BG: I’m speaking with Charlie Giordano, the current Accordion and Hammond B3 player for both Bruce Springsteen’s legendary E Street Band and Seeger Sessions Band. Charlie – welcome, and thank you for being here.

CG: You’re very welcome and it’s a pleasure to be speaking with you.

BG: Let’s jump right in and please tell us about yourself.

CG: Well, I started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and truly love playing – Over time I started playing with bands, as many musicians do. Then in 1977 I went on the road playing – At that time I had the opportunity to play with such people as Genya Ravan, David Johansson and others – Then in the early 80’s I was in the opening act for Pat Benatar. Soon after, I joined on as her keyboard player and stayed on until 1990.

BG: That must have been very exciting touring with her during that time period – Was it during this time that you were introduced to the accordion?

CG: – Yes – Actually it was Mark Ribot who was playing with Tom Waits who made the suggestion that I think about playing the accordion.

BG: What happened next?

CG: Well, around late ’87 or maybe early ’88, Mark referred me to a great musician and instructor named Bill Schimmel in NYC – I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He was also playing with Waits at the time.

BG: For sure – he is extremely well known in the accordion world. How long did you study with him?

CG: Took lessons for about 6 months – He showed me the basics, such as hand positions, bellows control, bass (left hand) techniques, etc. – and then worked on my own after that. I discovered that the accordion has a different sound and quality that you can’t get from an electronic keyboard and adds a special feel and dimension to music.

BG: What did you find most challenging going from keyboards to the Accordion?

CG: Definitely the bellows phrasing and control – the breathing is so important – and, oh yes, the bass buttons – interesting because you can’t see what you are doing.

BG: I agree that the left hand can be the challenge – the accordion is like playing two different instruments at the same time with two totally different types of operation.

CG: I couldn’t agree more – maybe that’s part of why it’s so much fun to play.

BG: So tell us what was next after Benatar?

CG: Well, I started to do lots of recordings in New York.

BG: Let me interrupt here – speaking of recording, just how many records have you played on?

CG: Well, counting the Indie’s; over two hundred

BG: WOW – I’ve done three – only 197 more to catch up. How many of those on the accordion?

CG: out of the 140 or so on major labels, I would say about half have been on accordion

BG: That’s impressive – sorry for the interruption – please continue.

CG: – no problem – I even toured for a while with Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper and also Hall & Oates. But after a couple of years I wanted to get off the road… Once back home, I started getting calls to do jingles, more recording dates and local work. I also did 2 years in the orchestra pit on Broadway for Victor, Victoria with Julie Andrews – The music was very challenging so I got to practice a lot and that’s good – Then in the mid 90’s, I got to play in a gypsy band at the Russian Tea Room next to Carnegie Hall for several years – I truly believe it was these two gigs that made an accordion player out of me.

BG: What was the instrumentation at the Tea Room?

CG: We had 2 violins, piano, bass and Accordion – I absolutely loved it.

BG: This brings us to Bruce – can you share some of how you guys got together?

CG: A friend, Soozie Tyrell, who I had worked with before in Buster Poindexter’s band in the 90’s, had been playing with Bruce and organized a band for his birthday party. He sat in with us and shortly after, when he was asked to participate in a Pete Seeger tribute record, he invited us to back him up. We recorded half a dozen songs that day, and got together to record a few times after that.

BG: So how many sessions were there?

CG: There were three over a period of several years. It was very exciting and fun to do. This eventually became the We Shall Overcome record and tour and a fabulous experience which I would love to participate in again some day.

BG: I guess that brings us to the E Street Band.

CG: Well, as you know, during Bruce’s “Magic” Tour, Danny Federici had become ill and Bruce called me to fill in on some of the shows that Danny could not make. I was so honored that Bruce thought of me. Danny passed away during the tour, a very sad time for Bruce and the Band members. I did my best to fill his big shoes. It’s truly a privilege to be a member of the band.

BG: That was a sad time – I had known Danny since the 60’s – he was a good man and a fine musician.

CG: Yes he was – I was a fan of his since I first saw the band in 74. He’ll be remembered always.

BG: So tell us about the types of accordions you own

CG: I have a Hohner student 48 bass that I have used on many recordings (particularly the Seeger Sessions recordings) – I have an Excelsior 120 bass mussette – I also have a Sonola 96 bass mussette – I have a 72 bass Hohner concerto model – I love my Fantini 72 bass – and my newest addition is the 96 bass Scandalli that you took me shopping for – thanks for that.

BG: – what do you find works best for you in the E Street Band?

CG: I love the smaller accordions – I find they blend better with other instruments – it’s something magical – I use both the Fantini 72 bass and the Hohner 72 bass with E Street- also, interestingly, I use non-tone chamber instruments – they seem to cut through better – more brilliance

BG: You are not the only accordion player in the group – tell us about that

CG: That’s right – Roy Bittan, our piano player is an accomplished accordion player – I believe he studied with the same teacher you had, Joe Biviano – and Nils Lofgren, one of the groups guitar player’s original instrument was the accordion, so there’s lots of accordion going on.

BG: I’ve had the pleasure of seeing you and the Boss perform at your last two tours – both times in DC – and I can’t tell you how great it was seeing accordions on stage, not only during the show but for the finale – that was awesome – you do realize that it’s people like you and Bruce, and some others, who will bring the accordion back by introducing it to a whole new generation.

CG: Back in the late 80’s there were still the old accordion jokes going around – not so much any more. I even brought one to my daughter’s pre-K class and the kids loved it.

BG: it’s a great feeling when I do a workshop at the local university for the performing arts department and the college kids can’t get enough of it.

CG: I’m extremely happy to be part of the movement that’s bringing the accordion back to its proper place in music.

BG: So now that the tour is over, what’s Charlie Giordano doing these days?

CG: Besides playing with the E Street Band at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Show at the Garden (HBO Special) and sitting in with Max Weinberg’s Big Band at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, I’m getting to spend much needed time with my family – they have been very supportive of me while touring and it’s time to kick back a bit and watch my kid grow up.

BG: Charlie, I can’t thank you enough for taking this time to share some of your marvelous story with us. You’ve been more than gracious and the accordion world is extremely grateful to you.

CG: Bruce, it’s been my pleasure – I feel very fortunate to have been guided to the accordion – it has added so much to my career and it’s a wonderful instrument.

BG: Maybe some time in the near future, you would join me at one of our accordion national conventions and present a workshop or even perform for us.

CG: I would love to – sounds like fun.

For further information: accordion2bruce@gmail.com