“What’s Tango About the Classics #3 is the third installment of classical compositions as Tangos realized and performed by William Schimmel. The narrative is: An elderly gentleman returns to his simple room after an evening of performing in a Tango club. He starts to perform the classical compositions that he learned in Conservatory. They become Tangos. He is happy, or sad, or both. The album is available online including Amazon.

Dr William Schimmel is a leading accordionist, composer and academic, based in New York, where he organizes the annual ‘Master Class and Concert Series (The Seminars)’ sponsored by the American Accordionists’ Association. He received a Merit Award from the AAA for his contributions spanning fifty years plus the “Accordionist of the Year” Award in 1988. He has performed with many major symphony orchestras in the US, many chamber groups, as well as with rock), jazz, and avant-garde groups.

As a Juilliard trained musician, he is frequently asked to play with the New York Philharmonic and other orchestras around the country. He also performs in the pit orchestras on Broadway, his most recent performance being the accordionist for the award winning production of “An American in Paris.” Over the years Bill’s music has been included in television shows and films. His best known appearance is in the tango scene of “Scent of a Woman” starring Al Pacino. (See video above)

William Schimmel learned accordion as a child and attended Julliard School of Music where he received his doctorate in composition. While he was still a student at the school, his career was launched after he recorded songs of avant gard composer, Luiano Berio. An authority on Kurt Weill, Dr. Schimmel has recorded all of Weill’s music with accordion. Beginning in 1981, Schimmel’s Tango Project has released a string of acclaimed recordings on the Nonesuch and Newport Classic labels. The first Tango Project recording went to No. 1 on Billboard’s classical charts and was named Record of the Year by Stereo Review magazine.

Schimmel has described the accordion as having a “built-in ironic duality,” both “elegant and vulgar.” That dual quality is captured in the tango scene of “Scent of a Woman,” where it adds a spirit of fun and an undertone of raw sexuality. He has served and continues to serve as Artist in Residence of The American Accordionists’ Association (AAA) where he also serves as Distinguished Lecturer in Residence and member of the Governing Board.

For more information: accordionbill@gmail.com