Arriving at a lobby decorated in patriotic red, white and blue, Kansas Citians enjoyed a great evening of hors d’oeuvres, Merlot, and musical entertainment featuring the accordion at the Fremar Foundation for Accordion Arts “Music & Merlot” event on June 23, 2012. The foundation presented the Frank Busso Jr. Trio from Washington D.C. and Vivant! from Kansas City in a shared concert that has become a yearly event in Kansas City.

Vivant was joined by classical pianist Melody Stroth of Overland Park, KS and electric violinist Ronda Adams of Parkville, MO to premiere two new works for the ensemble by Leawood, KS composer Karen Fremar. 

The Busso Jr. Trio (all servicemen in the U.S. Air Force Strings) enchanted the audience with their elegant and tasteful musicianship, charming banter and stunningly precise ensemble playing. Their program comprised the first half of the concert and included a variety of works, including accordion standards such as “Two Guitars,” “Czardas” and the famous tango, “Jalousie;” while pairing them alongside Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5” and Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train.” These works and more were all splendidly arranged by the trio members, Henry Tyszler, Frank Busso, Jr. and William Hones, for violin, accordion and string bass. Opening their program with an exciting and captivating arrangement of “Granada” and concluding with their own energetic, toe-tapping version of the “Orange Blossom Special” (with amazingly realistic train effects), the trio captured the hearts of the Kansas Citians who filled the hall and stood in appreciation to demand an encore.



At intermission, the lobby, decorated in patriotic splendor, welcomed concert goers with wine and hot hors d’oeuvres and a display of various types of exquisite accordions from the private collection of Kansas City attorney, John Brungardt, and CDs for sale by the evening’s artists. 

Vivant! (whose conservatory-trained members include Julie Silfverberg, accordion/keys, Karen Fremar, accordion/vocals/keys, Dee Sligar, bass keytar, Janne Silfverberg, trombone/Latin percussion, and David Sager, drums) took the stage after intermission to perform a varied program that included music to honor veterans of different wars, including an updated version with electronic effects of the World War II tune, “Bei Mir Bist Du Schone,” the ‘50s West Coast Swing tune, “Night Train,” for Korean War veterans, the updated R&B piece, “Grapevine,” for Vietnam War veterans, and “Music for Patriots,” an arrangement of traditional patriotic works. 



Vivant! premiered two new compositions by Karen Fremar: “Grasping for the Wind,” to honor Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, and “Vexation.” The group was joined by Melody Stroth and Ronda Adams for the premieres that included video presentations to illustrate the music prepared by local music educator, Debbie Gray. 

The Busso Jr. Trio then joined Vivant! as all guest artists performed together on the final number, “God Bless the U.S.A/Up Where We Belong,” a work arranged especially for the ten musicians on stage by Karen Fremar.

After a standing ovation, the group launched into a rollicking version of “Kansas City,” with various group members soloing and Busso and Fremar punching out a final 12-bar duo riff as the group jammed together. 

The Fremar Foundation’s board includes professional musicians, Dr. Karen Fremar, Chairman of the Board/President, Denise Sligar, Secretary/Treasurer, attorneys John Brungardt and Larry McMullen, and Julie (Gettler) Silfverberg, professional musician and music studio operator.

The Fremar Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that presents outstanding accordion artists in concert from around the nation and the world. The free public event was sponsored in part by Husch Blackwell, LLP; the Courtney S. Turner Trust–Daniel C. Weary and Bank of America, Trustees; and the H. R. Block Foundation, Inc.

For more information visit www.FremarFoundation.com.

Concert photos by Kelsi Sligar:
Top Photo:Kansas City’s Vivant! performing premiere of new Fremar Work “Vexation”
(L-R) Karen Fremar, accordion, Janne Silfverberg, timbales, Julie Silfverberg, 
accordion, David Sager, drums, Dee Sligar, bass keytar

Bottom photo: Guest Artists The Frank Busso, Jr. Trio in Action
(Henry Tyszler, violin; Frank Busso, Jr., accordion, William Hones, bass)