The next meeting of the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) sponsored by La Villini Restaurant is on Wednesday, February. 4, 2015 at 6 PM. 

This is the fourth year of celebrating the accordion on Long Island. The LIAA features wonderful accordionists and an evening of camaraderie among accordionists and lovers of accordion music.

Come and enjoy the festive music of the  Long Island Accordion Alliance  (LIAA) and February’s featured guest artist “Grammy Award” nominee Victor Prieto.

Victor Prieto is a native of Galicia, Spain born in the town of Orense in 1975. At the age of nine Victor was encouraged by his mother to study the accordion-an instrument deeply ingrained in Galician folklore. Studying classical accordion at the Orense Conservatory Victor understood its immense potential. At Estudio Escola de Musica (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) Victor branched out from the classical education by studying harmony, arrangement and improvisation.

In 1998 Victor received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music. There he majored in performance under the direction of Joanne Brackeen.  In 2002 Victor moved to New York where he quickly established himself as one of the most prolific and versatile accordionists on the World-music and Jazz scenes.

Victor Prieto has changed the way musicians and spectators view accordion by revolutionizing both technique and sound. His love for the traditional Galician music and classical education enriches his compositions with explosive rhythm and colors uniquely combining Galician Roots, Celtic, Brazilian, Jazz, Tango, and Classical music.  Victor also developed a new technique for the accordion called “chord approach on both hands that creates rich and elaborate harmonies.

Victor performed and recorded with Yo-Yo Ma (Songs of Joy and Peace, Sony BMG Masterworks. “2010 Grammy Winning Album”), Arturo O’Farrill Latin Jazz Orchestra, Billy Hart, Paquito D’Rivera, Chris Cheek, Donny McCaslin, Lionel Louke among others and is involved in projects such as Christian Howes Group, Cristina Pato and Migrations, Emilio Solla’s Jazz Tango conspiracy and The Maria Schneider Orchestra.

As a leader Victor has performed at prestigious venues and events such as Berklee Performance Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note NY, New Jersey Performance Art Center, Three Rivers Musical Festival, Williamsburg Jazz Festival, Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

He teaches Master Classes in US Berklee College of Music, “Playing outside the Box”, Spain, Italy, Portugal and has headed the jazz accordion studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory (2003 – 2004). Some of Victor’s awards and prizes are: The Creative Performer award from the Spanish Association of Artists and Performers, and the first prize at CMZK’s Concourse of Composition.

Spanish-born accordionist Victor Prieto is well known for his jazz performances in New York, where he now lives. He has been described by The New York Times as “a fiendishly skilled accordionist and composer”.

The LIAA, Long Island Accordion Alliance program on Feb.4:

Place:         La Villini Restaurant
                     288 Larkfield Road.
                     East Northport, NY 11731
                     631 261 6344

For more information on LIAA: dkarcic10@verizon.net

Victor Prieto leads a workshop, ‘Playing Outside the Box’, at Brooklyn Accordion Club on Sunday February 8th from 2-4:PM. The Brooklyn Accordion Club meets at 61 Local, 61 Bergen St., Brooklyn, New York.

2:00-3:00 Performances (calling for performers! Beginners/first timers welcome!)
3:00-4:00 Participatory workshop – “Playing outside the Box” by 2015 Grammy nominated accordionist, Victor Prieto

B.Y.O.A! Bring Your Own Accordion!
This workshop is open to all levels. No accordion? Enjoy the performances/lecture!

Still calling for performers! Willing to volunteer as MC?

Reminder: March meeting will be on Thursday, March 5th at 7pm-9pm at 61 Local. First evening meeting! Presentation on Forró by Uri Sharlin. Mark your calendar!
For further information email: brooklynaccordionclub@gmail.com

Victor will also be featured on Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 11:AM at the City Winery, 155 Varick Street, New York, NY.
 The brunch menu on Sunday mornings is available from 10:AM to 2:PM. Please note that the live music is played from 11:AM to 2:PM with a short break in the middle.