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30 Years of Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland

NPR last week put up a tribute to McPartland’s long running show by creating a beautiful interactive grid of interviewees from the show. Its a very cool thing, and they chose a great variety for guests from Chick Corea to Willie Nelson. Click on a music celebrity and you’ll hear a roughly 6 minute piece from McPartland’s interview.

Carnegie Hall Names Mehldau First Jazz Artist for Composer's Chair

Great news if you are a fan of jazz pianist Brad Mehldau. Mehldau has been given a season-long residency at Carnegie Hall this season, 2010-2011. What this means? Alot of fantastic new Brad Mehldau music; there will be music with strings, music with words, music for two pianos! Exciting. (Thanks to Nonesuch Records site forRead more..

Working on a New Project

I just wanted to let everyone know that the posts on here have slowed down a bit as I am working on a project I hope to have out by the end of February. The working title is The Delaware River Suite. Another post about Richard Galliano’s recording Paris Concert Another post about Accordionist RichardRead more..

They Might Be Giants – Photos from Clark County, NJ

My friend Kevin made it to this show last weekend. He said it was amazing and let me put up some photos his sister took of the band. Another post about Leonard Cohen in Philadelphia Another post about Richard Galliano’s recording Paris Concert Another post about Accordionist Richard Galliano Another post about Accordionist Maria KalaniemiRead more..

Godfather of Hipsterism – Leonard Cohen

Some terrible photos from the Leonard Cohen show at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia, October 23, 2009. The man is 75 years old! He played all the hits. Skipping off stage, getting down on hes knees for just about every other song. It was an inspiration. The band was great. And today they are honoringRead more..

Will Holshouser – American Jazz Accordionist, With 'Third Man Trio'

Will Holshouser performed improvisational jazz with Third Man Trio on Wednesday night, 10/13/09 in Philadelphia, put on by Ars Nova Workshop. The group is powered by master musician/drummer/clown Han Bennink (Denmark), and melodically led by reed-man Michael Moore (not that one). Holshouser’s accordion fits in perfectly between the two. Rhythmic and melodic. This was theRead more..

Richard Galliano – Solo Accordion, Paris Concert

A truly wonderful recording of Richard Galliano’s playing on this live Solo recording. From March of 2009, in Paris. I think I am addicted to the opening track, Chat Pitre. My favorite track is the brilliant and masterfully played rendition of Galliano’s composition New York Tango. Through his recordings and performaces, the song has takenRead more..

Oktoburlesk – Girls, Accordions, Thrills

Alex Meixner at OctoBurlesk
He’s playing this great show (I’m jealous) with the buxom girls of Wassabasco Burlesque. Next thursday!

The Conductor of the Muses

Netflix gave me a short biography of Igor Stravinsky. Which is appropriate because Stravinsky stood 5’2″. When it was over I fired up the iTunes and found Stravinsky’s ballet Apollon Musagéte (Apollo, Conductor of the Muses.) Just gorgeous music, neo-classical and modern. Listen: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuDR0nTeDsU]

Be-Bop Accordion

bebop: a style of jazz playing, fast eighth-note lines weaving through rapidly changing chord progressions, popular in the mid-late 40′s. Think Charlie Parker. Exciting, intellectual, difficult. Be-Bop Buffet is a tremendous accordion duet of mostly bebop tunes. Simone Zanchini (Italy) on the left channel and Frank Marocco(America) on the right. Comping and playing time forRead more..