Phoebe Leger, Artist of the Avant Garde

Before there was Lady Gaga, there was Phoebe Legere. The New York City based musician, first signed by Epic/Sony at age 17, emerged in the early 1990's as a young singer of promise with extraordinary vocal range and quality.  In the years since, she opened for David Bowie (1991), and has recorded, written, produced and … Continue reading Phoebe Leger, Artist of the Avant Garde

The Music of Rachel Bell: Traditional and Treasured

Bio courtesy of Rachelbellmusic.com Rachel Bell is an accordion player, tunesmith, and music teacher from the wilds of Pennsylvania. She is in demand throughout the United States and beyond for concerts, contra dances, English country dances, French dances, and workshops. Over a decade of musical travel has landed her smack-dab in the middle of some … Continue reading The Music of Rachel Bell: Traditional and Treasured

The Revolutionary Cory Pesaturo

  If Cory Pesaturo has a "mission statement", it likely states that this American jazz performer intends to take on the world using, as his arsenal, the piano accordion.  With his "mad scientist as musician" persona along with his startling talent, Cory Pesaturo is one of the most amazing piano accordionists in the world, and … Continue reading The Revolutionary Cory Pesaturo

Ami Saraiya & The Outcome

It has long been a challenge to bring the piano accordion to a new generation of Americans. But, by using the instrument more and more, Alternative musicians, or artists who write and perform outside of the present musical mainstream, are giving the accordion  a lot of exposure.  Artists such as Ami Saraiya and her band, The Outcome, are … Continue reading Ami Saraiya & The Outcome

Boogie Woogie and Blues Master, Christian Dozzler

Those folks who know Texas and know the Blues probably know that Christian Dozzler plays a sultry Blues piano and organ and a mean harp. What they may not know is that Dozzler, also known as "Vienna Slim", is a master of the Boogie Woogie and Blues and also an enormously talented accordionist. Standing 6 feet 7 inches, Dozzler is … Continue reading Boogie Woogie and Blues Master, Christian Dozzler

Ten Things You Can Do to Promote the Accordion

If you want to be noticed as a performer, play the piano accordion.  If you already have a working knowledge of the piano--you may not realize that you already understand half of the piano accordion--you just need to learn the other half with some lessons and a lot of practice. So, to give you a … Continue reading Ten Things You Can Do to Promote the Accordion

The Extraordinary Dick Contino

  I have sad news to share about the great Dick Contino. We are sorry to learn that he has passed away,  April 19, 2017. In honor of his memory, I am sending you this post that I wrote previously Rest in peace, Soldier. By Christa T. for Accordion Americana Memorial Day is a day … Continue reading The Extraordinary Dick Contino

Nashville’s Influential Game Changer: Pee Wee King

    The late Country Music Scholar, Charles K. Wolfe wrote of Pee Wee King, "Pee Wee never picked cotton, never hopped a freight train, never worked as a song plugger in Nashville…unlike so many of his fellow members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Pee Wee King was not known as a guitar … Continue reading Nashville’s Influential Game Changer: Pee Wee King

List of Bands that Feature the Accordion

Punk’s 10 Best Accordion Players: A Tribute to accordion Rockers Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 12:18 PM (PST) by connor_maoil The sound of the accordion is, in my opinion, one of the best, weirdest, and most unique additions to the punk genre. For most it’s easy to see the instrument as nothing more than a novelty … Continue reading List of Bands that Feature the Accordion

Josh Kaufman, The Blasting Company

It's not a stretch to call the Petrojvic Blasting Company an Americana band. While strong inflections rich in Eastern European folk tradition are identifiable, their music possesses a 'here and now' sensibility, drawn from genres rooted in North America. It is music that is original in style, and combines a consistent jazz groove with an infectious exuberance that propels it forward, like a … Continue reading Josh Kaufman, The Blasting Company