Article: BIG SQUEEZE Down but never out, the lowly accordion is staging a comeback; Get all pumped up on some choice accordion albums Here is a list of favorite accordion albums by avant-accordionist Guy Klucevsek. His comments are in italics. Francisco Ulloa, "!UltraMerengue!" (1993, Green Linnet). Dominican merengue accordionist. "He plays so fast it takes my breath away." Evan Harlan, "Excelsior Declassified" (1996, MarkSetGo). "Harlan, an alumnus of the Klezmer Conservatory Orchestra, does what he calls `declassified' versions of the Shostakovich Piano Preludes, among other things." Ivo Papasov, "Balkanology" (1991, Hannibal). Balkan accordion folk music. "Shows that a tradition can be expanded without destroying its foundations." Or pick up anything by: Maria Kalaniemi: "She comes out of the Finnish folk music scene but can cover many different styles, always with passion, intelligence and impeccable musicianship." Lars Hollmer: "an autodidactic multi-instrumentalist who composes very personal, quirky, complex pieces." Astor Piazzolla: the late Argentinian bandoneon player who "single-handedly brought the tango into the modern era, reinvigorating it with jazz harmonies and classical counterpoint." Attwenger: "an Austrian duo of accordion vocals and drums who do their own warped take on Bavarian folk music, including rap elements and punk tempos." Steve Jordan: "arguably the finest diatonic accordion player in the world, a virtuoso technician and innovator who has wedded Tex-Mex music with pop and jazz." The second group of musicians are featured on the three-CD compilation, "Planet Squeezebox."; More keys to accordion appreciation COMING LOCAL PERFORMANCES New York accordionist Guy Klucevsek and Milwaukee's Present Music ensemble will play "Polkas from the Fringe" at 8 p.m. Saturday in the East Gallery of the Milwaukee Art Museum, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. Tickets are $18 and $14 for adults, $7.50 for students and seniors. Admission includes a post-concert party with a "mystery" polka band. For ticket information, call 271-0711. Milwaukee accordionist Stas Venglevski and Friedrich Lips from the Gnessin Institute in Moscow will perform a program of classical accordion music at 3 p.m. Oct. 27 in Wehr Hall of Alverno College, 3401 S. 39th St. General admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12. For ticket information, call Larry Way, 541-9446. GETTING INVOLVED These groups can help you expand your new-found interest: American Accordion Association: Write to American Accordionists' Association, P.O. Box 616, Mineola, NY 11501. (516) 746-3101 Closet Accordion Players of America: Write to 305 W. Magnolia, Suite 398, Fort Collins, CO, 80521. Milwaukee Accordion Club: The 280-member club meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Root River Center, 7220 W. Rawson Ave., Franklin. For information, call club president Ken Plewa, 762-1685. SqueezinArt: For a free catalog of original accordion art (T-shirts, tote bags, Christmas ornamen

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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)

Article date:

September 5, 1996

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