Art Van Damme in Finland 1979
- Thread starter GeorgeH76
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Thomas N
Well-known member
There will never be another accordionist that I personally love more than Art Van Damme. I "discovered" him about 25 years ago with a random Amazon purchase of a CD. Within a week I owned all of his CDs. He just could swing. He had a unique sound and style and unbelievable technical ability. His jazz just speaks to me. A kind man, as well.
There are many that try to duplicate his sound and style but they don't quite get there. I do like Galliano but I consider it more music that I have to seriously listen to whereas Art's music you can put on in the background during a get-together and it's just a fun time.
There are many that try to duplicate his sound and style but they don't quite get there. I do like Galliano but I consider it more music that I have to seriously listen to whereas Art's music you can put on in the background during a get-together and it's just a fun time.
I agree Art caught my ear when I first started taking lesson. I have quite a few of his albums. Nice to hear him play with a trio without the quintet. I have a book of his arrangements, I cannot play even one of the songs note for note. Five finger chords and super fast runs are very difficult.
Thomas N
Well-known member
Hah! Agree completely!
I had an exact transcription of Gone with the Wind and I put a couple days into it and then, nope! You're right about the 5-finger glissando chords in rapid succession and then extremely technical speed runs. I slowed down as much as I could and never had even the first few bars sounding even remotely like Art.
Even on this forum you'll see very nice renditions of Frank Marocco, Gary Dahl compositions, Galla-rini, and so on. But I don't think I've ever seen a forum member perform a transcription of an Art Van Damme song - at full tempo!
I've almost given up trying to play his arrangements note for note, but try to incorporate some of his stuff with my own style. Doesn't come close, but at least I got a lot of views and comments.
Here's a couple of measures from Deep Purple from the "Selections for the ACCORDION" book I have.
Good luck!..I'll need some kind of guide just to see what some of the notes are.
Thomas N
Well-known member
This is excellent! If you hadn't told me I would gather just from listening that this is an Art Van Damme transcription. Those chords and those trills he does in succession and as somebody that has listened to so much of his music I can see that you utilize his phrasing.
This might motivate me to attempt one of these.
Might.
