Past Club Nights
We were pleased to have as our special guest David Lukin, on Friday 17th November 2006
What a great night it was.
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We were pleased to have as our special guest Rob Thorn, on Friday 15th September 2006
About Rob
Robert began playing the box at the age of eleven; starting with a small 48 bass accordion progressing to the Hohner Gola he plays today.
Rob has a passion for music and enjoys sharing his music with others, entertaining everyone from family occasions to pubs, ceilidhs, private parties, weddings and charitable events.
"In today's musical environment, it is difficult to cut across into the professional arena but Rob seems to be achieving this with considerable success and his fresh punchy style of accordion playing will in its turn provide inspiration for the next generation of players"
Harry Hinchcliffe, Craven School of Music
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He has worked with various Italian record labels on a total of five albums to
date.He is currently working on his sixth recording project, which promises to
be completely different to his previous work, more harmonically sophisticated
and stylistically more eclectic too. It will include some pieces written by
himself as well as music written by some prominent Italian artists. It will
also include some pieces written in collaboration with Isacco Comandini under
whose expert guidance he is currently studying Jazz and Variet�.
His talent as a musician has led him to participate in many national and
international competitions, where he has proved to be an excellent competitor
achieving many first placings and abundant praise. He has worked with many
ensembles throughout the entertainment industry as well as featuring in
Accordion Festivals, both in Italy and abroad. At International Accordion
Week in 2000, he performed as soloist in the Variet� category.
The following year he achieved enormous success at The London Accordion
Festival held at the Wembley Complex, both as a soloist and then with the
BBC Concert Orchestra in a special Gala Concert.In 2002 he continued his
symphonic experience in an important concert with the Symphonic Orchestra of
the Teatro Comunale di Bologna playing soundtracks from the films of
Charlie Chaplin. In the same year he was chosen to represent Italy at the
World Accordion Championships where he obtained sixth place.His busy concert
schedule has taken him all over Italy and abroad in France, England, Spain and
Germany and promises to take him further afield in the future.
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Our Guests visitors for 18th March was the very talented
Purkiss Family
Some of you may remember when Andrew played here previously- a very talented Accordion
Player and his wife, a talented flautist and dancer.
Andrew is a full time school teacher who has been out of the country for four years.
The children are now learning to play a range of instruments and were joining their parents
to provide what was an evening of great entertainment and fun.
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Our guest visitor for our February 2005 Club night was once again the very talented
Romano Viazzani
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Who was Demonstrating the New Roland Reedless Accordion
Karen started the accordion at the age of eight only because her big brother was having lessons, however it
quickly turned into a passion and the highlight of her week became playing with the local accordion band which
ploughed relentlessly through pieces like Sibelius' Finlandia, Leroy Anderson tunes and selections from the
musicals. At the same time she took up the saxophone, playing in the local jazz band.
She followed the accepted path for any budding accordionist and worked the accordion competition circuit (a bit
like Come Dancing with squeeze boxes) becoming the British Virtuoso Champion in 1981/2, and consequently
competing in the Coupe Mondiale (World Championship) in Hamburg and Folkstone.
At that time the world of the classical contemporary accordion was very limited, so Karen turned to the
saxophone and found herself in an all girl saxophone quartet 'The Fairer Sax' who appeared on television and
radio and at festivals all over the world.
In 1992 she was invited to join Mike Westbrook's big band on saxophone and accordion and has since been
involved in many of his projects - the latest being "Chanson Irresponsable". Further invitations from Tim
Garland led to tours with "Lammas", his project "Songs of Love and Liberty" and more recently in his "Made by
Walking " tour playing alongside Geoff Keezer Joe Locke and Avishai Cohen .
Other credits include, Phil Robson Octet, Steve Arguelles, Martha Lewis - Caf� Aman, and Roy Nathanson
Karen has always been a composer and arranger and in particular has written many works for the saxophone. Her
catalogue now extends from solos to large ensembles, many of which are published by Boosey & Hawkes, June
Emerson and Saxtet Publications. Her pieces appear in virtually every music exam syllabus in the UK. Inevitably
she turned her compositional skills to the accordion and finished up with her debut album - "Finally a
Beginning". This collection of compelling compositions range in style from contemporary jazz to folk and tango
reflecting her diverse musical influences. One of the compositions on the CD "In the Ballroom with the Rope"
took first prize at the London Accordion Festival, Composition Competition in 2001.
She has just recorded another CD again featuring Stan Sulzmann and Fred T Baker, with a guest appearance from
Mike Outram on guitar.
She also co-runs Saxtet with Andy Tweed her husband. This contemporary saxophone quintet uniquely has five
composer/performers. Karen's material is very much at the heart of the group.
Karen's accordion is a free bass accordion in which the bass has a range of five octaves unlike the limited
standard bass of the stradella bass accordion.
This freedom allows her to play melody, harmony and bass lines that has not been widely explored on the
instrument.
Our guest visitor for our September 2004 Club night was Jim Easton
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Our guest visitor for our April 2004 & October 2005 Club night was Two in Accord
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Playing for us on our February 2004 Club night Lisa Lee Leslie
She started learning the Accordion at the age of four. Lisa has won numerous competitions including UK
Accordion Championship on numerous occasions between the ages of 13 to 18. She was the first Accordionist to
ever get through to the final in the local young musicians of the year and she came second in the finals
(Beating the televised winner of the BBC young Musicians of the year who came 5th)
Lisa now teaches button and Piano Accordions, free bass and Stradella.
When Lisa plays she plays a 5 row continental chromatic Russian B system accordion Stradella and free bass,
used for traditional accordion music, Argentinean tangos classical - such as Bach, Handel, Scarlatti.
She also plays a 4-row Continental Chromatic B system Musette tuned accordion, which she uses solely for French
music. numerous
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Playing for us on our December 2003 Club night Michael Maher
Carry on the good Music helping to keep the Accordion Alive
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Our Guest Star on the Friday 19th September was Claude Thomain
Claude Thomain is an Accordionist of great talent and recognised for the quality of his composition
Since 1976 he directed the Orchestra of Accordion of Paris, who performed in many French Theatres
He ended up returning to the Trio Mouloudji with which he remained for more than 20 years. But during
this time Claude never ceased writing and arranging for Orchestra's, duets, Trio's and Accordion Solo's.
some of which are well known pieces like "Shocking Waltz", "Wandering Note", "The Child Demon"
Claude also composed the Jazz no "Of the wind in the bellows".
Our Guest Star on the Saturday 28th June was Danielle Pauly
Danielle Pauly is a very popular Accordionist. She turned professional in 1981.
Malcolm N Gee from the Accordion News GB says "Her popularity is due to the high quality and
diversity of her programme, together with her stage presence and warmth of communication with
her audiences."
She has travelled to many parts of the world including Hungary, Russia, Sweden, Great Britain,
Norway, Denmark, Japan, India, Cambodia, China, Thailand and Korea.
She has also performed on Live Network Television.
On the 18th April 2003 Our Guest Visitor was - Pete Rosser
Peter Rosser has been a freelance community musician since 1990, working in the
south west and further afield, with current projects in Wakefield,
Coventry and Devon. Originally a classical pianist, was inspired by jazz
workshops in Sheffield in the 1980s and then by John Stevens' Search and
Reflect to re-learn everything he knew through jazz and free
improvisation. He took up the accordion and amp; discovered exciting music
from all over the world. Since moving to Stroud in 1990, he has focussed
mainly on composing and facilitating large and small scale community music
projects - oratorios for choirs and big bands, songwriting in schools,
music for silent films, and much special needs work. Occasionally he still
gets to play some jazz� Experienced, eclectic, fast and furious
Monk-influenced piano-stylings developed over years of theory and
practice. Currently (2002) specialising in tango accordion.
15 years of community music work in all imaginable situations,
including runnung jazz worshops in schools and wider community.
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On the 18th October 2002 Our Guest Visitor was - Romano Viazzini
Romano Viazzini is the person on the right in the above picture
Information Taken from
http://www.alltheweb.com/go/2/H/web/http/www.accordions.com/index/squ/en_squ_01_12_21.shtml
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Friday 17th May 2002 and 16th June 2006 - Alexander Korbakov
We were pleased to have our special guest Alexander Korbakov, who most of you will have seen on one of his earlier visits to the U.K.
Alexander Korbakov was born in 1962 in Kamyshin on the river Volga. He studied at the conservatoire in St
Petersburg. Where he still lives and works.
He plays with the Russian State Concert Orchestra with small ensembles and as an accoupanist. He has made
regular tours of U.K, Ireland and Germany.
Alexander adapts his programmes to his audience. He plays favourite accordion pieces from around the World
together with Russian Folk melodies. Has Classical repertoire includes work written for the accordion by
Russian composers. Some items are played on a Saratov Concertina.
His special designed Jupiter accordion enables him to play works by composer such as Bach an Bethoven. Music
for piano, organ, violin or voice has been transcribed by Alexander for concert performance.
His virtuoso playing, his charisma and his quiet charm make Alexander a performer of major significance in the
accordion world.
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Friday 19th April 2002 - Club's Birthday Party
The club's birthday party was celebrated on Friday 19th April and were pleased to announce that our special
guest was the Top Russian Duo Vladimir Ushakov and Svetlana Stavitskaja who were such a sensation at the recent Autumn Accordion Festival at Pakefield. They are
husband and wife members of the St Petersburg Musette Ensemble and were performing a well balanced programme of
Music from France, Germany and Russia as well as works by Astor Piazzolla.
If you missed it, you missed a great night of celebrating the 12 years of Guildford Accordion.
On Friday 15th February 2002 - GARY BLAIR
Gary Blair was our guest artist, who is one of the most popular and entertaining accordion players around
today.
Gary is in great demand for playing at dances and loves to see people taking part in a set or two. So it was
lots of fun for all family and friends. What a great night of music and fun
On Friday 18th January 2002 - Colette O'Leary
You never no what to expect on Club Nights because January 18th 2002 Club Night turned out to be an extra
special one as we had a surprise visit from a very talented Irish Musician
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He played all styles including Jazz , parties, weddings, barn dance and ceilidh.
Rob Thorn
He plays a selection of up-beat Scottish, Irish & Continental music.
Rob holds three British Championship Titles - Open Polka, Open Scottish and Virtuso Entertainment Champion and
has performed live on BBC Radio Lancashire on several occasions. He is essentially an "ear player" and has benefitted from some lessons from
Harry Hinchcliff. He is in the process of developing a career as a professional Accordionist.
Steve Roxton
There was a large and
appreciative audience at our March Club Night to welcome STEVE ROXTON and this
welcome was very much deserved. He relates so well to his listeners and he
seemed to enjoy the evening as much as we did. His playing and singing held
something for everyone and a good singalong -and playalong at the end - went
down well - we even had a couple of dancers briefly. A one- man- orchestra
rendition of the 1812 Overture - cannons included - was followed later by his
rousing Jerusalem ending , accompanied by waving flags and scarves. Everyone had
a wonderful evening and hope to hear Steve again
Mauro Carra
Mauro Carra started studying the accordion when he was only 9 years old, under
the direction of Piero Barbieri. He continued his studies with Learco
Gianferrari, who introduced him to the Musette genre.
Over the years he has gained experience from the likes of many famous
accordionists including Bruno Aragosti, Paolo Gandolfi, Renato Benelli,
Gigi Stock and Carlo Venturi. His musical formulation as benefitted from
participating in masterclasses given by expert artists in their field such as
Classical and Musette expert Frederic Deschamps and of jazz maestros Renzo
Ruggeri and Richard Galliano.
Information taken from 'UK Accordions'Why not visit their web site
http://www.ukaccordions.com/news.php
Playing for us at our October club night was Steven Best who played his Accordion, Saxophone, Recorder, Guitar and Auto Harp.
On January 21st 2005 We had the pleasure of Jovan Rnjaik.
Our guest visitor for our November club night was the very talented
Karen Street
Our special guest visitor for February's club night was the very talented Lisa Lee Leslie.
Lisa comes from a very talented family background.
At our Christmas Party 2004. We had the pleasure of listening to the up and coming Michael Maher.
Who Plays and Sings Irish Music. He regularily plays in Pubs And Clubs and he is a complete one man band
with his electronic backing.
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Danielle Pauly likes to present an elegant image of the accordion and French culture while
managing to adapt her programme to todays public.
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Pictured here are all the organizers of The First London Accordion Festival 2001
reviewed by Vladimir Zubitsky
- Romano and Janet Viazzini with Dou
Zubitsky after his concert.
Which was held at the Wembley Conference Centre ( Wembley, London)
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Webmaster Myra Brooks
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