Piano Accordion recordings

Subject: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Ian Kirk
Date: 14 Nov 98 - 10:23 AM

The definition of a gentleman is one who can play a piano accordion but doesn't. It has also been said of bagpipe players. However undaunted I am learning to play the piano accordion - a great instrument in my view - and I would be interested if anyone knows of some good recordings. I have found stacks of melodeon stuff but what I am seeking is recordings of folk tunes, morris tunes jig, reels etc by a p.a. expert.

I am not too keen on Jimmy Shand or Cajun or the French or German styles of playing. Just some good ole stompalong English, Irish or Scottish roots music.

Looking forward to hearing from y'all

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Mo
Date: 14 Nov 98 - 10:54 AM

See if you can find stuff by PHIL CUNNINGHAM. Writes his own, which when you get to know it is very distinctive. Music to convert all but the most hardened accordion haters ! And the only man I know who can make playing this instrument look like an extremely cool and sexy thing to do!!

You could also try The Poozies - all female band.

Good luck,

Mo

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 14 Nov 98 - 12:45 PM

There are 2 James (Jimmy) Keanes. Dublin-NYC James plays the button accordion. Chicago Jimmy Keane plays the stomach Steinway. Jimmy recorded with Mick Moloney & Robbie O'Connell and with Liz Carroll. Pick up one of his recordings. He is a master.

Good luck and all the best Ian.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Helen
Date: 14 Nov 98 - 04:10 PM

Hi Ian,

You might be interested in this site I found. I haven't had a really good exploration of it but there were some midi files of accordion music from different countries. It does have GErman, Scandinavian etc but I can't rememberif it has British Isles or Celtic music.

Accordion Man International http://members.aol.com/ACCRDNMN/index.html

Helen

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: alison
Date: 14 Nov 98 - 11:11 PM

Hi,

If you can get hold of any Silly Wizard stuff, you'll hear Phil Cunningham. I like Sharon Shannon too.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: BAZ
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 04:51 PM

Ian
If you do get to hear any Phil Cunningham stuff and like it and want some music leave a message. We have a song book of his and it's magic.
Regards Baz

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Ian Kirk
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 01:38 PM

Thanks for the input guys and gals.I'll check out Mr Cunningham. I also checked out that website Helen and though I didn't have quite what I was looking for it is an amazing site full of accordion music from all over the world and loads of interesting links.

Anyway I have now come out of the closet. Didn't make any difference being in there the family could still hear me practice. I like the accordion - well played by an expert. There you are I have said it and it doesn't make me a bad person OK.

Best regards

Ian

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Ralph
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 05:57 PM

I to am a free reed player. Both Concertina and the Piano accordion. Don't let anybody cut you down for playing it. It is FAR easyer to play a gitar than a good squeeze box. Check out "Those Darn Accordions" They pull of some Jimmy Hendrix stuff...on an Accordion! Their web page is: /http://globerecords.com/tda/. They have two CD's out and one Casset. We went and saw them last Sat. Very small playhouse, only holds about 150 people. But the place was packed and everybody was singing and clapping to Beer Barrel Polka!

Enjoy,

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: buttonbox
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:18 AM

try www.jimmyshand.com . the Shand family website on which are available CD's of Sir Jimmy Shands music and also books of his own compositions. Not piano accordion but the famous Shand MOrino British Chromatic box, i.e. BCC#.

wonderful stuff and well worth listening to.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 08:23 AM

Go French! Gus Viseur. Anything by Gus Viseur.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: georgeward
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 01:50 PM

If you look for Jimmy Keane of Chicago (and LB is right on, you should), look for recordings of his band Bohola. And Jeremiah McLane of Nightingale, the Clayfoot Strutters and God-knows-how-many other bands is another who belongs on your list.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Ernest
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 01:57 PM

Look for the Allan Kelly Band from Ireland, A.K. plays piano accordion. Also I recommend Chris Parkinson from England, who plays piano and button box + harmonica....
Regards
Ernest

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: treewind
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 04:28 PM

Like Jimmy Shand, Sharon Shannon also doesn't play piano accordion.

Look out for Paul Hutchinson, possibly with Paul Sartin as the duo Belshazzar's Feast, now defunct but they made some recordings

There's nothing wrong with the PA as an instrument. I used to play one, and I was much influenced by Greg Trice who used to say that the bad reputation of the piano accordion in English dance music was purely the fault of the way it was played, not the instrument itself.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:41 PM

From the U.S., two great musicians who play contra dance tunes (and related stuff), e.g., American, Irish, Scottish, and French Canadian tunes, etc., are Laurie Andres, from Seattle, Washington, and Jeremiah McLane, from Brattleboro, Vermont.

Laurie and Cathie Whitesides (sometimes with W.B. Reid and Bob McQuillen -- who's most known for piano, but also plays accordion) are the Rhythm Rollers. Laurie has recorded with other folks, as well.

Jeremiah is known especially from his work with Nightingale.

They're both outstanding. You can find their recordings at the Country Dance and Song Society and Andy's Front Hall, among other places.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:45 PM

Oops, Jeremiah McLane has his own web site, here, reminding me that he also plays with the Clayfoot Strutters and Big Table.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: kmbraun
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 05:52 PM

Try "Planet Squeezebox" from ellipsis arts. It is a 3 CD set.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Moleskin Joe
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 07:50 AM

Dermot O'Brien and Mick Foster are very good PA players. In England there is Karen Tweed and the most Irish sounding PA player is a guy called Dave Bulmer.

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: gigix
Date: 25 Nov 04 - 09:43 AM

English (Scottish, Irish) Karen Tweed, absolutely. At her best with Ian Carr in duo (albums "Shhhh" and "Fyace") but also with the band Swap. Superb stuff.
Luigi

Subject: RE: Piano Accordion recordings
From: Tradsinger
Date: 27 Nov 04 - 04:27 PM

Dig out some of the Yetties' recordings. Pete Shutler is a good an underrated accordeon player.