1992) was an Amsterdam accordionist. Already in the 1950s, Johnny Meijer frequently performed abroad and earned the title “King of the Accordion”. He became world champion Accordion in 1953 and 1954. Besides the Jordan sing-along he also played fast swing songs, Romanian music and classical music and he was recognized worldwide as a virtuoso jazz accordionist. In 1974 he recorded with the Dutch Swing College Band the lp Johnny goes Dixie, which became gold. However, Johnny Meijer never aspired to a world career, before he had grown too much with the Amsterdam Jordaan. CD. The swinging accordion – Johnny Meijer. Label: Dureco (1992), code: RPC 93632. VIDEO
5- Fuerza! – Carel Kraayenhof Tango Ensemble.
The album Fuerza! (Keep your courage!) From the Kraayenhof Tango Ensemble shows that the tango is a mixture of emotion and aggression. With the Tango Ensemble band leader Kraayenhof links the sound of his bandoneón with that of the string quartet, with double bass and piano. Seven of the twelve compositions are from Kraayenhof ‘s hand. Not only tango’s, but also musical styles of the countryside are discussed. Because the album is recorded in one day it also sounds spontaneous and direct. CD. Fuerza! – Carel Kraayenhof, Tango Ensemble. Label: Bando Dreams (2012), code: 8717092006194. Bando Dreams BD 2012073. VIDEO
6- Notefalls – Guy Klucevsek & Alan Bern.
The number of classical accordion virtuosos is small, but American Guy Klucevsek and Alan Bern are among the best. Both have strong classic references.
Notefalls is their second joint CD and it is clear that they love to play together. Their compositions have a loose, infectious charm, with a full, warm and intimate sound.
CD. Notefalls – Guy Klucevsek, Alan Bern. Label: Winter & Winter (2007), code: 9101312. VIDEO
7- Feeling & Passion – Vladimir Denissenkov.
Accordionist Vladimir Denissenkov is a Ukrainian who has been living in Italy for years. Graduated from the Moscow Conservatory after years of intensive activities with local artists, he reached Italy and collaborated with many Italian artists. With his virtuoso qualities as instrumentalist on a Russian accordion (the bajan), Vladimir Denissenkov shows innovative sounds.
CD. Feeling & Passion – Vladimir Denissenkov. Label: Felmay (2014), code: FY 8215. VIDEO
8- Baldheaded woman – Thomas Fields.
One of the many new faces in the ‘zydeco’ scene during the 90s, accordionist Thomas’ Big Hat ‘Fields was born in Rayne, Lousiana in 1947. Already known by his fellow artists for running a club in the’ Grand Coteau ‘area. He did not play the accordion earlier than in the late eighties, shortly after he had formed the Foot Stompin ‘Zydeco Band with his bass player wife Geneva. Fields debuted in 1994 with The Big Hat Man; Come to Louisiana in 1995. This album, Baldheaded woman, he recorded in 1999. CD. Baldheaded woman – Thomas Fields. Label: Maison de Soul (1999), code: MDS 1073. VIDEO
