Last edited 9.4.97
with
In May 1996, five of the world's most innovative contemporary accordionists converged in Europe for a three week tour. Each of these players is recognized in classical, jazz, folk or avant-garde music circles as being not only technically skilled but having profound compositional ability as well as an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Individually, they are uncompromising and driven by a deep passion for breaking down musical barriers. Collectively, they make the challenge to integrate these forces into a whole, of which the combined energy is greater than the sum of its parts.
The program featured solos and combinations, compositions and collaborations from individual and collective group members. The full presentation was a major event in the accordion renaissance, a turning point for the accordion as a contemporary instrument and a powerful, thrilling experience for all modern music enthusiasts lucky enough to witness it.
Instigator and chief conceptualist of the project was New York accordionist Guy Klucevsek. Guy is known as the "rebel with an accordion" throughout the jazz and avant-garde world from his work with Bill Frisell, John Zorn, Anthony Braxton, Laurie Anderson and others, plus the numerous albums he's released on his own. Guy, of Slovenian descent, was raised on polkas, then quickly expanded his interest into classical music studies for accordion. His influences are vast, including composers Penderecki, Xenakis and Ligeti, folk melodies of Eastern European and traditional music from around the world. Guy is a master of the free-bass accordion and, as with the other players in this project, his music goes beyond style and categorization. His recordings and performances are bizarre collections of inexplicable sounds and segues, melodies and improvisations. From a solo accordion piece that sounds like a cartoon train wreck to a delicate chamber piece with piano, violin, viola, cello and bass, his range, sophistication and power are unequalled. Guy has toured and performed in Europe, USA and Canada.
Maria Kalaniemi, from Finland, is a master of free-bass button accordion. She is, in fact, recognized as Finland's leading contemporary accordionist. Once a member of pioneering group Niekku, from the famed Sibelius Acdemy Folk Music Department, where she now teaches, her roots are in folk and classical music but her sights and abilities go far beyond existing styles. Technically brilliant as a player, and adept at improvisation, she is also a very powerful, intuitive and sensitive composer, with pieces that stylistically touch in numerous areas but feature her own personality as the driving force. Melody is the meaning and with Maria, listeners are sure to feel her message deeply. Maria has released two albums, the latest IHO, with her group Aldargaz, featuring a myriad of arrangements for horn and string sections. She is also a member of a female melodeon quintet called The Helsinki Melodeon Ladies and a Swedish-Finnish music group Ramunders Döttrar. Maria has toured and performed with Aldargaz throughout Europe, USA and in Canada. Maria Kalaniemi home page
Sweden's Lars Hollmer is a true eccentric. From his home in Uppsala, Lars concocts imaginary worlds with accordion, keyboards and electric band, worlds that often sound completely crazy but are as deep-rooted and heartfelt as the simplest melody, which he also is known to produce with great ease. He has an illustrious past as founder and co-conspirator in Swedish bands Samla Mammas Manna, Zamla Mammas Manna and Von Zamla. But it's his recent past, present and future which are the most challenging and interesting. His numerous albums under his own name and with his later constellations Looping Home Orchestra, Treasure Hunters and others are brilliant excursions of unpredictable fantasy adventure. Lars has toured and performed throughout Europe and in Canada with all his various groups.
Bratko Bibic hails from Slovenia. Member of 70's legends Begnagrad, who recorded two stunning albums, Bratko eventually took his accordion to Nimal, a multi-national conglomerate of likeminded souls, including cellist Tom Cora (USA) and top Swiss players known for their work with the also legendary Debile Menthol. Nimal's three albums include some of the most challenging yet melodically and rhythmically stimulating music ever made. Bratko's compositions were highlights, showcasing his accordion skills and illustrating his huge capacity for truly wild arrangements. Bratko now tours solo, performing provocative sets of traditional, modern and post modern material, using his voice as an equally provocative instrument and demonstrating the full potential of the accordion through complex and spontaneous sound experiments.
The self-taught musician Otto Lechner comes from Austria and started playing accordion at age four. He lost his eyesight completely when he was 15. "I am blind but I think a lot in colours: greys and blues", he says. Otto's performances include his own compositions and adaptations of traditional and popular music and waltzes, sometimes combined with jazz improvisations. Lechner is musical director of two ensembles in Vienna, Otto's Jazz Ensemble Oh Je and Das Erste Wiener Strenge Kammerorchester. He travels with Theatre Without Boundaries and composes music regularly for theatres and radio plays all over Europe. His music is not dance music, but instead can, at times, sound very melancholic, coming from deep within. It's his way of playing.
A CD RECORDING OF THE WDR / KÖLN CONCERT WILL BE RELEASED BY INTUITION, GERMANY, AUTUMN 1997.
Guy Klucevsek: guysqueeze@aol.com
or: Phillip Page
Hoedown
Laivurinrinne 2
00120 Helsinki
Finland
ph: 358 9 6224804
fax: 358 9 628950
e-mail: pap@dighoe.pp.fi
with Niekku:
with Aldargaz:
with Samla Mammas Manna:
with Zamla Mammaz Manna:
with Von Zamla:
with Ramlössa Kvällar:
solo:
with Looping Home Orchestra:
with Fem Söker en Skatt:
with Begnagrad:
with Nimal:
solo Bratko:
Recordings
by Accordion Tribe members are available from:
Digelius Music
Laivurinrinne 2
00120 Helsinki
Finland
phone: 358 9 666375
fax: 358 9 628950
email: pap@dighoe.pp.fi
Digelius Scanmail mailorder service
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