La Villini Restaurant of East Northport, NY is sponsoring the next meeting of the Long Island Accordion Alliance (LIAA) on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at 6:PM. The featured guest artists will be accordionist Don Gerundo.

Don starting playing the accordion at age 10 and studied with Tony Mecca (a native from Waterbury CT) in his teen years. Tony introduced him to popular and Jazz music working with him on harmony, theory, chords and improvisation.

During this time he started to perform club dates with some of the local leaders in the New York metropolitan area as well as working at resorts in the New York Catskill area .  This “On the job” training helped hone his jazz skills as well as build his repertoire. Later he  also studied with Adolph Sandole one of the well-known Sandole brothers, was a  music educator and jazz artists from Philadelphia. The Adolph’s brother, Dennis, was recognized as the mentor and teacher for famous jazz artists such as John Coltrane and Pat Martino James Moody, Michael Brecker, as well as guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Martino. 

Don continued to perform during his college years attending Ithaca College where he joined the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha as the first accordionist to be offered an invitation in that chapter.  For the last several years Don has focused on the Free Bass Accordion and exploring its use in the Pop and Jazz Idioms by utilizing its flexibility in chord voicings, bass lines and general accompaniment.

Don is also an experienced user of Finale (music notation software) and has used it since 1992 almost from its inception.  He uses it to create arrangements, generate materials for students, create transcriptions as well as composition.  Many colleagues consult with Don as a resource to seek guidance using Finale as well as troubleshooting technical issues.

For further information: Dvgerundo@gmail.com

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