Did you know June is International Accordion Awareness Month!? In honor of the occasion I have grabbed some of my favorite accordion tracks to share from the Calabash Music catalogue. San Franciscan Accordionist Tom Torriglia petitioned the accordion loving city for official recognition of the instrument and thus June is a month for squeezebox lovers everywhere. Bravo!
As many accordion enthusiasts know, the accordion is a remarkable instrument. It's full sound can emulate both the great pipe organs of Europe and the humble harmonica. The Accordion traveled far and wide during the 19th century with missionaries, explorers, traders and sailors on their journeys and back again carrying with it music to and from all corners of the globe. From the US to Madagascar, Brazil to Spain, Sudan to Belgium, accordions are making music!
liner notes:
Clifton Chenier - Intro & Louisana Shuffle
"Clifton Chenier - the king of zydeco. Chenier made his name playing dance halls and juke joints in the Mississippi river delta. This track is from a live performance at the 1966 Berkely Blues Festival."
Amestoy Trio - La steppe
"The Amestoy Trio swings with Mediterranean flair. Their music highlights the versitility and depth of the instrument."
Robertinho Do Acordeao - Coroné Pereira - Toinho da Serrinha - Ze da Onça - O Xamego da Mulata
"An international accordion playlist could not be complete with out some Forro!"
Regis Gizavo - Kadiroky
"Regis Gizavo is one of the few holding the torch of Malagasy accordion. Growing up in Tuléar he absorbed the tradition and continued by researching accordion in other regions of Madagascar. Since he moved to Europe his music has been in high demand."
Chango Spasiuk - El Prostibulo
"We travel now to South America to hear Chango Spasiuk and the sound of chamamé, a regional dance music in Argentina. The swing is deep and the playing sublime..."
Wafir - Nilo Azul
"'Nilo Azul' and Wafir bring us to the Sudan and the great civilization and culture that surrounds the Nile."
Turlu Tursu - La Galinette, Pierre La Chabrette
"Turlu Tursu's agressive and humorous brand of music is based in the many accordion traditions on Europe and beyond. La Galinette is off of the album 'Accordion n' Drum n' Bass'!"
Dominican Merengue - Compadre Perdo Juan - Rafaelito Arias
"You may not realize it if you listen to current merengue from the Dominican Republic, but the accordion, along with the tambora, was the main instrument of the music in the early days. Hear Rafaelito Arias play the lines that would now be orchestrated with another reed instrument, the saxophone."
Mr. Peters' Boom & Chime - Rub mi Belly
"Rub a dub dub! Props to DJ SpinCycle for the tip on this caribbean flavor!"
http://www.typepad.com/t/app/weblog/post?__mode=edit_entry&id=11165103&blog_id=26520#
Charanga Cakewalk - Tu Y Yo
"'Tu y Yo' brings the accordion into the modern sounds of Latin America. Michael Ramos' project Charanga Cakewalk remixes the accordion south of the border."
Hear the Playlist...
Back to Calabash Music...
Tags: accordion, music, world music
Awesome playlist! It really shows how versatile the accordion can be.
Posted by: Chris | June 20, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Glad you dig it Chris. I tried to pick songs that showed how diverse worldwide accordion culture really is. Thanks for the post on your blog. Yeah, I drive a Subaru....
Posted by: simeonchapin | June 21, 2006 at 08:18 AM