What is your favorite LP/CD/mp3/mp4, etc. of SOLO piano accordion music?

[wirralaccordion]

I have a 1972 LP of Marcosignori playing accordion showpieces. The notes on the record sleeve describe him as "one of the world's few accordion players in possession of sufficient experience and musical integrity to sustain a full- length solo concert performance".
In fact of the several LPs and CDs I have of piano accordion playing this one is indeed the only one that is solo, all others having rythmn backing or are part of a combo. Hence, my question is Have you any suggestions of solo piano accordion recordings that you recommend?

 

[Decbox]

I have a 1972 LP of Marcosignori playing accordion showpieces. The notes on the record sleeve describe him as "one of the world's few accordion players in possession of sufficient experience and musical integrity to sustain a full- length solo concert performance".
In fact of the several LPs and CDs I have of piano accordion playing this one is indeed the only one that is solo, all others having rythmn backing or are part of a combo. Hence, my question is Have you any suggestions of solo piano accordion recordings that you recommend?

"Simply Solo" was the final album by Scottish Accordion maestro Bobby Macleod and it was just Bobby on the accordion with no band. Lovely playing and so interesting to hear.

 

[Muser]

I'm always inspired by the second half of this concert with Frank Marocco playing solo (starting at about 33 min in).
Frank Marocco Performing in Beijing, November 2011

 

[JIM D.]

Joey is always entertaining in all venues. One of the accomplished accordionist's that has mastered changing bellows
direction without breaking a note.

 

[Muser]

Joey is always entertaining in all venues. One of the accomplished accordionist's that has mastered changing bellows direction without breaking a note.

Quite an amazing musician. Recording quality on following link is not great but he shares some helpful and thought provoking ideas.
Online Interview with Joey Miskulin - YouTube

 

[OldSqueezer]

Hence, my question is Have you any suggestions of solo piano accordion recordings that you recommend?

At the moment, for some reason, I find Richard Noel's rendering of 'Mr Bojangles' particularly uplifting. Odd, when you think the song is about an encounter in a New Orleans drunk tank.

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

I would put any of Guy Klucevsek's solo records on this list. Also, his Accordance duet albums with Alan Bern, though that is two accordions, with Bern sometimes playing piano or melodica. Just extraordinary compositions and playing.

 

[debra]

There is a very nice CD with baroque music played by Mie Miki (on a Hohner Gola). Very very nice. It's perhaps 20 years old or so but still my favorite CD of solo accordion.

 

[boxplayer4000]

wirralaccordion: Marcosignori's visit(s) to Britain are still remembered here. I also have his LP 'Accordion Showpieces' as well as 'Dancing Continental' and 'Yesterdays World of Tomorrow' all now digitised and on CDs etc.
5 of the 11 tracks on 'Accordion Showpiece' are indeed recorded unaccompanied.
Another totally unaccompanied classical accordion recording is that of John Molinari from California and his 'Accordion Concert' LP, recorded in 1979.
Even although all those recordings were made on a now out-dated medium with (slightly) lower sound quality the records can't hide the brilliance of their playing.

 

[Zevy]

My desert island CD:

Pietro Frosini Plays Jolly Caballero

 

[Walker]

Vast swathes of the accordion music that I listened to in my youth was in a dance band setting - like Shand, Johnstone etc. Will Starr, Paddy Neary etc. were notable soloist exceptions. However, the first accordionist that I listened to who was totally different to anything I had heard before was the Spanish accordionist Enrique Ugarte. I remember buying his Classical CD as a kid and being amazed upon listening to his renditions of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Bolero etc. His CDs also introduced me to the Dallape brand, that became a symbol of true Italian craftsmanship to me - even if I discovered the manufacturer at least 20 years past it's prime. To this day I love hearing Ugarte's old stradella bass accordion recordings. His Supermaestro sounds simply wonderful to my ears. I love the zing of the piccolo reeds.

A tango CD for starters...



The other accordionist who made a big impact on me was Stefan Hussong from Germany. There was a time when I thought the piano accordion was falling ever further behind the almost unstoppable capabilities of the button accordion. However things changed when I heard Hussong. This man convinced me that not only was it possible for the piano accordion to make wonderful music - but that music could be of such quality that it would surely inspire any musician - regardless of their instrument!

To me Hussong is at his best with Bach, and I for one don't think Classical accordionists get better than Hussong. He plays on a 1960s Hohner Gola MIII - arguably one of the most revered free bass accordion models ever made.