Guy Klucevsek and Alan Bern: Accordance

By

C. MICHAEL BAILEY,

C. Michael Bailey

Senior Contributor - Since 1997

...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...

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Published: July 1, 2001

The Accordion is not just for Polkas anymore.

I've got to hand it to these guys; they have a sense of humor. The titles of these original pieces are a hoot. The music has a pretty good sense of humor, also. Klucevsek and Bern draw from every tradition that includes accordions to produce a multicultural kaleidoscope of music. All of this on that much maligned, highly unlikely instrument, the accordion. This is certainly far from the first accordion discs that label maven Stefan Winter has conceived. Virtuoso Theodoro Anzelloti has recorded two well-received discs for the label ( Solowerke fur Akkordeon und Klavier —Maurice Kagel, 910 035 and Eric Satie, 910 031). The present disc differs from these in its accessibility. This is readily digestible music where the Kagel and even the Satie, takes a bit of getting used to. If a listener were to tire of the regular thing, this would be music of depth, grace and humor that could be appreciated. Klucevsek and Bern infuse a good nature into their compositions and playing.

Track Listing: Life, Liberty, And The Prosciutto Happiness; Angel Blue; Information Please; Birthdays; Telephones; The Gunks; Bar Talk; Starting Over; Mr. Glime-Glide; Mug Shots; Psychotria Nervosa (Wild Coffee); The Girl With Rose Hips; Decaffinata; Astor Place; Scarlatti Fever; Hegel's Fantasy; Dueling Dovidls; Happy. (Total Time: 66:10)

Personnel: Guy Klucevsek: Accordion; Alan Bern: Accordion, Fortepiano, Melodica.

Record Label: Winter & Winter | Style: Fringes of Jazz