Amazing Interview with Michael Bridge

[Tom]

This may have been mentioned before but if you go on Spotify and search for Michael Bridge interview by Leah Roseman, he talks a little about his history and making sounds for the Roland and other things generally.

Includes examples of his playing including amazing Bach on freebass.

Highly recommended!

 

[JerryPH]

I believe there is that interview on Roseman's YouTube Page:



You can also see other sources here:

https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/michael-bridge

 

[Tom]

I believe there is that interview on Roseman's YouTube Page:



You can also see other sources here:

https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/michael-bridge

Ah, great find Jerry, thanks! Yeah, seems the same and the visuals are cool for sure.

 

[xocd]

Another interview with Michael Bridges:

 

[JerryPH]

A very special kid. Kinda talented too... LOL

 

[saundersbp]

This may have been mentioned before but if you go on Spotify and search for Michael Bridge interview by Leah Roseman

Thanks for letting us know about this. It's is one of the best things I've heard about the accordion, education and musical making.

I found it interesting to hear his view that in the so called hey day of accordions and that the commercial drive to sell them outstripped the ability to make music on them. I guess most people have heard an accordion played but it's rare to hear it played well. Very different with the piano!

Having such a lovely manner he was able to pull punches but all with a smile. I laughed out loud when he advised the interviewer that they should listen to an accordion orchestra, but only 'briefly'! Similarly when he talked about the advantages of free bass accordions, a strong point was made, but with great charm.

I'll listen to the other interview now!

 

[breezybellows]

Thanks for letting us know about this. It's is one of the best things I've heard about the accordion, education and musical making.

I found it interesting to hear his view that in the so called hey day of accordions and that the commercial drive to sell them outstripped the ability to make music on them. I guess most people have heard an accordion played but it's rare to hear it played well. Very different with the piano!

Having such a lovely manner he was able to pull punches but all with a smile. I laughed out loud when he advised the interviewer that they should listen to an accordion orchestra, but only 'briefly'! Similarly when he talked about the advantages of free bass accordions, a strong point was made, but with great charm.

I'll listen to the other interview now!

Compared to other instruments, accordion players tend to add too many notes (both harmonically and melodically). Too many fillers and big chords.

What I love about Michael Bridge is that he makes it sound good. There are to many performances that can impress you with virtuosity. But those are not the ones that you want to go back and listen to. When he plays, the melody stands out.

I watched an older video of his that mentioned the importance of tonal separation. The advice was to avoid crowding the mid frequencies and add more from the extremes. That made me try out register switches that I've neglected. For example, playing a melody with the organ switch (up an octave). I now prefer that over the master switch which sounds too crowded.

 

[JerryPH]

"Just cut a few and it will be perfect..."

I heard Pesaturo once say that he refuses to play in master register... too many notes as well!

 

[Alans]

I took two lessons with Michael many years ago. Very nice fellow,no ego. I’ve attended several of his recitals and it’s an incredibly spiritual experience-and I’m not at all a spiritual person. He talks about building a partnership with his audience,that he’s not on stage to just entertain us-that together we are taking a musical journey. The last recital I saw him give completely blew me away. It was so emotional. Extremely talented and very personable young man. No ego-endless enthusiasm for music and for hearing about other people’s musical jpurney. In the past year he has become educational officer for the ATG. He plays over one hundred concerts a years and yet it is mportant to him to give back to accordion learners. Not only beloved because he’s an exceptional player,but also because he’s incredibly kind. If anyone woukd like to hear him live-he will be performing at the ATG convention in Chicago next July.

 

[Zevy]

Michael is a class act. Both videos are worth watching. I will never get to his level, but he is an incredible inspiration.