Someone has to start this forum

[gtc]

Your comments about "all the possibilities" is most insightful. The brilliant accordionists playing jazz and all sorts of music on you tube just underlines the usefulness of the accordion. With the new midi versions, all things are possible. But why isn't the instrument more popular, more visible?

When I was in school in the the early 1960's the accordion was associated with European migrants, particularly Italians. Their kids were often forced to learn it the way us kids were often forced to learn the piano. I recall the accordion being considered a bit "daggy" as we say. And then came The Beatles and need I say more?

I guess the accordion had its time in the sun, like the electronic organ did. (Remember in the 70s when just about every rock group had an organ in it?)

Speaking or accordions and immigrants, for some reason this just came to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJLEXgkddPQ

But getting back to busking, this is the sort of thing I'd hear played in the railway pedestrian tunnel on my way to work and for which I'd tip generously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6QgvgIw4F8

And this is great to see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNhnkA2t-vs

[graeme]

Thanks for the links. Brilliant examples. The musicians who make it to the top on accordion are just as skilled as the best musicians on other instruments. By the way, I was listening to Tony Monaco on my iPod yesterday, (he is flavour of the month on jazz Hammond), and he played piano accordion on at least two tracks of burning jazz. Fantastic examples of blues inflections on the piano accordion.