Our December Concert

Our December concert started with myself playing a few tunes and finishing with Black Mask Waltz. As it was our Christmas Do, we then started on the Jacobs Join that had been brought by ourselves. Thanks to all of you who brought food along. Bill Agnew was our second player with Tulips From Amsterdam, Irish Eyes, Me and My Shadow, What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For?, Arrividerci Roma, Your Cheating Heart, Little Drummer Boy, I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus, Silent Night, Sentimental Journey and Mocking Bird Hill. Our next player was Colin Ensor who gave us What More Can I Say, Legrand Chalet, Once In A While, Aint No Pleasing You, Million Dollar Baby, Only You and Love Letters In The Sand. Bernard Belshaw then made his way to the stage and played Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, Sleighbell Ride, Ding Dong Merrily On High, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Blaze Away. As we continued eating we listened to Guy Hindley playing Winster Gallop, Dorset 4 Hand Reel, Jack Alive, Donkey Riding with Salman Tails, Bower Processioned and Oyster Girl. Ann Parker played Yodelling Polka, My Florence and Beautiful Days. Steve Heap was our next player with Me And Bobby Mc Gee, I Never Stopped Loving You and Jealousy. Andrew Baker was our next player, making his debut with Oh What A Beautiful Morning, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, Love Me Tender and Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze. I played Whispering Hope, Cruising Down The River, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, Down At The Old Bull Bush, Lassie From Lancashire, My Girls A Yorkshire Girl, I Belong To Glasgow and Keep Right on To The End Of The Road. Bill Agnew returned to the stage for a second time, he played Highland Cathedral, Reels, Tipperary, Waiting For The Robert E Lee, Swannee, California Here I Come, Obladee Oblada, Hey Jude and Cuckoo Waltz. Rebecca Parker was our next player, playing just one tune called Dancing Doll. This tune, written by Steve Roxton, was making its debut at the club after Rebecca found it in a pile of my sheet music. Our next player, Tom Bennett, played How Can You Buy Killarny, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and With A Shillealgh Under My Arm. Graham Driver played Rochdale Coconut Dance, Lovely Nancy, Staten Island, Weasels Revenge and Strike The Bell, Colin Ensor played Down Forget Me Not Lane, You’ll Never Know, May You Always, Sunshine of Your Smile, Someday and Who’s Taking You Home Tonight.
David Batty

 

This Wednesday

This Wednesday we have the welcome return of David Vernon from Edinburgh. David enthralled us in September 2005 with his repertoire, witty banter and tunes like Turkey In The Straw, Dixie, Orange Blossom Special, Flight Of The Bumblebee, Lone Ranger, Bel Viso, Highland Cathederal and much more.
Don’t miss this night, it will be a good one. Turn up early for a good seat. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. .
See you there…
David Batty

 

European Accordion Festival

Bruce Millers European Accordion Festival held recently at Aberdeen Arts Centre, Scotland, was organised by Norman English. Concert performers included accordionists Romano Viazzani, Ksenija Sidorova, Norman English, Craig Paton, Tom Orr, and Gordon Middler. Norman English began the concert using a Roland FR7 and an acoustic accordion, playing ‘El Cumbanchero’, ‘A Bright Star in Cepheus’, ‘Highland Cathedral’, ‘Norwegian Wood’, and ‘Summertime’, as well as bringing smiles of amazement with the unique sounds of the Roland’s “scat voices” used to set off ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’. Romano Viazzani’s program included: ‘Winter’ (‘Four Seasons’) – Vivaldi, ‘Prelude and Fugue in C minor’ – J.S.Bach, ‘Party Chambers’ – Paul Weller, ‘Tango Pour Claude’ – R. Galliano, ‘Jealousy’ – J. Gade, ‘Indifference’ – Colombo/Murena, ‘Il Silenzio Fuori Ordinaza’ – G.Stok, and ‘Carnival of Venice Variations’ – N. Paganini. Romano admirably demonstrated the versatility of the accordion and, when he handed the stage over to Ksenija Sidorova, it was obvious that the audience was about to enjoy another dimension. Ksenija, from Latvia, proved to be a mature, impressive and talented accordionist. Her programme included: ‘French Suite’ – JS Bach, ‘12 Variations on a theme’ – WA Mozart, ‘October’ from ‘The Seasons’ – PI Tchaikovsky, and ‘Who’s the Puppet?’ – A. Vassiliev. The finale with Romano Viazzani joining Ksenija Sidorova in an amusing musical conversation, performing ‘Clarinet Polka’ (arranged by Lars Holm), gave the audience a light hearted end to what had been a truly exhilarating evening.

 

Guerrini Accordion For Sale

Guerrini Watkins “Regent” 5 row chromatic musette accordion, 96 bass Stradella, 11 treble/3 bass couplers, double cassotto, Musictech MIDI, looks like new, beautifully decorated, in case on wheels, fairly heavy, fair price @£2,500. York area, photo available if required. For further details email martin@camrecon.demon.co.uk

 

Fintan Stanley DVD

The new DVD’s and CD’s of Fintan Stanley have now been finished. I filmed Fintan in concert and he gave me permission to sell copies of the performance to raise funds for the club. The CD is simply the soundtrack to the DVD, for those that dont have DVD’s. This is a good DVD with a great selection of music include Reine De Musette, Irish Reels, Whistling Rufus, Sweet Georgia Brown, Cuckoo Waltz, Lili Marlene, La Vie En Rose, Wine Women and Song, Rare Auld Times, Chattanooga Choo Choo and We’ll Meet Again. The DVD is £9 and the CD is £7. These should be ready and on sale at the club on Wednesday.

 

Jimmy Shand DVD

Jimmy Shand Jnr, son of the legendary Scottish band leader Sir Jimmy Shand, has launched a DVD, ‘From Miner To Maestro’, featuring the life and music of his famous father. The DVD details the life of the legendary Jimmy Shand, and includes unique, never before seen, personal home film taken by Sir Jimmy and his son over the past 60 years. Also included are highlights from the 2008 Sir Jimmy Shand Centennial Concert, featuring the Jimmy Shand Jnr. Band, Jack Stalker Scottish Dance Band, Bill Stewart Scottish Dance Band, Colin Dewar Scottish Dance Band, Ian Cruickshank’s Scottish Dance Band, and the Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance and Ceilidh Band. A new book has also been published with over 100 of Sir Jimmy’s own compositions. Sir Jimmy Shand (1908-2000) achieved lasting international fame through his music. He was a prolific recording artiste, from the 1930s to the 1990s, and composed over 300 tunes and songs. To many people worldwide, Jimmy Shand was Scottish accordion music personified.For further information email: info@concordemusic.com

 

World Accordion Day

The Confédération Internationale des Accordéonistes (CIA) is pleased to announce the official launching of World Accordion Day.
At the recent 120th CIA General Assembly of Delegates in Glasgow, Scotland, members representing almost 30 nations, unanimously voted to declare World Accordion Day as May 6th (the day the accordion was patented in 1829). On this day, the CIA will coordinate an annual world wide celebration, in a unified global crusade to promote the diversity of the accordion and the outstanding artists that play it. Already existing on a national basis, on various days, in many countries around the world, World Accordion Day is a unique global opportunity to promote public awareness of the accordion, an instrument without boundaries, one that spans all cultures and musical genres. The CIA’s first World Accordion Day will be held on 6th May 2009, the 180th birthday of the accordion. Accordionists from around the world are invited to join this inaugural celebration, while paying homage to the accordion. This International event will serve as an exciting means to bring everyone together in a unified effort to promote public awareness of the accordion and its many capabilities.

Norvic Concordia New CD

Norvic Concordia is the name of a Norfolk, England, based accordion quintet, led by Peter Ayers, who also arranges their music and plays bass accordion within the group. The quintet’s new CD ‘Simply Accordion’ contains a varied selection of light music. A review by UK accordionist Bert Santilly comments: “The result is a quite remarkable CD that has an entertaining and varied programme of music. The music is very well arranged and the playing is of a very high order. It should be part of any serious accordionist`s library”. The tracks include: Old Comrades, In Party Mood, Chanson de Matin, The Phantom Melody, Tanguisimo, Chiquilin de Bachin, Extasis, Misty, Canadian Capers, Longing, Heart of Paris, Spring in Tuscany, Evensong, Standchen, March From A Little Suite, The Grasshoppers` Dance, Manha do Carnaval, and Lazzarella. For further information email: peter@norvicconcordia.co.uk

 

New Accordion Club

Barry Smith is starting a new Black Country Accordion and Music Club and our meetings will normally be held at Rowley Regis Disability Centre, Rowley Village, Rowley Regis, B65 9AT, on the fourth Monday of the Month. Our opening night will be Monday 26th January 2009 when we shall have the Mayor of Sandwell opening our club. Entertaining will be Mr Steve Roxton from Jersey and the well known Black Country comedian Mr Tommy Mundon. Forthcoming guest artists booked so far include Monday February 23rd: Alan Young entertaining from the Isle of Wight, Monday March 23rd March will be the North Staffs Accordion Band, Monday April 27th Pearl Fawcett – Adriano will be the guest artist.