Category Archives: News

Concerts, Events, News

Joanna Strand and Friends – Romano Viazzani headlining on accordion Wednesday 3rd June 2015

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
28
Apr

Joanna Strand has given the Cabaret-going public some great entertainment in the last few years at The Pheasantry, The Forge, The Jermyn Street Theatre in London and the Carlyle and Feinsteins in New York. London’s top Cabaret venue, the wonderful The Crazy Coqs in all its Art Deco glory now beckons and June 2nd, 3rd and 4th 2015 see three nights each with a different headlining artist sharing the platform with Joanna.

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News

Royal Academy of Music – Bartosz Glowacki- Classical Accordion Final Recital

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
Bartek Glowacki
27
Apr

Bartosz Glowacki- Accordion Final Recital The Concert takes place at: The Royal Academy of Music, Marylebone Road, NW1 5HT London, United Kingdom on
Friday May 29th 2015 at 7:30pm – 8:45pm. Programme includes: Gubaidulina, Piazzolla, Lindberg, Zolotariyov, Majkusiak and Messiaen

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News

Royal Academy of Music – Free Lunchtime Accordion & Percussion Concert Friday 8th May 2015

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
The Academy’s Percussion and Accordion Departments collaborate for an exciting programme of twentieth-century music, including the UK premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Metal Work.
27
Apr

The Academy’s Percussion and Accordion Departments collaborate for an exciting programme of twentieth-century music, including the UK premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Metal Work.

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News

Nando Monica – Another accordion great from Parma

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
The large light-orchestra Bocelli with Nando Monica
31
Mar

Nando Monica was born in Langhirano near Parma in 1921. He started learning the accordion very young and by the time he was aged 9 he would go out to play at dances with his father, and amateur Double Bass player.

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News

Nando Monica – Another accordion great from Parma

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
The large light-orchestra Bocelli with Nando Monica
31
Mar

Nando Monica was born in Langhirano near Parma in 1921. He started learning the accordion very young and by the time he was aged 9 he would go out to play at dances with his father, and amateur Double Bass player.

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News

New website for Antique Accordions

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
I don't know about you but I always marvel at the accordions I see when I visit the accordion museums at Castelfidardo and Stradella. The inventiveness of some of the designs as well as the struggles the industry went through to improve the industry. People often moan about accordions and "how this make isn't as good as that one" or "that they don't make them like my great-grandfather's triple cassotto Scandallapigiprani Artist XII any more". We one only has to look back through time at these museums to see how the industry, who we must remember have factories to run and employees to pay through all the economic downturns our politicians inflict on us, have strived to improve the sound, the look and the features of their beautiful instruments to please the demands of artists and amateurs alike and therefore their market and arrive at the excellent instruments the industry offers today. If you can't get to Castelfidardo or Stradella you can see some of the amazing designs in Rob Howard's two books (available via this website), Vintage Accordions and Accordion: A pictorial History. I have fallen in love with accordion designs particularly those with some Art Deco Influence between the 1930s and 1960s. I have even started my own Pinterest page where I have collected pictures of accordions whose designs I have liked from photos I have found on the internet and on ebay. I wish I could have bought them all and given them a good home. My own personal museum! Which brings me to the main point of this article. Many of you may already know but in case you don't there is an accordion museum right here in the UK! Or at least we did have until recently. Read on: Caroline Hunt, accordion collector extraordinaire ran an accordion museum until recently at Bogbain Heritage Centre at Inverness but recently due to various reasons had to move the collection out leaving the venue open as solely for wedding hire. She was then approached by a town in Perthshire last year, who planned to set up a community museum, and asked if I might be interested in including the accordions as an additional attraction. It all sounded very promising until recentrly. Firstly, the building they had in mind was purchased by a developer. Secondly, some of those on the newly set up committee decided they only wanted a community museum. It sounds as if at present there are two in favour and seven against. A community museum will only be of interest to the local community and those already there on holiday - but the accordions will bring people from all over the UK and overseas who might want to include them in holiday plans and therefore bring people into the area also needing B&B and food etc. Caroline was visualizing something just like Castelfidardo Museum where, also if someone plays an instrument, they can be loaned one, and there can be some live music too. Caroline needs to show the Committee there is lots of interest in old accordions in UK and worldwide - and this is where she would especially appreciate some help. She has also set up a page on facebook - Antique Accordion Museum, Scotland - Please could you possibly spread the news of this page to as many people as possible and to remember to give it a "like". She also recently set up her own website - www.antiqueaccordions.com - which says a bit about her collection and also shows three clips of Giancarlo Caporilli and Gennaro Ruffolo playing some of my vintage instruments. Do please support Caroline. I have seen parts of the collection and it's really interesting. You could say she needs the likes in order to show there will be interest in a Permanent Museum premises in the Scottish Highlands - but at present she is not allowed to disclose the town or area that may or may not be interested. Meanwhile she will be doing a mobile display - with Giancarlo and Gennaro - at Heather Smith's International Accordion Festival at Norbreck Castle in May (email Heather Smith for festival details) and anyone interested in the display can email Caroline on accordionbook@huntc.fsbusiness.co.uk
31
Mar

I don’t know about you but I always marvel at the antique accordions I see when I visit the accordion museums at Castelfidardo and Stradella. The inventiveness of some of the designs as well as the struggles the industry went through to improve the industry.

Continue reading →
News

David Vaughan – at Oliver’s Jazz bar 13th March 2015

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
David Vaughan Quintet
02
Mar

After a very successful CD launch at The Pheasantry David Vaughan is back at Oliver’s Jazz Bar on 13th March 2015, not as the larger ensemble that launched the CD which at times featured 6 musicians on the stage, but down to the trio-sized outfit in order to fit on the tiny stage at Oliver’s Jazz bar.

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News

Silvia Olari – Romano Viazzani – 18th April 2015 at Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
Silvia Olari
01
Mar

Silvia Olari is an outstanding singer/songwriter who has had considerable success in Italy where she was signed by Warner after reaching the final stages of Amici, an Italian TV talent show. Now living in London she has teamed up with music director Romano Viazzani and ensemble to bring her fabulous music to the the UK.

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The Squeezy Cheesers – Below the Bellows

Posted on by RomanoViazzani
The Squeezy Cheesers Having (both) been the accordionist for many years with the famous Cosmic Sausages this lively duo bring a wealth of busking experience and musical idiocy to their new project. Combining instrumental virtuosity with a powerful ability to reduce some of the world's most beautiful tunes to ruins they have a firmly placed foot in the absurd and their tongues very much in cheek. From Brubeck to Bach and back to Bacharach they take an eclectic tour of musical styles that truly celebrates the beauty of the accordion. Armed with 120 basses each plus a number of half baked props, disguises and tiny instruments, Paletta Sbronzizio and Danny Fromajio beguile their audience with a unique selection of cool and kitsch arrangements, a temperate cocktail of tango, jazz, 70s disco, classical music and more and more... Their first album “Below the Bellows”, like their live show, mixes original compositions with well known tunes re-arranged from their own skewed personal perspective. Paletta Sbronzizio, aka Maurizio Pala, is an Italian accordionist who lives in London. Well-experienced of live performance with different bands like Tango Porteño (Argentinian Tango / A.Piazzolla), The Cosmic Sausages (Comedy Music), Magic Tombolinos (Eastern European), Bandaradan (Comedy Klezmer-Music), Paranza del Geco (Italian Folk). He is also a composer (production and theatre music) and accordion teacher. Danny Fromajio aka Daniel Teper bought his first accordion in Little Italy, Boston, USA, in a 'sporting goods' store that also sold guns. It was a tough choice, but in the end he decided he could do more damage with the accordion. Since then he has sharpened his marksmanship by playing with all manner of eclectic types from The Cosmic Sausages to Eric Idle, Gary Potter, Will Young, Steve Mac and Mara Carlyle. Dan also writes magical and cheesy ditties for film and TV, his music having graced hundreds of shows from The Apprentice to Oprah Winfrey to Only Fools and Horses.
27
Feb

Having (both) been the accordionist for many years with the famous Cosmic Sausages the Squeezy Cheesers are a duo that bring a wealth of busking experience and musical idiocy to their new project. Combining accordion virtuosity with a powerful ability to reduce some of the world’s most beautiful tunes to ruins they have a firmly placed foot in the absurd and their tongues very much in cheek.

Continue reading →