Randy Stein

Work on arpeggios. Major, minor, and augmented to start. This will help with fingering and you'll get used to using 3rds and 5ths in the root triade. Once you develop a little muscle memory, add another set of arpeggios adding the 7th to the triade. I.e. C- E-G-Bb If you get real agressive try diminished thirds.

DC Ambiance Performing Live at FSGW Music Festival Feb 3, 2018 "Sweet Sue, Just You" Song Published 1928 composed by Victor Young. Performed by the Gypsy Jazz Group, DC Ambiance: Guitars: Buco Cavar & Bill Parmentier Clarinet: Suzanne Gekker Bass: Cyndy Elliott English Concertina: Randy Stein https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/sweet-sue-just-you

I am part of a new five piece band, DC Ambiance. We play gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt. Here is a recent recording from a rehearsal. The piece is Jardin D'Hiver https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/jardin-dhiver-1 We will have our first gig at Haydee's Restaurant in DC on Jan 5th. Come if you're in the area.

Aim high...always

Randy Stein, Music for Solo English Concertina at the Caboose Cafe Thursday Sept 14th 6:30-8:30 PM 2419 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301 French, Italian, Tangos, American Standards and more... This is my last performance at the Cafe which has been sold. Come enjoy

At my gig last night a 5 year old boy walked up to me and pointed at my concertina: "You get some good music out of that thing. Looks like a caterpillar with buttons". I told him the name and to repeat it. He did and then said "I like caterpillars better but you can call it what you want."

that was cool. Thanks

There is a group of about 6 regular musicians that gather together in Takoma Park, MD every Monday evening and jam to the Django Fake book. I finally made the trek up to join them and had a swell time. Much of the music is familiar but it was great fun playing in this stylized jazz style, which I have some experience in playing but never on a regular basis.I especially enjoyed the chance to sight read a lot of cool chords and fast paced melody lines (mistakes were graciously overlooked). The musicians had never played with an English concertina before so the experience was new and refreshing for all of us. I did not record or take photos but maybe next time. The Django Fake Book which I also use to arrange tunes to play polyphonically, was too big to attach but can be found online for free. Google 2008 Django Fake Book Enjoy. rss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7okD0Umm5k

Been a while. My band, Ein Lanu Z'man, had a performance this past Friday evening. We sounded great, if I do say so myself. We recently went through some member changes which meant reworking arrangements and adding in new parts. It meant me doing a lot more complex rhythm and chording on the EC to fill in which has been challenging and exciting at the same time. In addition to adding more modern Folk tunes. Fun stuff. If I can get a recording from the concert I will post. You can hear the band on YouTube. www.einlanuzman.com onward, rss

Squeezers In Concert Friday, May 5 7:30-10 pm at Seekers Church $20 nonmembers, $10 members The Squeezers, a trio of veterans of the Washington Folk Festival, FSGW Midwinter Festival and Takoma Porch, are a “genre-defying” squeezebox trio squeezing tunes of the world from bellows-and-reed instruments of the world. Traditional Morris tunes, French bal-folk dances, Jazz standards, tango and original arrangements of traditional music highlight the versatility of these cross-cultural instruments and artists. Sarah Murdoch-Vocalist From old murder ballads to Nina Simone by way of old-time gospel, Sarah Murdoch’s voice is both sweet and mighty, like a steam locomotive burning daffodils. She is a New York singer and actor; a regular of NYC pub sings, you’ll also remember her voice and style if you’ve attended Youth Trad Song Weekend in the past two years.

Sgt Pepper 'She's Leaving Home' Harpist Meets Ringo Starr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOZUKhkvLMQ

Popular European and American Standards arranged for the EC. Hope you can make it. Thursday, April 20th 6:30 - 8:30 at the Caboose Cafe 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA

If you are around the DC Metro area this week and want a diversion from all the insanity: Randy Stein Music for Solo English Concertina Caboose Cafe, Thursday Jan 19th 6:30 - 8:30 and again at The Happy Tart, Sunday Jan 22nd 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM New Acoustic Traditions returns to the Grounded Coffee Shop Saturday January 20th Featuring The Squeezers 12:30-1:20 Lyssna (a Scandi trio) 1:30 - 2:30

Quite lovely. I found myself fascinated at the phrasing and bellow movements.