Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA Exhibit takes place from December 13, 2018 – August 31, 2019 at the Museum of Music Making in Carlsbad, California.
Just over 60 years ago, accordions were at the forefront of our musical landscape. Excerpts from their website: With annual sales topping a quarter of a million instruments, they were seen and heard on stages, in stores, and in classrooms across the country. But musical tastes shifted dramatically by the end of the 1950s, and, within 10 years of this incredible high, accordion sales and interest plummeted almost to the point of disappearing. Today, accordions and accordionists are making their voices heard again!
The Museum of Making Music’s special exhibition, “Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA,” takes a close look and listen at the current state of the accordion across the country, highlighting stories and recordings from some of the players pushing it forward. Find out where the accordion could be headed next and even play one for yourself – you may well become part of the instrument’s future.
Exhibition Related Events:
May 31, 2019: Los Texmaniacs
Founded by Max Baca in 1997, the GRAMMY Award-winning Los Texmaniacs combines the traditions of Tejano music with elements of blues, rock, country. Combine a hefty helping of Tex-Mex conjunto, simmer with several parts Texas rock, add a daring dash of well-cured blues and R&B riffs, and you’ve cooked up the tasty Texmaniacs groove. Los Texmaniacs combines the traditions of Tejano music with elements of blues, rock, country.
Max Baca is a legend on the bajo sexto, a twelve-string guitar-like instrument, which customarily provides the rhythm accompaniment for the button accordion in conjunto music.
On accordion is Max’s nephew Josh Baca, a third-generation accordionist whose style is a unique combination of conjunto, blues, and rock. Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Lorenzo Martínez incorporates Mexican and Chicano cultures as well as American grooves. Multi-instrumentalist Noel Hernández developed his skills as a performer deep in the heart of conjunto country in the Rio Grande Valley.
Like a great salsa, the Texmaniacs mix the simplest yet finest ingredients of Texas music to create a sound solidly rooted in tradition, exploding with contemporary vitality. They have performed at The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, International Accordion Festival, Kennedy Center and more. They received a GRAMMY award for “Border Y Bailes” in 2010.
Jun. 15, 2019: The Rebel Lovers
The Rebel Lovers is the rockin’ duo led by punk-rock accordionist Renée de la Prade with Ingo Brauning on drums.
Jul.11, 2019: Yale Strom & Hot Pastrami (featuring Peter Stan)
With an all-star band including special guest Peter Stan (accordion), Yale Strom explores the accordion in the music of Jews and Roma.
Jul. 28: Michael Bridge
Lauded as “a wizard of the accordion,” Michael Bridge is internationally-renowned for his warm stage personality, versatility, and blazing virtuosity. Lauded as “a wizard of the accordion,” Michael Bridge is internationally-renowned for his warm stage personality, stereotype-smashing versatility, and blazing virtuosity. Named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30,” he made his solo orchestral debut with the Boston Pops and gives over 100 concerts per year. His debut solo album, “Overture,” was named CBC Album of the Week.
More than a classical musician, Michael simply describes his repertoire as ‘concert music’ – encompassing baroque, classical, and contemporary works, plus many of his own concert arrangements of folk music. Prolific in working with composers, Michael has given over 40 world premieres and toured internationally. In addition to performing solo shows, such as this one, he performs with orchestra as well as with his two ensembles – Bridge+Wolak and Ladom Ensemble.
Michael is pursuing doctoral studies in accordion performance at the University of Toronto, with Joseph Macerollo. His first accordion was purchased at a garage sale for $5 when he was five, and two decades later, he is redefining the perception of his instrument.
Funded in part by the City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office
Accordionist Lynn Ewing said. “I was lucky to have a chance to visit The Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California recently. You can discover and play musical instruments at this unique museum that tells the story of how instruments were made, used and sold.
The Museum’s special exhibit, on display Dec 13 – August 31, “Accordions: Expanding Voices in the USA,” takes a close look and listen at the current state of the accordion across the country, highlightng stories and record- ings from some of the players pushing it forward. Find out where the accordion may be headed next and even play one for yourself – you may well become part of the instrument’s future. This multimedia exhibit features familiar accordionists such as Jamie Maschler, Cory Pesaturo, Michael Bridge, Guy Klucevsek and Alex Meixner that you can see and hear by pushing audio/video buttons along the wall.
The museum is showcasing some well known accordionists in concert, and on March 22, I attended an absolutely fantastic concert with Frank Petrilli, and Duo Creosote with Gabe Hall Rodrigues and Jamie Maschler. Both groups were accompanied by an amazing Brazilian rhythm section with Leo Nobre on bass and Lucio Vieira on drums.
For further information: www.museumofmakingmusic.org
