Accordion

Popular in the 1950s and 1960s, accordions have lost popularity and have often been the brunt of many jokes. Here in Rochester, the accordion is experiencing a bit of a Renaissance with accordions appearing at coffeehouses, in restaurants, at large accordion jam sessions, and on the streets.

• Probably the most famous accordionist in Rochester is Walter Palmer, "the accordion man". If you've even been a sports or entertainment event, you've probably seen Walter playing "Take me out to the (ball game/hockey game/etc.)" or "That's amore".
  

• Hypnotic Clambake concert - Maury Rosenberg plays a mean squeezebox
  

• Lumière plays Gypsy Jazz with Ed Marris on the accordion
  

• Polish Heritage Society of Rochester has several programs including an annual Accordion Jam Session (Sunday, July 19, 2009) - see section below
  

• Polka Bandstand with Ray Sarafin & Al Meilutis, 10am - Noon every Saturday on WGMC Jazz 90.1 FM
  

• Playing along with others at Coffeehouses
  

• Button accordion at bars that have Celtic Music such as Milestones (Milestones is now High Fidelity. Do they still have accordion music?)
  

• Cajun accordion at barbeque and cajun-themed restaurants
  

• Dreamland Faces got their start in Rochester and still appear here.

Most accordions make sound by blowing air over reeds. Here are some types of accordions and similar instruments:

• Piano accordion - with piano-like keys on one side and 12 to 120 buttons on the other
  

• Electronic accordions - looks like an accordion, plays like an organ
  

• MIDI accordions - Produce all sorts of sound electronically - you still squeeze them to control the volume
  

• Diatonic (button) accordion - buttons on both sides used for folk, Mexican, and Cajun music
  

• Concertina - small handheld button accordion
  

• Bandoneon - Square accordion used by Astor Piazzola to play Tangos (see a video of one at piazzolla.org)

• In Rochester, used accordions from attics for sale at music stores, flea markets, and through the paper. These are often in bad shape. You really can't tell what shape an accordion is in unless you open it up (and know what you are looking at). Accordion's are full of reeds that will rust if you touch them held in by Italian Bees Wax which will melt if the accordion is in too warm of a place (like the trunk of a car) and should be re-waxed every 20 years or so.
  

• eBay
  

• Musicians Friend has some small accordions
  

• At the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester's annual Accordion Jam Session - see section below

• Order the Italian Bees Wax and fix it yourself - links below:
  

• Accordion Repair and Tuning
  

• Sam W. Shublom Accordion Parts and Accessories - Great straps
  

• "Accordion Repairs Made Easy" - a book by John Reuther
  

• If there are any local repair places, please add here

• Accordion Beatles - Squeezing with the Fab Four!

This event, put on by the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester, takes place in a tent outside the Rochester Museum & Science Center sometime in mid-late summer (the 2009 Accordion Jam will be held on Sunday, July 19th). In the 2006 session, five professional accordion players led the group and around fifteen other accordionists showed up to a tent packed with fans of accordion music. Music is handed out, but don't worry too much if you don't play well because it all blends in. There are used accordions for sale there and grilled polish sausage and sauerkraut along with beer to set the mood and make the accordions sound more tolerable. It's all great fun.

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2008-03-01 15:04:21   You can hear accordion at www.BaZaHaLaLa.com, too. —ZachKuvizic