Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
2011 Souvenir ProgramVolker Financial & Insurance Services
Volker Financial & Insurance Services
welcome
to the 21st Anniversary
cotati Accordion Festival table of ContentsFestival Map ......................................................................................... 2What’s Happening at the Festival? ........................................................ 5Honorary Director: Renée de la Prade .................................................. 7Zydeco Lessons and Documentary Film ........................................12-13Marjorie Konrad: A Musical Odyssey ................................................... 54Schedule of events ....................................................................32-33Sponsors and Thank You! ..............................................................60-62
Performer Biographies:The Accordion Babes’ Pageant & Hubbub Club Marching Band .... 37Alicia Baker (sponsored by Roland) ............................................... 18Amber Lee and the Anomalies ....................................................... 27The Steve Balich Sr. Polka Band ...................................................... 51Bella Ciao ...................................................................................... 28Chuck Berger ................................................................................ 47Courtableu .................................................................................... 45The Creole Belles ............................................................................ 41Culann’s Hounds ........................................................................... 35Duckmandu .................................................................................. 21Jim Gilman ................................................................................... 17The Golden State Accordion Club Band ......................................... 55Guy Klucevsek ................................................................................. 9The Georges Lammam Ensemble .................................................... 22Nada Lewis .................................................................................... 52Limpopo ....................................................................................... 29Ginny Mac .................................................................................... 24The Mad Maggies ........................................................................... 31The Great Morgani ......................................................................... 39Motor Dude Zydeco ...................................................................... 43Cory Pesaturo ................................................................................ 15Polkacide ....................................................................................... 19Mark St. Mary ............................................................................... 42Murl Allen Sanders ........................................................................ 11Simka (with Ruth Edwards)........................................................... 23Sweet Penny Royals ....................................................................... 56Tangonero ..................................................................................... 53Those Darn Accordions ................................................................ 48Mary Tokarski ............................................................................... 13Ramon Trujillo & Los Caporales ................................................... 17
3
welcome
4
The Cotati Accordion Festival is a non-profit organization which donates all monies earned to a number of youth groups in our community.
101
116
W. COTATI AVE.
ST. JOSEPH ST.
OLD REDWOOD HWY.
OLD REDWOOD HW
Y.
PARK AVE.
E. COTATI AVE.
LA SALLE
GEORGE ST.
WILL
IAM
ST. ARTHUR ST.
HENRY
OLAF
CHAR
LES
ST.
CHURCHLOT
VET'S HALL PARKING LOT
LA PLAZA
OLIVER'S MARKETPARKING LOT
E. SCHOOL ST.
W. S
IERR
A AVE
.
LA PLAZA
EL RANCHO
Seeenlarged
areaabove
Friar Tuck’s (Zydeco)
New VENDOR COURTVisit our vendors for
fabulous food and merchandise.
accordion Workshops& BreakFasTs
Lion’s Club Bldg.Next to Fire Dept.
B
O
O
T
H
S
Kids’Area
Restrooms
Side Stage
Main StageBeer,Soda,Food
Booths
Polka DanceArea
��
�
�
1. OfficialSouvenir Booth
2. Raffle Tickets3. JamTent4. Wine Tent
B O O T H S
LA PLAZA
LA
PLAZA
W. SIERRA
OLD
REDWOOD
HWY
ENTER
ENTER
La PLaza
accordion Workshops
& BreakFasTsLion’s Club
Bldg.Next to Fire
Dept.
⑤
1. Official Souvenir Booth and Lost & Found2. Raffle Tickets3. Jam Tent4. Wine Tent5. First Aid
Handicapped parking:8020 Old Redwood Hwy
and in front ofKorean Baptist Church
81 West Cotati
P.o. Box 809, Cotati, CA 94931 (707) 664-0444 tickets & Lodging:(888) 559-2576Fax: (707) 585-2920email: [email protected]
Booths, Ads, Web, Editor:Linda ConnerVoice: (707) 585-2910Fax: (707) 585-2920Email: [email protected]
VISIt oUR WeB SIte:www.cotatifest.com
5
Pancakes, Sausage and Eggs at Lion’s Club Facility7 am to 11 am
TakE-OuT TOO!
what’s Happening at the festival... Main Stages 31 Accordion Acts 9:45 am-8:30 pm
Polka Dance TentSteve Balich Sr. Polka Band and friends 1-5 pm both days
Zydeco Dance Party in Polka TentThe Creole Belles SaturdayCourtableu Sunday5:05-6:30 pm both days
Cajun/Zydeco Dance Partyat Friar Tuck’s PubMark St. Mary Sat.Motor Dude Zydeco Sun.1:00-5:00 pm both days
In Front of Park StageLady of Spain-A-Ring1:50 pm both days.
Accordion Documentary Behind the Bellows presented both days in the Lion’s Club facility beside the Firehouse. See details on page 12.
Zydeco Dance Lessonsby Ted Sherrod taught both days at Friar Tuck’s Pub from Noon to 1:00. (right before the zydeco music) See details on page 13.
PETALUMAHOME LOANS
Ken McCoyMortgage Banker/Broker
Office (707) 773-4200 Fax (707) 773-4204
Cell (707) [email protected]
628 E. Washington St. Suite BPetaluma, CA 94952
Petaluma Home loans is a local mortgage banker dedicated to serving our clients best interests. We specialize in Refinances and Purchases. We are dedicated to working with first time home buyers, and loans on Bank owned and short sale properties, via Coventional, Jumbo, FHa and Va loans. We focus on loans in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, santa Rosa, sebastopol, sonoma, novato and Windsor. However, we continue to do many loans throughout the Bay area and state of California.
Petaluma Home Loans
We’re here to serve you.
NMLS# 218630/1850 DRE# 06012538/01215943
6
Site of 2011
Cajun/ZydeCo
danCe Party
Some of our Specialty dinnerS include: ➤ our famous corned Beef dinner served everyday.➤ try our original corned Beef Quesadilla appetizer.
➤ irish meatballs are made from our family’s secret recipe.➤ try the marcus dean Burger.
➤ our Braveheart chicken Salad is amazing.➤ fish tacos are simply great and a hit on our menu.
• NFL SUNDAY TICKET • POOL LEAGUES • FULL bAr• FULL-SErvICE mENU • DArTS • KArAOKE• OUTDOOr DrINKING & DINING • 17 bEErS ON TAP• mUSIC • why go anywhere elSe?!
Friar Tucks Pub and Spirits
DOWNTOWN COTATI SOUTH OF WEST SIERRA ENTRANCE
open 11:00 am to 2am 7 dayS a WeeK8201 Old Redwood Hwy. • Cotati, CA 94931 • (707) 792-9847
EARLY BLOODY MARY
SPECIALS
1:00 TO 5:00 BOTH DAYSSaturday, august 20th
Mark St. MarySunday, august 21st
Motor Dude Zydeco➤ ➤ ➤ We’re located in the Inn of the Beginning building.
LARGE WOODEN DANCE FLOOR
Zycdco Dance Lessons 12:00-1:00 both daystaught by Ted Sherrod
7
Site of 2011
Cajun/ZydeCo
danCe PartyFolk musician, rock-n-roller, street performer, accordion teacher, instrument repair tech, groove addict.
Renée grew up loving French culture and rock ’n’ roll. She played piano and guitar as a kid, then fell in love with the button accordion one night backstage at a Shane MacGowan and the Popes concert. Irish music, Zydeco, and her ten-year stint as a street performer led to her current configuration: a button accordion in a low-slung harness, a stomp box, and a funky fusion of old Celtic melodies with Blues soul and Rock power. Look for her in the Irish-Zydeco-powerhouse band Culann’s Hounds; or else find her rocking under a street light on a Sunday night in North Beach. Her other projects include the female Americana trio Whiskey and
Women, recording tracks for many bands, and hacking the bass side of her button accordions so they can play an amazingly diverse amount of music. Last winter, she went on tour with Jason
Webley and the Monsters of the Accordion. Renée is also the creator and editor of the Accordion Babes Album and
Pin-Up Calendar, which showcases the songs and exotic photos of female artists from the U.S. and abroad.
When she’s not performing, Renée works at Smythe’s Accordion Center in Oakland, CA, where she’s the resident button accordion specialist and teacher. With her laughing, boot-stomping, high-energy shows and wild pink hair, she’s a hard
woman to forget.
Announcing The Cotati Accordion Festival’s
2011 HonorAry DireCtorRenée de la Prade
Calendars can be purchased at the souvenir booth with a
portion returned to CAF. Thank you
Renée!— Ed ▲
8
9
GUY KLUCEVSEK is one of the world’s most versatile and highly-re-spected accordionists. He has performed and/or recorded with Laurie Anderson, Bang On a Can, Anthony Braxton, Dave Douglas (Charms of the Night Sky), Bill Frisell, Rahim al Haj, Robin Holcomb, Kepa Junkera, the Kronos Quartet, Nata-lie Merchant, and John Zorn.
He has premiered over 50 solo ac-cordion pieces, including his own, as well as those he has commissioned from John Zorn, Mary Ellen Childs, Somei Satoh, Jerome Kitzke, Lois V. Vierk, William Duckworth, Stephen Montague, Aaron Jay Kernis, and Fred Frith.
Performances include the Ten Days on the Island Festival (Tasmania), the Ad-elaide Festival (Australia), the Berlin Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival/USA, BAM Next Wave Festival, and the children’s television show “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Guy’s 1987-1988 project, Polka From the Fringe, a collection of alterna-tive polkas he commissioned from Fred Frith, Elliott Sharp, Bobby Previte, Carl Finch, et. al., toured around the world. A two-disk set of the pieces were released on the eva (Japan) label, and received “best recordings 1992” honors on WNYC-FM’s “New Sounds” program. Long out-of-print, these legendary recordings will be re-released on Starkland in 2012.
In 1996, he founded Accordion Tribe, an international ensemble of composer/accordionists Otto Lechner (Austria), Maria Kalanemi (Finland), Lars Hollmer (Sweden), Bratko Bibic (Slove-nia) and himself. They toured interna-tionally from 1996-2009, are the subjects of Stefan Schwietert’s award-winning documentary film, “Accordion Tribe: Music Travels,” and released 3 cds on the Intuition (Germany) label.
Klucevsek has released over 20
recordings as soloist/leader on Tzadik, Winter & Winter, Starkland, Review, Intuition, CRI, and XI. He can also be heard on John Williams’s orchestral scores for the Steven Spielberg films, “The Terminal,” “Munich,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and
Photo by Eleanora Alberto
continued on page 46
Guy Klucevsek
10
CastiglioneCastiglione✦ 600 accordions in stock … both New and Used✦ 70 years in the accordion business✦ All kinds of used accordions✦ Buy, Sell, Trade
ACCORDIONS:Piano, Roland, Folklore, Excelsior, Guerrini, Hohner, Soprani, Sonola, Scandalli, Victoria, Novak, Dellape, Melodija, Strasse, Jet, Stagi, BugariConcertinas, Anglos, English & Bandoneons, Bugari Accordions
MIDI ACCORDIONS:Excelsious, Master, Musictech, Bugari, and Logic Systems, Orla & CIAO Reedless, Musictech Wireless
Castiglione Accordion & Distributing CompanyImporters and Exporters
E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.castiglioneaccordions.com
13300E. 11 Mile, Suite A Voice: (586) 755-6050Warren, MI 48089-1367 Fax: (586) 755-6339
Accordion and Distributing Company
We carry the
Roland V-AccordionsThe World’s First Complete Digital AccordionIntegrates powerful digital technology such as new Physical Behavior Modeling (PBM) into a traditional design, which appeals to a wide variety of musical styles.
11
Murl Allen Sanders
CastiglioneCastiglioneMURL ALLEN SANDERS (Seattle Washington) is an independent, modern accordionist, pianist, composer, teacher and recording artist who plays pop, rock, zydeco, country, jazz, blues and various ethnic styles on piano and accordion. He has worked with such diverse national and international artists as: Chuck Berry, Etta James, Merrilee Rush, Theodore Bikel, Peter Duchin, Leslie Gore, The Von Trapp Children, Lee Oskar, OhNo, Underground Resistance, Leroy Bell, Clare Fischer, Todd Simon, and composer David Matthews.
Murl’s versatility has led him to be in demand as a concert artist, workshop presenter and freelance artist in numer-ous bands and studio work for MUZAK, television and radio commercials as well as sideman work on many CD projects in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. He also leads his own band, does solo work, composes and arranges music, sings, plays piano, harmonica, Hammond B-3 organ, electronic keyboards and teaches privately.
Two influential people need to be mentioned: Joe Petosa and his whole family for being so supportive of Murl’s accordion endeavors and W.D. “Blackie” Blackstone for encouraging Murl early on to be serious about pursuing music.
Murl’s earliest accordion influence was Stan Boreson, a local children’s television personality, accordionist and comedian still working in Seattle. Stan inspired hundreds of kids to play the ac-cordion. The Lawrence Welk show on TV also imprinted accordion music in Murl’s brain and Myron Floren was Murl’s hero when he was age six. You can currently hear Murl’s music in retail stores on the MUZAK network and in Nordstrom’s own background music system. Recently Murl has played piano, accordion, organ and harmonica on soundtracks for the
films: Georgia Rule, Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Eulogy, Moonglow, It’s Only Temporary.
Aside from his first basics instruc-tor, Leo Furman, Murl had only one truly influential accordion teacher as a child, Doug Middendorf in Seattle. However, Murl’s musical education has included many wonderful and inspirational teach-ers: John Wittwer, Jerome Gray, George Peckham, Dave Peck, Terry Moore, Ken-neth Benshoof, Robert and Gerald Kechley and Barbara Lundquist most notably.
Murl has a B.A. in music education from the University of Washington and teaches private lessons in accordion, piano and voice for individual adults and chil-dren. Murl has also taught choral music at Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, Washington.
12
www.exchangebank.com
is proud to support theCotati Accordion FestivalDana O’HalloranBranch Manager, Cotati [email protected]
Open Daily • Same Day Appointments Major Credit Cards OK
(707) 792-0555 • (800) 792-0555 315 E Cotati Ave. Ste. D • Cotati
• Deep Swedish ..................... $60 for 1 Hr• Deep Tissue ......................... $75 for 1 Hr• Sports Massage • Facials • Couples Massage
Seven years in the making, this one- hour movie is the first American documen-tary about the beloved but often misunder-stood squeezebox: its history and variety as well as its effect on popular culture.
Film contains insightful interviews with accordion legends such as Anthony Gall-Rini, Guy Klucevsek, and Dick Con-tino among many others. You’ll see the original drawings for the accordion’s pat-ent of 1829 as well as the first design of the concertina. Visit an accordion museum and a factory where the instrument’s many parts are created. Venture through several types of concertinas, button boxes as well as a presentation of MIDI accordions. See historic clips of Guido Diero, Art Van
Damme, Lawrence Welk and Frankie Yankovic. Discover why “Lady of Spain” is associated with the accordion. See the first attempt to make a rock-n-roll accor-dion. And listen to where the accordion might be headed in the future.
Screening times are 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm both days and are also held in the Lion’s Club Buiding across the street next to the firehouse. Showing for CAF attendies only. Admission is free.See page two for a detailed map.
Copies of this video will be offered for sale at the festival with a portion of proceeds donated to the CAF. Thank you Steve. This video is not to be missed — ED ▲
ACCORDION DOCUMENTARYBehind the Bellows: A Documentary on the Accordion
Researched, directed and narrated by Steve Mobia
13
Mary Tokarski
“Zydeco” Ted Sherrod travels extensively to Texas/Louisiana; teaches basic Louisiana style Zydeco in New Orleans and has taught at numerous venues throughout Northern California as well as Simi Valley, Long Beach and Gator By The Bay Festivals."
Instruction before the Zydeco bands at Friar Tucks in Cotati, 12:00 to 1:00 both days.
Instruction for CAF attendees only. Admission is free.
Find out more about Ted and his CD “HOW TO ZYDECO” at www.twoleftfeetca.com.
These will be available for sale at the Friar Tuck’s during and after his instruction.
Glad to have you here Ted. — Ed ▲
ZYDECO DANCE WORKShOphow to Zydeco Dance Taught by Ted Sherrod
Mary began her music career at seven with Michael Fernino of Ansonia, Connecti-cut, and performed and competed at local, state and national events throughout early adulthood . . . amassing over 185 trophies and awards, including two U.S. Champion-ship Titles, a 3rd place in the 1973 Confed-eration Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) Coupe Mondiale, and a 2nd place in that year’s Coupe Mondiale Pop Category.
In 1983, Mary founded Tokarski Music Center, where she served as owner and Director of Music Education. Her students have also compiled an impressive list of awards in competition.
Mary’s teaching started at an early age (before finishing high school) . . . and over the years has fine-tuned her teaching skills by taking all sorts of music and educa-tion courses, and studied Early Childhood
continued on next page
14
Toll Free888-838-3676
Canadian Geese Flock South to Join Your Celebration
Thanks for Inviting Us!
Visit Us at Our Booth!
TEMPO TRENDSTUDIOS LTD. Email: [email protected]
410 Burnside Road, East, Victoria, BC V9A 1B1
Education through Kindermusik Interna-tional at Princeton University and Boston University at Lowell. She is currently a music teacher in the North Haven De-partment of Education Early Childhood Development Program at Green Acres Elementary School, where she teaches music for the 3- and 4-year-old programs. Her students have included many “special needs” children over the years, and she developed a successful Kindermusik pro-gram at Tokarski Music Center.
Holding memberships in the Music Teachers National Association, the Connecticut State Music Teachers As-sociation, the New Haven Chapter of CSMTA, the North Haven Rotary Club, and the Arts Council of Greater New Ha-ven, Mary is a Board of Directors member for the American Accordionists’ Associa-tion (AAA) as well as the Accordionists and Teachers Guild, International (ATG).
A member of The “K” Trio, Mary
Mary tokarskicontinued from last page
performs in concert throughout the United States and internationally with her sister Julie and brother Walter. The trio performs a wide variety of musical genres, and has been acclaimed as one of the world’s finest accordion ensembles.
Mary is a “regular” on the work-shop circuit in the musical associations, and along with the members of The “K” Trio, she regularly presents workshops on Precision Ensemble Techniques, Technical Development and Virtuoso Performance Preparation. ▲
Releasing White DovesWeddings - Funerals - Special Events(707) 996-5972 Glen Ellen, CA
“Our birds fl y home to their lofts after every release."
DovesAfl ightDovesAfl ight
15
Cory pesaturo
Cory Pesaturo is a gradu-ate of the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he was the first musician ever to major and graduate in the accordion. Accordion Legend Dick Contino said, “Of all the accordionists I’ve seen over the years. Cory is the one to pass the torch to, the only one who has all the tools to bring the accordion back to its former glory.” Pesatu-ro’s extensive resumé includes appearances at the White House for President and Mrs. Clinton on 4 different occasions. On one of those occasions, he became the youngest person ever to per-form at a State Dinner. He is also featured in Mrs. Clinton’s book: “An Invitation to the White House.”
At 11, Pesaturo opened at the former Warwich Musical Theater for the ill Myron Floren. He has also opened at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel, the Waterfires in Providence, and as a guest star at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT. For nine consecutive years he has performed at the Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert in North Stonington, CT. Other past con-certs include Festa Italiana in Milwaukee,
numerous appearances with crossover Ten-or Aaron Caruso, and Duo performances with World Champion Accordionist Mario Tacca. In July 2002, Cory became the youngest ever National Accordion Champion and went on to Copenhagen, Denmark for the Coupe Mondiale World Competition. A win in a concerto compe-tition at the New England Conservatory of Music gave Pesaturo the rare opportunity to perform at the 2003 Christmas Pops Concert with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra as a featured soloist, where he became the youngest accordionist to ever sol with a symphony orchestra.
Cory is knows as a sort of rebel with the main United States “accordion world” much like Dick Contino was in his early days, and is outspoken with his dislike for the way it runs itself, and also how they teach the instrument in a manner that he says heavily discounts musical-ity and theory and is further hurting the accordion image. Although because the overall accordion world is so small, he feels everyone must stick together to further the revival of the instrument, even if there are large differences in opinion on
continued on page 16
Cory Pesaturo is the Winner of the 2011 PrimusIkaalinen World Accordion Championship!. He is the WORLD DIGITAL ACCORDION CHAMPION and now WORLD ACOUSTIC ACCORDION CHAMPION.Congratulations Cory!
Cory Pesaturo at Primus Ikaalinen where he won the World Championship for 2011.
16
8
the inside issues.Concerning his Jazz side. Pesaturo
has recently recorded two CDs with saxophone legend George Garzone and his famous band “The Fringe,” and has been performing with them in the Boston and Providence region. 2 years ago at the Coupe Mondial World Competition, Cory was hailed as the world’s best young Jazz Accordionist.
Mr. Pesaturo is also heavily involved with the weather and motor sports worlds as well. From 2005 to 2006, he com-posed the Official list of records set by the inconceivable record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Furthermore, his music is regularly played on Formula 1 broadcasts and is he currently working on a Formula 1 book that will change the way people look upon the sports history and its champions. ▲
Cory Pesaturocontinued from page 15 Alex Musical
Instruments, Inc.165 West 48th Street New York, NY 10036
Tel: 212-819-0070 Fax: 212-827-0908
For over 30 years at the same location. We sell, repair, service,
tune and custom modify accordions for professionals around the world.e-mail: [email protected]
www.alexmusical.com
17
Ramon Trujillo & Los Caporales
RAMON TRUJILLO WAS BORN in Sinaloa, Mexico. As a young lad he gained appre-ciation for the music played by the local bands and aspired to become a musician. It was not until the age of 18 that he was able to acquire a guitar. Later, at the age of 21, he moved to the city of Durango where he saw the opportunity to become a conductor in a band. First he had to purchase an accordion and learn how to play it. After spending a whole day and a night practicing he had learned to play two songs so well that the people who heard him play thought of him as a sea-
soned accordionist. After fifteen days he had learned enough songs to be hired as a member of a seven-piece band.
Twenty-two years later, moving to Santa Rosa in 1986, he started playing with other musicians, including a ma-riachi band. Ramon have never learned to read music. Every song that he knows how to play, he does by ear. He is very pleased that the people who listen to him enjoy what he plays.
His desire, now and in the future, is to entertain others with the music that he loves. ▲
Jim Gilman was seemingly fated toplay the accordion. At the age of seven, a local Chicago accordion school called his parents and offered six weeks of free accordion lessons because they had heard their son “had talent.” After resisting a high-pressure accordion salesman, private lessons were arranged.
A move to California during Jim’s high school years seemed to halt his accordion career, but fate stepped in once more. Jim’s father actually saw in the Long Beach paper, “Wanted: Accordion player.” I ask you… how many times have you ever seen that? Jim earned his way through college playing at Knott’s Berry Farm as a street musician.
In 1972 he met up with (by chance?) a saxophone player by way of a 3x5 card posted on a bulletin board and they went “on the road” playing at Holiday Inns all over the Midwest. After over 35 years,
they’re still together along with a guitarist and a drummer that were added in 1975.
Jim’s not a one-man band; he’s a one man orchestra. “It’s truly amazing what electronics, computers and MIDI have done for the accordion. Acoustic purists may turn their noses up at all this stuff but the audiences love it,” says Jim.
You can contact Jim at 714-777-6667 or [email protected] ▲
Jim Gilman
1818
Alicia Baker
• Heated pool • Spa • 27” Remote control color TV’s • 5 HBO Channels • In-room movies • In-room hair dryers
• ESPN • Continental breakfast • In-room refrigerators
gateway to the Wine country in the redwood empire and only minutes from the pacificThree miles South of Santa rosa
It’s Where the Accordion Festival Musicians Stay!
(707) 584-7435 • Fax (707) 584-38486500 Redwood Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(Use Rohnert Park Expressway to Redwood Drive)
Best Western InnRohnert Park
Alicia Baker has been playing the accordion for 12 years, the piano for 14 years and singing for 16 years. She is cur-rently 18 years old and attending Oregon State University to pursue a degree in music education.
With the piano, Alicia has been ac-companying both choirs and soloists since middle school. With her voice, she placed 2nd in the soprano division at districts both her junior and senior of high school, as well as 4th place at the State competi-tion her senior year.
So far, Alicia has had her most suc-cess with the accordion. After discov-ering the instrument at age 6, she has taken multiple first places, as well as the championship at the International accor-dion competition in Kimberley, Canada (KIOTAC). She has also placed 1st in multiple divisions at the Leavenworth International Accordion Competition. Most recently, Alicia competed in the National V-Roland Accordion Festival in
Los Angeles, and has won the privilege of repre-senting the USA at the International V-Accordion Roland fes-tival taking place this November in Rome, Italy, where she will compete against twenty other countries.
Music is clearly her main passion, but she has plenty of other activities she loves to do, including playing soccer, tennis, and dance, as well as baking and per-forming musical theater. She can’t wait to see where the future takes her!
Alicia Baker is sponsored by Roland Ac-cordion. Thank you Roland. — Ed ▲
19
polkacide
PolkacideCelebrating 26 Years of Accordion Mayham
In 1985 Polkacide played its first gig at San Francisco’s Punk Palace The Mabuhay Gardens “AKA The Fab Mab”. The band’s original lineup included 14 people, most of whom had played with local punk and or art-noise bands including Flipper, Rova Saxophone Quartet, Bad Posture, Tragic Mulatto, and the Geeks. The band had been assembled to play a party for the San Francisco Club For The Deaf, a club for the local deaf community. For some time the Deaf Club had hosted Punk Shows in its Valencia Street apartment/office. The punks got a venue, the deaf folks got some income from the punks and music loud enough for them to feel.
In the fall of 1984, the club was plan-ning a party for it’s members and wanted a band which played loud enough to be felt - enabling dancing - but which didn’t look, “too weird”. A local promoter con-tacted by the Deaf Club was kicking the idea around with some friends when one of them said jokingly, “how about a polka band”?, and one thing led to another.
Bandleader Ward Abronski gathered some traditional polka arrangements, contacted friend’s from local bands, organized some rehearsals, and Polkacide was born. The band had so much fun rehearsing that when the Deaf Club opted to have a picnic rather than a dance, the newly minted, “polka punks” decided to have a show anyway.
In these last 26 years, Polkacide has played clubs, festivals events, weddings, funerals, performed with a truly eclectic variety of bands including Sun Ra, and has been featured in national and international media. (People Magazine, Interview, SPIN, Nash Bridges Soundtrack and videogame Escape From Lego Island.) What began in irony has developed into one of the wildest, loudest, goofiest dance bands the Bay Area has ever produced. Larger waistlines and higher hairlines maybe in evidence on stage, but so are the tightness of arrangements and level of musicianship which come from 26 years of playing together. They may be knocking on heaven’s door, but these old farts can still take over a room and whip an audience into a beery dancing sweaty mob. See them now before they all end up in the Home For Broken Down Polka Geezers.
NOTE: According to a ruling by a New York State Court, polka dancing is an, “inherently dangerous activity”. Guests are urged to bear this in mind when planning their evenings wardrobe. Steel-toed boots are recommended.
continued on page 20
20
About the membersWard abronski: saxophones, whis-
tles, toys, ukulele, vocals, front man. neil Basa: clarinet, ocarina, vocals, sargeant-at-arms. Billy dee Boom: drums. J.X. lovejones: tenor sax, clarinet, toys, vocals. alistair Shanks:bass, vocals, soul patch. lawrence Jarach: trombone, resident EMT, vocals. John Hensley nieuwguyski:trumpets, trombone, baritone horn, vocals,
sex appeal. max Baloian: guitar, percussion, accordion, vocals. aaron Seeman: accordion. ▲
Polkacidecontinued from page 19 The Sound
of Moosic
Clo Salutes the CotatiAccordian Festival!
www.cloverstornetta.com
Clo Salutes the Cotati Accordion Festival
Buy ThoseRaffle Tickets!
Not only will you have the change to wiN one of
our great prizes, including the Hohner Bravo
60-Base Piano Accordionyou’ ll also be added to our mailing list
and will receive advance notice of future events and ticket information.
Win a fabulous,
hand-made quilt
fabricated from CAF
T-shirts!
21
Duckmandu
was the rise of rock ’n roll and the elec-tric guitar.
This is not to say that the Duck-man renounces geekiness, far from it. But America and the world must be reminded what a powerful and versatile instrument the accordion can be.
In addition to his accordionization-izing, Aaron Seeman is a founding member, arranger, and vocalist with San Francisco’s Punk Rock Orchestra, which performs full scale orchestral versions of classic punk songs. He also plays accordion in Shamalamacord, Polkacide, and Red Hot Chachkas. Aaron Seeman was a founding member of the eclectic Romanian Music-inspired folk group Fishtank Ensemble. He has recorded with Mr. Bungle and Estradasphere. He is the composer of a modern classical opera “Opium: Diary of a Cure.” He currently resides in Oakland, California. ▲
Aaron Seeman’s onslaught of soloaccordion and vocals has astounded audiences of all shapes and sizes.
Maximum Rock ’n Roll, the premier punk magazine, pronounced him “over the top!” for his note-for-note rendi-tions of the entire first Dead Kennedys album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. His repertoire also includes, but is not limited to, 70’s rock, Broadway, klezmer, classical, country, Sousa marches, punk rock, and even a polka or two.
Rather than play hokey accordion versions of these songs, Duckman/See-man seeks to demonstrate that accordion and vocals alone can evoke the spirit of the song, whether the hard driving rock of AC/DC, the wide vocal range and sonic landscape of Boston, or the supersonic speeds and driving force of Dead Ken-nedys.
The accordion received a triple blow to its image in American culture that by the 1960’s had done serious dam-age. First, millions of American chil-dren were forced to play the unwieldy instrument against their wills. Second, Lawrence Welk’s widely watched show focused only on the geekiest, corniest aspects of the instrument. Third, there
2222
The Georges Lammam Ensemble
Q6
June 2006
INVOICE # 6-06
This is the ad which is scheduled to run in the2006 COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Return it along with a check for $125.00 made out toThe Cotati Accordion Festival
INVOICE IS DUE UPON RECEIPT
Please mail it to: (phone 707-585-2910)or fax to 707-585-2920
Linda Conner c/o COTATI ACCORDION FESTIVAL225 John Roberts Dr.
Cotati, CA 94931
www.expertaccordionrepair.com
24204 132nd Ave. SEKent, Washington 98042
(253) 639-7000
MICHAEL J.
ARRALDEACCORDION CO.
Highest-Quality
Accordionsand Service
GEORGES LAMMAM, the second of three brothers who are professional musicians, has appeared on stage since the age of 15. Of Palestinian descent, born in Beirut, Leba-non and living for 14 years in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Lammam is well-known in the Middle East and the United States as a solo violinist exemplifying the Arab style of instrumental improvisation and lyricism. Currently living in San Francisco, California, he co-founded Amorfia Pro-ductions to proliferate Arabic arts in the West.
He is artistic director of The Georges Lammam Ensemble that tours nationally and has performed at the San Francisco World Music Festi-
val, The Legion of Honor Museum during the Eternal Egypt Exhibit, for special exhibits at The De Young Museum in San Francisco and The Fine Arts Cinema in Berkeley, presenting live, an original score for the 1926 silent animated classic film from Germany, The Adventures of Prince Ahmed.
During the 1st International Confer-ence on Middle Eastern Dance at Orange Coast College in Southern California, he headlined with international dance stars, Mona el Said from Egypt and Amani, from Lebanon. Mr. Lammam was fea-tured soloist and instructor for the Yousry Sharif Weeklong Seminar, New York City and he joined Farouk Tekbilek for a cul-tural presentation at III Encontro Interna-cional de Musicas e Dancas Etnicas.
For seven seasons, Mr. Lammam was music director for the Jawaahir
continued on page 46
23
Simka with Ruth Edwards
Simka’s name was chosenfrom the Yiddish word for celebration, has been playing at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, parties, and char-ity events in the North Bay for over six years. Besides klezmer music, the band’s repertoire includes Israeli folk dances, jazz standards, tangos, polkas, fiddle tunes, and what the band affec-tionately calls “café music” – accordion-based tunes that invoke the feeling of the “old country.”
Band originators Leta Davis (violin) and Andy Weinberger (guitar), as well as drummer David Ross, live in Sonoma. Leta, who has played violin since she was eight years old, was classically trained. Andy moved from the East Coast to open a bookstore in So-noma, and he brought with him a genetic disposition for klezmer and jazz. David,
besides being a versatile drummer, is also a classical pianist. David and Leta, who are married to one another, also perform classical piano and violin pieces together. Bass player David Ballo, the newest member of the band, lives in Santa Rosa, and was a founding member of Limonim, one of Sonoma County’s earliest klezmer bands.
The heart of Simka is, of course, the accordion, beautifully played by Ruth
Edwards, who also lives in Sonoma. Ruth is also known to Cotati Accordion Festival enthusiasts as the official “Lady of Spain.” Before Ruth joined the band, Leta pined for an accordionist, but didn’t know how to conjure one up. One day, Ruth showed up on the rehearsal doorstep versed mostly in French, Italian and polka
music, but with a keen desire to learn klezmer. She has since mastered the exciting rhythms and textures of klezmer music, while also slyly weaving in the smooth romance of French and Italian tunes which are so appealing on the accordion. The musical excitement that was sparked on that first day at
rehearsal has never let up.“The real signature of our band,”
says Leta, “is that we have a great time playing this music together. We are so happy when we play! That’s why we chose the name Simka.“The band has a wonderful chemistry, and anyone listen-ing to their CD, Café Society, can hear it in a second. For information and book-ings, contact Leta Davis at 707-996-5233 or at [email protected]. ▲
“The real signature of our band is that we have a great time playing
this music together”— Leta Davis
2424
GINNY MAC is a singer/song writer/musician from Fort Worth, Texas. Ginny has gained popularity for her vocal style, natural ability to entertain. Her musicianship and melodic improvisation skills are just as impressive.She is a Scandalli accor-dion artist and will travel overseas for promotional shows. Ginny is a versatile artist who loves Country and Western music, Jazz, and Big Band classics, but enjoys playing all kinds of music.
Past performances include: • Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic Silver Dollar City, MO • Grape-fest San Antonio Int’l Accordion Fest •Grapevine Main Street Days Kamloops Cowboy Fest, B.C. Canada • Fort Worth Stock Show Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, NM • Big Balls of Cowtown Nat’l Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame • Chisholm Trail Roundup Mesquite Championship Rodeo • Cotati Accordion Festival, CA • Mucky Duck, Houston, TX • Las Vegas Int’l Accordi-on Convention • Festival of the West, AZ • Live radio performanc-es • and much more.
Ginny says, “The most thrilling of all musical aspects for me is refining the art of im-provisation, which can
only be fulfilled in a hands-on manner:’jamming’! I have jammed with many wonderful musicians, such as Tommy Allsup, The Texas Playboys, Tommy Mor-rell & The Time Warp Tophands, Riders In The Sky, Hot Club Of Cowtown, The Time Jumpers, Dave Alexander & Big Texas Swing Band, Rich O’Brien, and Joe Settlemires. I have these entertain-ers, among others, to thank for helping to expand my musical horizons.”
Originality exists in every individual. —Gene Guitton
PHOTOS BY JILL HENRY
Ginny Mac
25
Keep Cotati ...Best Regards,Jim Barrett, Lawyer
photos by Linda Conner
26
Congratulations Cotati Accordion Festival on 20 Years!
The Best Show In Town!
Info: Tony (707) 318-0474 / Kris (707) 795-4860 / John (707) 935-7334.
Meetings open to the Public.We meet every third Monday of the month.
Hermann Sons Hall.860 Western Ave. Petaluma. 7:30pm(Corner of Western & Webster.)
Tony Mustaro - President
Congratulations to the Cotati Accordion Festival for 21 Years of Entertainment!
The Best Show In Town!
Info: Tony (707) 318-0474 / Kris (707) 795-4860 / John (707) 935-7334.
The Accordion Club of the Redwoodsmeets every third Monday of the month.at Hermann Sons Hall860 Western Ave. Petaluma. 7:30pm(Corner of Western & Webster.)
Tony Mustaro - President
ACRMeetings
are open to the Public.
Ziggie’s MusicDionne Hauke, Owner
3309 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85012
www.ziggiesmusic.com606-266-9622 888-611-1179
Arizona’s Oldest & Largest
Accordionand GuitAr
StudiosSince 1927
• Lessons • Repairs• Buy • Sell • Trade
© Cotati Accordion Festival - www.cotatifest.com
© 2
000
Congratulations and Thanks for 21 Great Years producing the
Cotati Accordion Festival!
Joel WeBerPiano Accordion Teacher
in Oakland and the East Bay
Joel’s east Bay Accordion lessons joelseastbayaccordionlessons.com
27
Amber Lee and the Anomalies
Peter DiBonoSan Francisco’s
Premier Accordionist(415) 753-1502
www.peterdibono.comREAL MUSIC IS LIVE ! ! !
Amber Lee and the Anomalies isaccordion-ista and songwriter Amber Lee Baker performing as a one-woman show using her voice, accordion, glockenspiel, odd percussion instruments and a super-duper-looper (the Anomalies). With depth and dynamics that please the senses, she paints fascinating images in her well-crafted songs. Her influences range between Old-Time music, Gypsy tunes, and Sea Songs, telling captivating stories about whaler’s wives, rural cemeteries, glowing estuaries, bumps in the road, and rodeo clowns in roadside bars.
Amber Lee Baker picked up an accordion in a music shop in 2002 and instantly fell in love. A childhood of piano and voice lessons gave her a passion for music, but it was the accordion that really allowed her to find her voice. As the accordion drew her deeper down the rabbit hole, she found it more satisfying
than architecture, and thus many songs were born
She just completed her debut album “Estuaries” which includes contributions from friends that offer many other folk instruments including banjo, fiddle, man-dolin, upright bass and drums.
amberleeandtheanomalies.com ▲
28
Bella Ciao
28
Bella Ciao, the famous San Francis-co-based six-piece band, plays and sings everyone’s Italiano favorites from the late
’50s including Nessuno, Tintarella di Luna and Tu Vo Fa L’Americano as well as to-day’s hottest Italian-American hits includ-ing the Pasta Song, Blue Italian Skies and Monica from Monaco in a fun-filled show that has everyone livin’ la dolce vita. Don’t forget the Pizza-Dough-Tossing contest.
The new CD from Bella Ciao, Fes-tivus Italiano, is here and contains such hits as Oh Marie, Mambiambo, Rina and Danielle Polka, Sway, It Had Better Be Tonight, Blame it on the Bossa Nova and many more. And don’t forget our first CD, legends of the Italian Lounge with such hits as Marcello.
During 2011, Bella Ciao’s hit, The Pasta Song, was heard in a national TV commercial for Carrabba’s Ital-ian restaurant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3do7Q2QlG3E
MEMBERS INCLUDE:Mimi Lee Ferrari: lead vocalstom torriglia: accordionMaria Bella: bassGianni Vigo: drumsRico: guitar and mandolinThe Great Brandoni: sax ▲
29
Limpopo
These guys may be a Russian folk band, but these guys rock. It is impossible to not be moved to do something when you listen to these guys. Throw in a little bit of blues and more than a little bit of jazz, put it in the blender and sprinkle on some comedy and you have one of the most entertaining groups I’ve ever heard. I cannot overstate the impact you will feel if you listen to Limpopo.
I get the feeling that Limpopo is a band that plays for each other and the pure joy of performing. Whether it be for themselves in rehearsal or playing for the President of the United States: (They played for President Reagan during a private welcoming party for the Gor-bachevs.) they seem like a band that just wants everyone around to be having as much fun as they are.
Limpopo has its origins in Moscow since 1986. This group toured the former Soviet Union. At the peak of Limpopo’s
fame there, Yuri & Igor emigrated to the United States with only two of the origi-nal cast at his heels. In 1991, Limpopo reformed in the States as a four-member folk and comedy troupe. They were very successful performing for audiences of all ages across Canada and the United States at music and comedy festivals, children’s festivals, clubs, and college campuses. In 1993, they competed on and won the Ed McMahon’s International Star Search band competition. In 1995, they show-cased at The National Association for Campus Activities convention in Boston where over 150 colleges signed up to bring the band to their campuses! They were voted by readers of Campus Activities Today magazine as “Best Music Act for 1995”. They were nominated for Group of the Year at the 1996 Kerrville Music Awards. They were featured in a long run-
continued on page 47
…and you thought Limpopo was simply a river in Africa… Limpopo is much more than rushin’ water.
The First One Planet Community in North America andProud Supporter of the 21st Annual Cotati Accordion Festival
Sutter Medical Groupof the Redwoods
Sutter Medical Group of the RedwoodsMargo Budman, MD
Family Practice
Steven Levenberg, DOFamily Practice
Ghislaine Van Dissel, DOFamily Practice
The CAF wishes to thank DR. Levenberg who has been supporting the CAF
since it’s inception in 1991!
1400 Medical Center DriveROHNERT PARK, CA 94928Phone (707) 586-0440
30
31
The Mad Maggies
These SF Bay Area musicians kick up some dust with their own style of rowdy folk fusion as they swerve effortlessly from ska to Celtic rock, from Cajun/Zydeco to klezmer, from swing and polka to the high seas and beyond.
All this careening across the musical map began in 2004 when accordionist, Maggie Martin assembled fellow musi-cians to record an album of her com-positions. They’ve been at it ever since delighting audiences at festivals and pri-vate parties, in clubs and on the streets at farmer’s markets. Toes tap, people dance, kid like ’em. They’ve garnered radio play around the world, and even caught the ears of director Paul Haggis who used their “Sleepy Maggie” in a TV pilot.
This year the Mad Maggies have released their 5th album, “Shake Those
Bones” — the follow up to their “Skull & Magpies”.
They’re happy to be back again at the Cotati Accordion Festival where accor-dions rule and the crowd knows how to have fun.
Accordionist Maggie Martin leads this wild ensemble and is joined byJohny Blood: tubaAdrian Gormley: alto sax, tenor sax, bass
clarinetian luke: drumsrhian robinson: clarinet, whistletim Sarter: electric and acoustic bass
guitarGary “GDub” Wium: guitars
For booking and more information visit www.themadmaggies.com ▲
THE MAD MAggiEShard to describe ... easy to love ...
1400 Medical Center DriveROHNERT PARK, CA 94928Phone (707) 586-0440
32
9:45-10:15 The Golden State Accordion Club Band10:20-10:50 Tangonero10:55-11:25 Ramon Trujillo & Mariachi Los Caporales11:30-12:00 Amber Lee & the Anomalies12:05-12:40 Alicia Baker (sponsored by Roland)12:45-1:00 The Great Morgani1:05-1:45 Limpopo1:50-2:15 Lady of Spain-A-Ring
(Audience Participation, see page 37)
2:15-2:55 Guy Klucevsek3:00-3:40 The Georges Lammam Ensemble3:45-4:00 The Great Morgani4:05-4:45 Ginny Mac4:50-5:10 Cory Pesaturo5:15-5:55 The Mad Maggies6:00-6:15 Nada Lewis6:20-7:20 Polkacide
Schedule of Events
Saturday, August 20th
WIN HOHNERAccORDION
cajun/Zydeco Dance Partyat Friar Tuck’s Pub 8201 Old Redwood Hwy.
South of West Sierra Entrance See Map on Page 2.
1:00-5:00 pm Saturday Mark St. Mary1:00-5:00 pm Sunday Motor Dude Zydeco
Raffle 6:15 pm Sunday See Page 2 for Ticket Location
The TwentyFirst Annual
33
Polka Tent with Huge Wooden Dance Floor
Polka Dance PartySteve Balich Sr. polka Band & Friends 1-5 pm Saturday and SundayAlso appearing: 9:30-11:00 am Jim Gilman 11:00 am - Noon Chuck Berger
Zydeco Dance Party Sat. The Creole BellesSun. Courtableu
Schedule of Events
Sunday, August 21st9:45-10:15 The Golden State Accordion Club Band10:20-10:50 Sweet Penny Royals10:55-11:25 The Accordion Babes’ Pageant with Hubbub Club Marching Band11:30-12:10 Cory Pesaturo12:15-12:45 Simka12:50-1:05 The Great Morgani 1:10-1:45 Bella Ciao1:50-2:15 Lady of Spain-A-Ring (Audience Participation, see page 37)
2:20-3:00 Mary Tokarski3:05-3:50 Murl Allen Sanders3:55-4:10 The Great Morgani4:15-4:55 Limpopo5:00-5:15 Amber Lee Baker5:20-5:55 Culann’s Hounds6:00-6:10 Duckmandu6:15-7:00 Those Darn Accordions
The TwentyFirst Annual
5:05-6:30pm Polka Tent in the park
34Job Name: FR18D / FR7X AD Job#: 2588 Date: 6.27.11Magazine: Cotati Prep: OG
Combining the familiar sounds and playing feel of a traditional acoustic accordion with the advantages of a modern digital musical instrument, a Roland V-Accordion® takes your music to places you’ve never imagined. From the compact FR-1 to the flagship FR-7x, there’s a V-Accordion to fit any style and budget, with both piano and button versions to choose from. Our latest, the FR-18 diatonic, now brings V-Accordion technology to diatonic players, providing a wide selection of authentic folk sounds, instant key change at the touch of a button, and much more!
A World of New Possibilities
Discover the V-Accordion and explore a world of new creative possibilities
at www.RolandUS.com.
2588_CotatiAccordianFest_FR18D-FR7X_AD_FINAL.indd 1 7/11/11 1:38 PM
35
Culann’s hounds
petosa . . . if itÕ s your first accordion. . it will be your last!
Fierce like their namesake, Cu Chul-ainn, Culann’s Hounds have built a reputa-tion for stage shows filled with high-energy and a ruthless dedication to rocking their audiences. Folk melodies, sensibilities, and stories permeate their music with original in Ireland, France and early America This mash-up of tradition and energy is at once thought provoking, accessible and infec-tious. The Hounds original material is a mirror of their lives, tales of distant lands, love, elation and loss.
Steve Gardner brings his virtuosic violin style uncut. With seeming effortless-ness he plays Irish traditional music, Cajun, country and rock pairing with the accordion at breakneck speed. Steve also grabs the guitar and sings his irreverent brand of classic and original songs. Steve is a teacher of music and the artistic direc-tor for Rooms Music Marin.
Mike Kelleher sings from the gut, giving his own songs and those of centuries past a particular urgency. A key to The Hounds’ tireless rhythm, Mike’s guitar playing cuts to the core of song, strongly framing the vocals and the traditional melodies.
renée de la Prade is a show within the show. Her ability to rip melodies in
unison with Steve, sing in different patios’ in English and French, dance, and deliver her own songs with remarkable emo-tional depth leaves audiences stunned and enthralled.
At bigger venues and louder parties, the Hounds also bring in a drum and bass rhythm section to rock at their peak.
When The Hounds play, they take more than the stage. They take control and make you love them. Give in to screamingly high energy, dance with wild abandon, and connect to music of the people made on real instruments in front of your eyes. ▲
www.sfhounds.com
36
Imported by Crown Imports LLC, Chicago, IL 60603
74174 CRN SPF 9.5
App: InDesign CS3 Trim: 8" x 10.875" Pubs: MaximArtist: rr,cd Live: 7.5" x 10.375"Proof #: 4 Bleed: 8.25" x 11.125"Scale: 100%Color: 4/C Fonts: Corona Caslon Antique, Trade Gothic
Imported by Crown Imports LLC, Chicago, IL 60603
74174 CRN SPF 9.5
App: InDesign CS3 Trim: 8" x 10.875" Pubs: MaximArtist: rr,cd Live: 7.5" x 10.375"Proof #: 4 Bleed: 8.25" x 11.125"Scale: 100%Color: 4/C Fonts: Corona Caslon Antique, Trade Gothic
37
The hubbub Club Marching Band
LADY OF SPAIN-A-RING• LADY
OF
SPAIN-A-RING•LADYOFSPAIN-A-RING•LADYOFSPA
IN-A
-RIN
G•L
ADY
OFSP
AIN
-A-RING •
Lady of Spain-a-Ring
in front of the Hexagonal Stage prior to
2:00 pm
Join us for the World Famous
Bring your accordion and join us for a rousing rendition of the Lady of Spain 1:50 pm in front of stage
An ensemble of 20+ musicians and dancers who make music together in a funky, fun fashion to promote, uplift, and support our local communities. We play a wide range of music, drawing on the traditions of brass bands, street bands, and popular music from around the world. You can see us at a variety of community
events, including benefits, concerts, rallies, protests, and gigs at local venues. Our diverse, mixed-level, multi-generational group is committed to a non-hierarchical, democratic process. We believe that music is a powerful tool for social change, and we strive to help heal the earth and her people in all aspects of our work. ▲
You’ve seen their pin-up photos, now meet the real women behind the accordions! MC Tom Torriglia and the fabulous Sonoma County movers and shakers, the Hubbub Club Marching Band will present the Accordion Babes in all their smiling, sparkling, kitschy glory.
Bring your accordion and join us
tom torriglia & the hubbub Club Marching Band present...
The Accordion Babes Beauty Pageant
Look for us near the souvenir booth after
the show and an Accordion Babe will
sign your calendar.
BRAVO!
1:50 pm
38
• Tremolo Tuning, 26 keys, range B-C, 2 treble registers, 60 bass buttons, 4 voices, keyboard length 12.75"
• Includes adjustable textile straps.
• Gig bag.$1525.00 value
Buy Your Raffle tickets for a chance to win this fabulous BRAVo II from hohner.
Thank you again to Hohner U.S.A. and Gilbert Reyes for their generous donation of yet another accordion to the Cotati Accordion Festival.
• Tremolo Tuning, 26
Bravo ii60-bass
Piano Accordionfrom Hohner
Wholesale & Retail • Service & Repairs • Buy - Sell - Trade
Accordions / Buttonboxes
HOUSE OF MUSIC
1706 howard Road, Madera, CA 93637tel: (559) 674-0071 Fax: (559) 674-5468
eVeRYthING FoR the ACCoRDIoNISt
Please call us for models and prices.Accordions and Buttonboxes
Visit our booth at the festival to experience our
amazing accordions.
Introducing ...
Roland V-AccordionReedless, Digital, PortableSelf-Contained Accordion
We also carry:Limex Midi Systems
and the DA 200 Concerto"SIMPLy THE BEST"
39
The Great Morgani aka Frank Lima
AS USUAL, hAVe YoUR eYeS oPeN, CAMeRAS ReADY, AND eNJoY the CReAtIVe CoStUMeD MUSICAL MADNeSS FRoM thIS tALeNteD PeRFoRMeR. ▲
39
2011 WILL MAke the 12th YeAR, “the GReAt MoRGANI” hAS APPeAReD At the CotAtI
ACCoRDIoN FeStIVAL.
Always dazzing the audience with the most unusual cos-tumes, be prepared for four of the most outrageous get ups ever. “Move over Lady Gaga” and she doesn’t even incorporate an accordion into her act. The Great One will be on stage four times during the two-day event, so
expect about 24 songs.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT HiS BOOK, "THE CREATiVE MADNESS OF A MiDDLE AgED STOCKBROKER, TURNED STREET MUSiCiAN", AT THE T-SHiRT TENT. PART OF THE PROCEEDS OF SALE gO BACK TO THE COTATi ACCORDiON FESTiVAL. thanks great one.
40
Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 Russ Burns, Business Manager6225 State Farm Drive, Suite 100Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-585-2487
Congratulations to the
Cotati Accordion Festival providing quality entertainment
for the past 21 yEARS!
41
The Creole Belles
The Creole Belles are stepping out with a long-awaited debut CD on Ar-hoolie Records. The California based all-women band is well known in the Cajun music scene for bringing the raw, driving authenticity of southwest Louisiana dance halls to their shows.
Produced by the Belles and Greg Landau, who has produced Susana Baca, Pete Seeger and many others, and mas-tered by two-time Grammy winning en-gineer John Greenham, the Creole Belles’ self-titled CD was released by Arhoolie on April 1st, 2008.
Popular zydeco musician and Loui-siana native Andrew Carrière is a regular special guest and contributes Creole French vocals and some powerful accordion to the CD, as exemplified in the medley of tunes learned from his late father, legend-ary fiddler Bébé Carrière of the renowned Carrière Brothers from Lawtell, Louisiana.Andrew and many people from southwest Louisiana emigrated to California in the last half century and brought their music with them, inspiring a new generation of California musicians like fiddler Delilah Lee Lewis and accordionist Maureen Karpan to travel to Louisiana to learn to play the music.
The new CD showcases the dynamic collaboration between Andrew’s soul-ful Creole roots and the Belles’ heartfelt expression.
DELILAH LEE LEWIS (FIDDLE) The Creole Belles are distinguished by the high-energy, traditional fiddle style of Delilah, who has been playing Cajun music for the 27 years.
MAUREEN KARPAN (ACCOR-DION) Maureen has been playing Cajun accordion since 1992. For seven years she led the Bay Area Cajun band Frog Legs.
KAREN LEIGH (GUITAR) Karen has been playing traditional rhythm guitar since 1974, including times with Dewey Balfa, Canray Fontenot, and Danny Poullard at national festivals.
JULAY BROOKS (ACOUSTIC BASS) She studied classical piano for 20 years and now teaches 50 students in Pied-mont and Oakland.
ANDREW CARRIER (VOCALS, TRIANGLE) From Lawtell, Louisiana, accordionist and singer Andrew plays regularly with the Cajun Classics, the All Star Cajun band, and Suzy and Eric Thompson.
MYRNA COOPER (RUBBOARD) A seasoned bay area musician, Myrna has performed with many of the Bay Area’s finest including LeRoy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners, and many others.
And on our first CD: KAREN CELIA HEIL (ACOUSTIC BASS & FIDDLE) Karen Celia, longtime Bay Area music veteran, played acoustic stand up bass with the Belles for many years. ▲
Zydeco tent5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
4242
Mark St. Mary
Mark St. Mary’s Louisiana Blues and Zydeco This is a five-member band that plays Traditional Louisiana Blues and Zydeco Music and was awarded the “Best Zydeco Band” in 2007 by Bay Area Blues Society.
Mark’s been playing his traditional style of Zydeco music since the age of 15 and his music is so infectious that once the band starts to play the crowd does not want him to stop, Yelling “Play One More” over and over. Mark sings in both
English & Creole French. We pride ourselves in being able to
give the crowd a variety, Zydeco, Blues, R&B and even a lil’ Country. In North-ern California I have been dubbed “King of the Delta”.
Followers of this music loves the excitement it brings and the joy they get from dancing to it i.e. Waltz, Two-Step, line dance and a down home Flat-Foot Zydeco.
We play Festivals, Mardi Gras, Wed-dings, Anniversaries, Private Parties, Corpo-rate Events, New Years and/or whatever you like. We will perform whatever the theme.
With Mark’s gift of gab he comes prepared to really put on a show, making you not wan’ta sit down. We guarantee to keep you entertained, keeping the skirt-tails floppin’ and the Cowboy boots stompin’.
Band members include: Mark St. Mary - Accordion Player/Vocalist; David Rees - Bass/Backup Vocalist; Scott gringo Williams - Lead Guitar; Steve Namle – Drummer; Bobby Benoit’ - Rub Board; Jasper Zumo - Rub Board.
LET’S HAVE A PARTY YA’LL!!! ETOI! ETOI!! ▲
Borsini Accordion Sales, Service and Tuning
Jeffrey iaconoP.O. Box 1904
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
(714) [email protected]
www.borsiniaccordions.it
Friar tuck’s Pub1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
SATURDAY
43
Motor Dude Zydeco
Formed in 1989, Motor Dude Zydecoplays zydeco — the infectious dance music of the Creole people of Southwest Louisiana. Led by Lake Charles, Louisi-ana native R.C. Carrier (vocals and rub board) and Billy Wilson (accordion), the band has performed for enthusiastic audiences in clubs, concerts, and festivals throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The band took its name from Motor Dude, a horse owned by the late, great zydeco accordion wizard Boozoo Chavis. With the blessings of Mr. Chavis, the band rode off with the name Motor Dude and more than a little musical guidance. Over the years the band has taken Mr. Chavis’ words of wisdom to heart, “If you do something long enough, it gets good!”
Based in the zydeco tradition, Mo-tor Dude Zydeco utilizes piano accordi-on, button accordion, rub board, guitar, bass, drums and vocals to create its distinctive sound. Many of their songs are sung in Creole French. The quintet’s irresistible rhythms and high-energy performances are guaranteed to fill any dance floor.
In February 2005 Motor Dude
Zydeco was honored as the Zydeco Band of the Year by the Bay Area Blues Society.
Billy Wilson, Accordion: Billy is a twenty-five-year veteran of the Bay Area Cajun and Zydeco music scene. An ac-complished multi-instrumentalist, Billy plays bass, guitar, fiddle, ukulele, and steel guitar as well as piano accordion and button accordion. Billy formed Mo-tor Dude Zydeco in October 1989.
R.C. Carrier, Vocals and Rub board: As a youth in Lake Charles, LA, R.C. learned many of the traditional Creole French tunes he sings today with Motor Dude Zydeco.
John Graham, Guitar: John is also a founding member of Motor Dude Zydeco.
Dennis Calloway, Bass and Vocals: Dennis is a twenty-five-year zydeco scene veteran. He cut his musical teeth touring the globe with the Grammy-winning zydeco bands of Queen Ida and Al Rapone.
Willie Jordan, Drums: Willy Jor-don’s drumming is formed by his exten-sive musical background (blues, zydeco, rhythm and blues, soul, funk, rock, and jazz). ▲
Friar tuck’s Pub1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
SUNDAY
4444
VOLPI’SRestorante & Old world Bar
Live Accordion
MusicFriday, Saturday
& Sunday• Homemade Pastas • Veal • Beef• Chicken • Seafood • Daily Specials
Lunch served: Wed., Thurs. & Fri. 11:30 to 2:30dinner served: Wednesday & Thursday 5:00 to 9:30 Friday & Saturday 5:00 to 10:00Sunday 4:30-9:00
124 Washington St.(Corner Washington & Keller)DoWntoWn PetalumaReSeRvATIOnS SuggeSTed
See You after the feStival!
(707) 765-0695& (707) 762-2371
of Central California
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month (except September)at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave., Escalon, 7 p.m.
Accordion enthusiasts and performers of all levels welcome.
Meeting monthly since 1999
Best wishes for a successful21st Annual Cotati Accordion Festival
from the
45
Courtableu plays Cajun music, the traditional songs of the French-speaking inhabitants of rural southwest Louisiana. Based in the San Francisco Bay area, this five-piece ensemble performs the contemporary Cajun style made popular by Aldus Roger and Walter Mouton, an electrified dance hall style replete with fiddle, accordion, steel guitar, bass and drums.
The name “Courtableu” derives from “Sur le Courtableu,” the song by legendary Louisiana accordionist Nathan Abshire, in which a Louisiana swain implores his young lady,
S’en aller sur le Courtableu, petit monde, Let’s go to Bayou Courtableu, little one
Pour ramasser des ecopeaux, ye yaie,To gather kindling, ye yaie,Pour faire du feu, bebé,
To make a fire, baby,Pour faire boulillier des tourloulous.
To boil some sand crabs
Who wouldn’t want to spend a sum-mer’s afternoon on the Bayou, to while
away the hours in the company of your sweetheart? Abshire’s song, an easy-going vision of an earthly paradise, isn’t too far removed from the surface of everyday life in Acadia (Bayou Courtableau is actually just east of Opelousas in St. Landry Par-ish). Those of us in the outer world may only imagine what it’s like. Listening to the song, though, one can almost touch the dream . . .
Raised up in the fertile musi-cal environment of the Bay Area, the members of Courtableu all played and studied with legendary accordionist and teacher Danny Poullard. Individually, they have performed with such famed Cajun musicians as Marc and Ann Savoy, Michael Doucet, the California Cajun Orchestra, Jesse Legé, Edward Poullard and many others. Their dedi-cation to the authentic Cajun honky tonk sound and their vibrant, soulful performances have won them many friends and admirers among lovers of French Louisiana music.
www.courtableu.com ▲
Courtableu Zydeco tent5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
46
upcoming, “The Adventures of Tin-Tin” (2012).
He is the recipient of a 2010 United States Artists Collins Fellowship, an unre-stricted $50,000 award, which is depleting at an alarming rate as he records his new album, The Multiple Personality Reunion Tour, which features such guest artists as Brave Combo, accordionists Alex Meixner and Ginny Mac, and a veritable who’s who of New York-based all stars including trumpeter Dave Douglas, drummers John Hollenbeck and Kenny Wallesen, singers Theo Bleckmann, Peter Eldridge and Jo Lawry, banjo player Brandon Seabrook, Marcus Rojas on tuba, Pete Donovan on bass, Steve Elson, horns, Todd Reynolds, violin, Isabel Ettenauer (Austria), piano, to appear in any/all audio formats which may exist six months from now. ▲
Guy klucevsekcontinued from page 9
Dance Theatre, under the direction of Cassandra Shore in Minneapolis, Min-nesota. As solo artist, he performed his original score for “Blood Relative”, a timely play directed by Aaron Davidman with the Traveling Jewish Theater in San Francisco, California.
Mr. Lammam is instructor of violin and Arabic singing at the annual Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino, California and has taught Arabic music ensemble and vocal classes at the University of California at Berke-ley, Humboldt State University, Santa Fe College and Middlebury College in Vermont.
His latest recording of original music fusing Eastern and Western musical sensi-bilities was released in August, 2006. ▲
The Georges Lammam ensemblecontinued from page 22
Do you like the CAF’s new website? www.cotatifest.comwould you like to have a site
of your own?Call me ...Linda ConnerGeoGraphics707-585-2910
Write to me [email protected] [email protected]
GeoGraphicsFRoM CoNCePt to CoNSUMeR
Full Service • Design • Print • Web • Mailing • E-mail Marketing
Family Owned and Operated
Since 1965
Schumann Brothers
Boot & Shoe Restoration & Repair
1820 La PlazaCotati, CA 94931
47
Chuck Berger
ning national TV ad for KIT KAT candy bars which became a tongue-in-cheek anthem for them. L.A.’s number one watched news program, KTLA Morn-ing News, featured a live interview and performance of Limpopo.
Limpopo is Russian entertainment extraordinaire and one of the greatest col-lections of talent to ever hit the Americas, regardless of heritage. Limpopo is a com-plete treat for the eyes, ears and hearts of any fan of real world music.
The artists who comprise Limpopo are: Igor khramov from Yegoryevsk on balalaika, vocals, trombone, sweetstick, guitar and percussion; Yuri Fedorkofrom Siberia on accordion (bayan), guitar, vocals, and amazing acrobatics; Dmitri Mamokhin from Electrostal’ on bass bala-
laika, trumpet and vocals; oleg Shrammkeyboards & vocals. More Schramm, Al-exander kalinin accordion and dancing;
Guitarists: Sergei taranov, Alexan-der Greschenko. Drummers: Rasputin, Shannon Leggette. Andrei Baranovfrom Volgograd on drums, spoons and traditional Russian-percussion. oleg krivenkoff & George tonkelidi.
Limpopo released its fifth album Rybalochka in 2006. All albums available by calling 310-428-7400 or sending your order by e-mail at: [email protected]. or contact CDBABY.COM OR INDIE MUSIC STORE AND MANY MORE…. Limpopo members are all permanent residents of the United States, so they are here to stay and celebrate what they do best: delight and entertain!
You can visit Limpolo at www.limpopo.com ▲
Limpopocontinued from page 29
Chuck Berger has been a professionalperformer for 40 years. His repertoire consists of the big band sounds of the
40’s ... through music of the 70’s and 80’s! Through the early years of his career, polka music was his mainstay while working with the big name polka bands in the Midwest. With the advent of the MIDI accordion, he now precisely emulates all styles of music, whether it be big band, country, vocal groups, or polkas and waltz-es (Swiss, German, Italian, Polish, to name a few). His sound from stage is equivalent to a 14-piece orchestra, without the aid of computer generated background.
Each instrument heard, including the acoustic accordion, is actually being played by Chuck. Thus, he has become the true “ONE MAN, BIG BAND”, and is referred to by many as the “MASTER of the MIDI accordion”. Because of his love for the accordion, he goes out of his way to perform for accordion clubs throughout the U.S. A repertoire of over 2000 songs makes him a true crowd pleaser. ▲
4848
San Francisco’s accordion-fueledrock ’n’ roll band pumps out quirky, catchy originals chronicling life in the weird lane. The six-piece group -- fronted by lead singer/squeezebox wizard Paul Rogers and bellows-pumping babes Carri Abrahms, Susie Davis and Suzanne Gar-ramone — promises to forever rearrange your understanding of the accordion. TDA’s four extreme squeezeboxers mix solid keyboard chops with a ground breaking use of guitar effects pedals and amps to produce a super-cool sound like nothing you’ve ever heard emanating
from an accordion.Behind the amazing wall of wheeze,
drummer Michael Messer and bass player Lewis Wallace anchor the band, provid-ing a firm foundation upon which the manic TDA accordionists can layer huge slabs of sonic mayhem.
With sterling vocal harmonies and a sense of humor that just won’t quit, the one-of-a-kind band blazes through a variety of musical genres — from rock and funk to polka and even swing — and torches timeless classic rock tunes along the way. You won’t believe your ears. ▲
Those Darn Accordions ... Those Darn Accordions ... Those Darn Accordions!
Ready to Rock?
"Sexy, raw, and diabolically funny. Right up there with NRBQ as a band with a real point of view." — Teller (the quiet one) of Penn & Teller
49
PAUL RoGeRSBorn and Raised: Detroit, Mich. raised in Dearborn,
Mich., home of The Ford Motor Co. and graduated Edsel Ford High School 1971.
Instruments Played: Piano, Accordion, Saxophone, GuitarFavorite tDA Song to Perform Live: “Them Hippies Was
Right” What can be more fun than screaming feedback from an accordion through an amp cranked to 10? Besides, I’m starting to think maybe they were right.
Start With tDA: The bass player (Michael Lindner) in the alt country band I was in, Transistor Rodeo, told me about a group of musicians that got together once a month and did accordion raids on SF restaurants. Knowing how to play was not a prerequsite for membership. I was intrigued so I borrowed an accordion and went on a raid. I was hooked immediately and af-ter a few more raids and local gigs, I was named the band leader by default. No one else wanted the job.
First Started Playing Music: I started banging on the piano making up tunes around 6th grade. Took lessons through high school and went to music school at Ohio Wesleyan Univ. Got a Bachelor of Music in 1975. ▲
SUSIe DAVISBorn and Raised: Born in San
Francisco, I was part of an average middle class family until I was 10, when my parents embraced the counter cultural revolution and became middle class hip-pies. That was the year I named my cat “Tiva” (short for Cannibas Sativa….). Dad worked as a DJ and would get fired every couple of years and so we
lived all over the place; Sausalito/CA, Denver/CO, Kansas City/
KS, Boise/ID, San Rafael/CA, Eugene/
OR, Petaluma/CA, Corte Madera/CA,
and Fairfax/CA.Instru-
ments Played:Accordion,
Piano, and Guitar
Favorite tDA Song to Perform
Live: Right now it is Tinkle Town Polka, because in playing that song, the pur-pose of my life seems clear….. well, it all just seems to make sense. The other one is Whole Lotta Love because I get to use every one of the rock poses I learned from the masters over my years touring with famous rock stars.
Start With tDA: Paul asked me to join when Patty decided to move to Hawaii. My career trajectory had pretty much reached it’s pinnacle in the mid-90’s and since then had been on a long slow descent, so, joining TDA seemed like the perfectly natural thing to do at that point in time. Besides, I had wanted to learn the accordion, and had even purchased one, but there is nothing like an actual gig coming up to make a girl practice!
First Started Playing Music: As a kid, I hated piano lessons and didn’t stick with them long. Later I got a guitar and re-ally enjoyed bashing the hell out of Beatles songs. I ended up teaching myself chords on piano, so I could bash out songs on that instrument as well and here I am! ▲
Those Darn Accordions ... Those Darn Accordions ... Those Darn Accordions!
50
Those Darn Accordionscontinued from page 49
CARRI ABRAhMSBorn and Raised: I grew up behind
the Orange Curtain. (Now popularly know as “the O.C.”)
Instruments Played: Piano, accor-dion and kazoo
Favorite tDA Song to Perform Live: The Story of Lawrence Welk be-cause it’s such a brilliantly written saga. It still makes me laugh. The genius of Paul Rogers.
Start With tDA: About five years ago, after Patty moved to HI, Paul asked Susie to join the band, and Susie said he had to ask me too. I loved the songs and the whole premise of the band.
First Started Playing Music: At three noodling around on our piano at home. And singing in the bath. ▲
LeWIS WALLACeBorn and Raised: Clayton, OhioInstruments Played: Bass, Guitar,
Cello, MandolinFavorite tDA Song to Perform
Live: “Them Hippies Was Right” Love that groove.
Start With tDA: I went to an audi-tion at Patty’s house back in 1991. There were a dozen or more accordion play-ers, plus TDA’s original drummer, Bill Schwartz. It sounded pretty bizarre, disori-enting even, a sonic swirl kinda like being on a merry-go-round. At some point, Paul said something to the accordionists like, “Don’t worry about playing that left hand part now that we’ve got a bass player.” Of course, nobody ever asked me if I wanted to join the band. Oh well.
First Started Playing Music: Started piano lessons at age 6
MIChAeL MeSSeRBorn and Raised: Born - NYC Low-
ered - Encino (Golden Ghetto)Instruments Played: Actually, I
don’t play an instrument. I just surround myself with inanimate found objects and hit them really hard (no animals are ever traumatized or harmed in the process).
Favorite tDA Song to Perform Live: “Dumbass on the Mountain” Many humans in their quest to find or manu-facture meaning in their lives lurch into the arena of meaningless, egocentric self aggrandizement. In slightly over two min-utes, Paul illustrates this approach to life brilliantly.
Start With tDA: When = Approxi-mately four years ago. Why = Limited options How = I kept showing up at rehearsals and gigs.
First Started Playing Music: N/A (see # 2)
SUZANNe GARRAMoNeBorn and Raised: Born in DeKalb,
IL. Moved to Morrison, IL when I was 4.Instruments Played: Tenor drum
and cymbals in high school marching band, tenor sax in the school jazz band, alto clarinet from grade school through college. (I was in the Illinois All-State Band that went to France when I was a se-nior.) Piano-my first love since 3rd grade .
Favorite tDA Song to Perform Live: It varies from show to show depend-ing on my mood and how the sound is.
Start With tDA: I’m the last original member. I went to the first gig because I got a call from Big Lou. - both in Polkacide.
First Started Playing Music: Started piano lessons in 3rd grade ▲
51
The Steve Balich Sr. polka Band
Steve is one of the originators of the festival who, along with Clifton Buck-Kauffman and our own Jim Boggio, pioneered this event in 1991.
Steve was instru-mental in helping Clifton book some of the headliners we’ve enjoyed over the years after Jim passed away including artists such as Dick Contino, Chuck Berger, Tony Lovello and resounding hit accordionist, Alex Meixner.
Mr. Balich is also one of the founders of the popular “Accordion Club of the Red-woods,” an organization dedicated to giving scholarships to the young accordion stars of tomorrow.
The Steve Balich Sr. Polka Band has recorded three hit recordings. If you love Ital-ian music, you’ll love these: “Our Golden Years,” “Steve Balich Sr. Plays All Italian,” and “Steve Balich Sr. Plays All Italian, Vol. II,” with no duplications. ▲
21st year at the Festival
��
Polka Dance PartyA huge wooden dance floor is provided
for your dancing enjoyment.Featuring ever-popular
The Steve Balich Sr. polka BandSaturday and Sunday from 1-5 pm
near the South entrance on West Sierra.Also appearing:
9:30 to 11:00 Jim Gilman 11:00 to Noon Chuck Berger
5252
Nada Lewis
A top bay area accordionist, nada lewis is the most versatile musi-cian in her field. nada is well-known as a French, Italian, German / Polka, Klezmer / Jewish / Israeli, Irish, Gypsy / Roma / Balkan, Russian, Romanian, Greek accordionist and international musician — solo or with her ensembles. She is also a booking agent for entertain-ment for special events and is a wedding music band provider for receptions in California, the West Coast, and beyond.
The accordion has melody, harmony and bass line. It is wonderful for wed-
dings, parties, fairs, international or other theme or multi-cultural events. It is perfect for conveying so many differ-ent moods: continental, sweet romantic, danceable (especially in combo), relaxing background music, upbeat, even down-right goofy with appropriate costuming. An accordion sounds great solo or with other instruments, duo, trio or larger. I’d love to provide great music for your event!
I am Nada Lewis, and I play many different instruments — keyboard, per-cussion, wind and strings. The accordion is my main squeeze (it breathes!). I’ve been a professional musician for many years, and the kinds of music I choose are pieces that move me, that make my heart sing. I love European folk music, the dance tunes, the love songs, the hot Roma (Gypsy) melodies, the Balkan rhythms, sweet Italian and French continental favorites, romantic ballads and klezmer music. I also play polkas, schottishes, tan-gos, horas, and Greek and middle eastern music, jigs and reels. All of it is so much fun to play!
Hire an accordionistMusicians’ fees vary according to several factors such as playing time from start to
53
TangoneroTangonero is a new Argentine Tango band based in San Francisco. We specialize in clas-sic tango — a genre that fuses intense passion with quiet tenderness, alternat-ing sharp percussive rhythms with slow nostalgic melodies. It squeezes your heart to tears and then sets your feet to dancing.
Accordionist Alex Roitman: Born and raised in Mos-cow, Russia, Alex
Roitman started playing piano when he was 7 years old. He currently studies accor-dion with Peter DiBono, exploring various genres. In addition to tango, he specifically enjoys playing Klezmer, Italian, French musette, and Russian music.
Besides Tangonero, Alex performed with different bands and musicians:Go Van Gogh - a versatile San Francisco bandCrystal Philippi - a mezzo-soprano vocalistBrandon Evans - a classical guitaristNothingset Ensemble - a classical and contemporary music groupPure Piaf - a musical about the life and music of Edith Piaf
Guitarist Zac “Sharbidar” Selissen has graduated from Saint Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, in Classical and Jazz Guitar. He then graduated in Classical Guitar from the San Francisco Conservatory of music. Zac’s interests include Spanish guitar music, Jazz, as well as Classic Tango and Tango Nuevo.
www.tangonero.com ▲
finish, number of musicians contracted, driving time/distance to the site, park-ing/unloading situation, complexity of any sound systems brought in for you, whether or not there needs to be a special rehearsal, etc.
As a booking agent with Folkloric Pro-ductions I know and can connect you with many other excellent accordionists, musi-
cians, bands, dance shows, and even DJs.Give me a call and I will be happy
to answer your questions, give you more information, availability, fee quotes, ideas and suggestions, and to arrange for you to hear demos or come to a live audition.
www.folkloric.net/entertainment.htm ▲
54
by Sheri Mignano
“knock, knock.” “Who’s there?”Answer: “A door-to-door salesman selling accordions in an Oklahoma dustbowl town.”
This was how Marjo-rie was introduced to the accordion. Marjorie’s musical journey started at age 12 and took her through several moves that eventually brought her to California.
As a 17-year-old senior in high school, she started to teach kids. Her music theory and psychology studies at Humboldt State armed her with the tools to be able to not only teach music but to compose it as well. After joining the Music Teachers’ Association of California
and elected as an officer in that organi-zation, she was responsible for present-ing the weekly recitals. She was a busy lady who also found time to appear on television and radio shows to promote the accordion.
In 1964, Guido Canevari gave her a class of 25 to each in his accordion center. One of the famous guests to perform at the Veteran Memorial Hall in Santa Rosa was Myron Floren; Marjorie and her students performed with him. What a rare and wonderful experience for her students.
For more than 40 years, Marjo-rie had devoted her knowledge, music library, and resources to her accordion students while passionately promoting it wherever she could. Her great joy has been watching “the young people become successful.” Some of her students have even grown up to marry each other, car-rying on the accordion tradition in their families. Ralph Muscatell was Marjorie’s button box student, too. Her students, both then and now continue to win awards that make her very proud.
In addition, Marjorie has distin-guished herself with a collection of teach-ing awards including the “Larry Pino inspirational Teacher’s Award” presented to her in Las Vegas in 2006. This award recognized her distinguished contribu-
Marjorie konrad: A Musical Odyssey
Marjorie and her accordions. PHOTO TOM STAMP
Marjorie Konrad and Myron Floren
55
The Golden State Accordion Club Band
The Golden State Accordion Club Band has been pleasing audiences with its Eu-ropean style music for many years. The group is sponsored by the Golden State Accordion Club and features a variety of accordions including Button Box, Piano and Chromatic instruments.
Responding to audience demands, the band performs polka and waltz music of various European styles. The band prides itself on the ability to get the toes tapping, the hands clapping and the dance floor flowing.
The Golden State Accordion Club was formed in l991 and is a very active organization determined to promote the accordion family and perpetuate the enjoyment this instrument gives to all. The club is comprised of three chapters
which meet each month at the following locations; Vacaville, Humboldt County (Loleta) and Sacramento.
The club is very proud of its schol-arship and accordion loaner programs, which offers financial support and instru-ment availability to young players. The past year the club awarded 15 scholarships to youngsters ranging in age from 8 to 16. To date we have awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships.
Just for fun, we invite you to bring your accordion or other musical instru-ments and join others in wild, raucous, noisy playing in our jam tent here at Cotati. We also hope you will be able to visit us at one of our meetings; and, if you would like more information about this club, contact Carole at 707-864-2359. ▲
tions in the world of the accordion.One of her surprising accomplish-
ments was when she awoke in the middle of the night with a song in her heart. She wrote out the tune that became knows as “Ya, Vi Eisker, Vals.” That’s Scandinavian for “Yes, We Love Waltz.” It was dedicated to her dear friends who celebrated a 50th
wedding anniversary. Then it was pub-lished in Norway after she received encour-agement to publish from Helen Criscio.
Marjorie enjoys playing the accor-dion at all hours of the day and night! There is a problem though. She has to decide among her several accordions and button boxes. Her preference seems to be her wet-tuned Guerrini. She confesses to playing it in the middle of the night as a way to conquer insomnia! What a great prescription for health and happiness!
continued on page 57
5656
Motor Dude ZydecoSweet penny Royals
The music of the “Sweet Penny Royals” is collected from a nomadic path that encircles all of Europe, dipping deep into the Mediterranean, west through France toward British Isles, and arcing eastward through the Baltic Sea toward Russia and the Balkans, played on fiddle, accordion, and percussion. Featuring multi-lingual vocals seasoned with crum-horn, harp, flute, whistle, berimbau and egg beater.
Roxanne Oliva, M.A. - appears on over 30 albums and film soundtracks, most notably with recent Rock Hall of Fame inductee Tom Waits. Roxanne played on the main stage at the first an-nual COTATI Accordion Festival in 1991 with a folk-rock band. Dirty Linen Folk Music Magazine reviewed, “The main instrumental virtuoso in the group is ac-cordionist, Roxanne Oliva.” In addition to Squeeze-Funk, Celtic, World-Beat, Country/Roots and R&B bands, Rox-
anne belongs to the women’s gypsy trio SWEET PENNY ROYALS. Roxanne is also on the cover of the Accordion Babe Calender for 2011.
Carleen Weirauch (previously Duncan) is a vocalist and bodhran player. Taylor Guitars says,"Carleen’s exquisite vocals soar and swoop, exhib-iting a powerful, dramatic range that swings from plaintive to triumphant..."
Janette Duncan is a fiddler spe-cializing in international folk dance music, has been hired to play at folk dance schools in Japan, Brazil and throughout the US. Janette holds a B.A. in Music and currently teaches for Alasdair Fraser’s, Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School, Sierra Camp, SRJC, and privately at her home studio.
sweetpennyroyals.blogspot.com ▲
57
The Apple Crate~ Gifts and Collectibles ~
Right Behind the Main Stage8109 La Plaza — 707-664-1469
Take a break from the festival to see quality merchandise
20-75% Check out our Cotati
Accordion Festival Specials!
the San Francisco Accordion Clubmeets monthly, every 3rd Sunday at 2 p.m.@ the Oyster Point Yacht Club 911 Marina Blvd., South San Francisco
Please join us for a musical afternoon! Admission includes entertainment and a light snack. Everyone is welcome.www.sfaccordionclub.com
Proud Supporters of the Cotati AccordionFestivalfor more than 20 years!
Accordion International Music Society
OF SANTA BARBARA
www.santabarbaraaccordions.com
Celebrating Our15th Anniversary!
A young generation of accordion players has been spawned because of one woman’s lifetime dedication to advancing the accordion. It remains an instrument that is fun to play and provides great joy to anyone who hears it.
Marjorie Konrad has partnered with the CAF for many years. Several years ago she suggested she provide accordionists to play in front of all three Oliver’s Markets on the Friday before the festival. This year there were 21 different accordion-ists playing from 11 am to 5 pm. She also generously supplies students to ride on our CAF floats while playing their accordions. ThanK yOu. ThanK yOu Marjorie for all you do for the CAF. Look for her students next year at the festival. More to be revealed in 2012. — Ed ▲
Marjorie konradcontinued from page 55
58
See photos from the Cotati Accordion Festivalthrough the years at
www.TheCommunityVoice.com
We’ve tuned up our website...www.TheCommunityVoice.com
Join over
6,000
weekly visitors
to our websit
e
Music bySteve & Mike TruccoVisit our Accordions Rock! boothfor CD’s T-shirts & Accordions Rock! merchandise.
Canzone Vecchie Old Songs of Italy
Our Italian Favorites Accordion Duets
The Other Side of Music by Steve Trucco
Live at Victory Park music by Steve Trucco
Through the Years Steve & Mike Duets
Congratulations
to the Cotati
Accordion Festival
on their 21st
ANNIVERSARY!
call: (209) 476-1624or write: 4603 Nugget Ave.
Stockton, CA 95207www.accordionsrock.com
Performerd at the Cotati Accordion Festival & the Int’l. Accordion Convention in Las Vegas
59
• •
Barlow Printing, Inc.481 Aaron StreetCotati, CA 94931ContactsPat BarlowKen ReedPhone 707-664-9773Fax [email protected]@barlowprinting.com
Printing – Publications/Catalogs/Directories/ManualsEstablished in 1961. Complete in-house facilities from electronic prepress to bindery. Sheetfed, open web and heatset web. Pub-lications, directories, catalogs, manuals, coupons, newsletters, posters and brochures are our specialty.
• G5 Macs• ECRM Direct-to-plate Platesetter• 8 x 11 Didde Web 2 color• 11 x 17 Didde Web 4 color• 20 x 28 Heidelberg Speedmaster 72 4 color• 28 x 40 Heidelberg SORSZ 2 color• 36 Inch 4 Unit Open Web with Book Folder• 38 Inch 5 Unit Heatset Web Converted to U.V. with 3 Folders + Sheeter• MBO Folders• Osaka Stitcher/Trimmer 6 Pocket with Folder Feeder
• •
Barlow Printing, Inc.481 Aaron StreetCotati, CA 94931ContactsPat BarlowKen ReedPhone 707-664-9773Fax [email protected]@barlowprinting.com
Printing – Publications/Catalogs/Directories/ManualsEstablished in 1961. Complete in-house facilities from electronic prepress to bindery. Sheetfed, open web and heatset web. Pub-lications, directories, catalogs, manuals, coupons, newsletters, posters and brochures are our specialty.
• G5 Macs• ECRM Direct-to-plate Platesetter• 8 x 11 Didde Web 2 color• 11 x 17 Didde Web 4 color• 20 x 28 Heidelberg Speedmaster 72 4 color• 28 x 40 Heidelberg SORSZ 2 color• 36 Inch 4 Unit Open Web with Book Folder• 38 Inch 5 Unit Heatset Web Converted to U.V. with 3 Folders + Sheeter• MBO Folders• Osaka Stitcher/Trimmer 6 Pocket with Folder Feeder
Established in 1961. Complete in-house facilities from elec-tronic prepress to bindery. We have sheetfed, open web and UV web presses. Publications, directories, catalogs, manuals, coupons, newsletters, posters and brochures are our specialty.
• •
Barlow Printing, Inc.481 Aaron StreetCotati, CA 94931ContactsPat BarlowKen ReedPhone 707-664-9773Fax [email protected]@barlowprinting.com
Printing – Publications/Catalogs/Directories/ManualsEstablished in 1961. Complete in-house facilities from electronic prepress to bindery. Sheetfed, open web and heatset web. Pub-lications, directories, catalogs, manuals, coupons, newsletters, posters and brochures are our specialty.
• G5 Macs• ECRM Direct-to-plate Platesetter• 8 x 11 Didde Web 2 color• 11 x 17 Didde Web 4 color• 20 x 28 Heidelberg Speedmaster 72 4 color• 28 x 40 Heidelberg SORSZ 2 color• 36 Inch 4 Unit Open Web with Book Folder• 38 Inch 5 Unit Heatset Web Converted to U.V. with 3 Folders + Sheeter• MBO Folders• Osaka Stitcher/Trimmer 6 Pocket with Folder Feeder
Barlow Printing, Inc.481 Aaron StreetCotati, CA 94931Phone 707-664-9773Fax 707-664-9866
Established in 1961. Complete in-house facilities from electronic prepress to bindery. We have sheetfed, open web and UV web presses. Publications, directories, catalogs, manuals, coupons, newsletters, posters and brochures are our specialty. Volker Financial
& Insurance Services
THE Accordion ApocAlypsE
REPAIR SHOPSF’s Accordion Hub offering:★ buy, sell, trade ★ repairs & re-builds★ tuning & accessories★ lessons & workshops
Bringing the accordion to a new generation!
★★★★★
Contact skyler Fell(415) 596-5952
60
Special Thanks to Richard Williams and Oliver’s Market Wine & Spirits Department who coordinated wine selections from the following wineries. Thanks to all the wineries who graciously supplied the wine for this year's festival.
Epic WinesRodney Strong VineyardsAscentia Winery EstatesSouthern Wines and SpiritsJerry Falk Fine WinesLouis Martini WineryMacMurray Ranch WineryTrinchero VineyardsKenwood WineryMad HousewifeAmerican Wines and SpiritsKendall Jackson WineryClassic WinesFrank Line DistillersGallo Sales CompanyQuivira Winery
Enjoy!Name the
Accordion Babe!(Answer on page 62)
61
Thank You One and
These final two pages of the program are devoted to thanking all those who make the annual production of
our internationally-known festival possible. However, the largest thank you goes to you, our patrons, celebrating the accordion in all its imaginative uses, and directly financially aiding, through your ticket purchases, the local youth groups that are so vital to our community.
The Cotati Accordion Festival is a nonprofit organization that started out as both a way to bring local attention to the value of the music of the accordion and to support the performing-arts programs in our local schools. These organizations were able to purchase band instruments and continue programs which were cut due to lack of state funding. Unfortunately, we are going through a time of cutbacks again in city and county services.
The Cotati Accordion Festival plans to continue doing its part by donating all its proceeds to the local youth groups we support. We believe that to discontinue
these valuable programs, that the Cotati Accordion Festival has supported over the years, would be detrimental to the educa-tion of future generations. To date the festival has donated over $320,000 to local youth programs. We plan to go into the future providing a stage on which our great accordion players may perform, inserting that eternal joy of music into our lives for another weekend, and to do all that we can to provide for our youth in the years to come.
These sponsors contributed their time, merchandise and services to the Cotati Accordion Festival, and we are greatly appreciative of all of them.
If you or your organization would like to become involved and would like information on sponsorship, please call the CAF at 707-664-0444. We’d love to help you help us. ▲
Thank You! continued on next page
Thank You One and
These final two pages of the program
Thank You!to our volunteers, musicians,advertisers, vendors and especially to you our audience!
Volker Financial & Insurance Services
62
Many ThanSks!
Many Thanks
ThANK YOU! We couldn’t do it without these generous contributions of time, talent, merchandise and support.
Board membersScott Goree Linda ConnerRichard CullinenAndrea Rock
contributorsFoppiano L. Wine Co.Cotati City Council and City Staff Alan SchumannJerry Weiss Joel IsquithRichard CullinenClifton Buck-KaufmannRebecca BrowneEric KirchmannCarol EnnekingPaul and Jen WarnerRuth and Gary EdwardsBlair HardmanStuart Buck Lawrence and Paula ReC.R.P.U.S.D & Robert HaleyRoberta CantowLynn & Donald BoninoRichard GoodmanKen SpencerWilton HerzMargaret ByronEdward JigourJeanine FlatonCambell FamilyManuel Perez KRSHFroggyKSROKRCB: Gus Garelick & Amy ContardiKZSTKBBF
KPFARichard Williams and Oliver’s Market Wine & Spirits Department (pg. 60 for contributing wineries)Skyler FellKelly SmithDave WilliamsLeslie & Bob HallMaurice & Linda WillisPat Ryan Dr. Ken Shaw, DDSDr. Annaliese CarlsmithMaria Siddeley & The Yacht ClubUrsula Kros
Special ThanksRonnie MartinKeith BlackstoneBrian MealinKevin BenchReece BlackstoneBuck O’HareTim ClavenyArianne EskewDebra BarettaRon LindenbuschJim Jacobs Tony MageeRussell SmithsonShelly, Renee, and Rachel GoreeSteve & Jennie BalichMarjorie KonradDAS
AppreciatedLoud & ClearAmber Lee BakerMaggie Martin
Renee de la PradeCarl SchollmannJim BarrettLouise Petersen of The Apple CrateMarian KelleyDos AmigosLarson’s FeedThe Pulley FamilyRich HighlandTim Sewell WSCUHSDRancho Bodega Fire DistrictNorth Bay CorporationThe Independent Journal The Press DemocratSonoma Family LifeThe BohemianThe Community VoiceSonoma County GazetteMooka RenickJessica Levy-Goebel Shelly of Pro Team EventsBarlow PrintingColeen Maloney
Volunteer organizations Supporting the FestivalCotati City Council Education Foundation of Cotati/Rohnert ParkCotati/Rohnert Park Nursery Co-opThomas Page Elementary SchoolBoy Scout Troop #4Penngrove Elementary School PTA
And anyone we failed to mention THANK YOU !
Who's that accordionist? She's our own 2011 Honorary Director, Renee de la Prade, sans her notable pink hair.
63
Michael McDonald
