Search the Community

Despite popular demand here is another tune from Jim Besser and me as 2ManyButtons duo. Again I apologize for the missed appropriated notes. Just too many buttons. Xotes Romanes is part half gypsy, half klezmer, half dance tune. Jim is playing his C/G Lachenal/Dipper 30 button Anglo. This is from a rehearsal last Sunday. https://soundcloud.com/concertinist/xotes-romanes-2manybuttons

Jim Besser and I have been playing together now for close to a decade finding ways to blend his amazing talent on the Anglo with me on the EC. We recently regrouped back into playing as a duo with our new endeavor, 2ManyButtons. Jim is playing a Morse ESB baritone C/G Anglo. I am playing a 1937 Wheatstone 4 octave. This is from a recent rehearsal and I excuse any misdirected notes....to many fingers on too many buttons. https://soundcloud.com/concertinist/nadiejda-2manybuttons

Performed here: and here also on an Aeola with better audio settings.

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

Good evening friends, I've been playing the English concertina for a year now, had a great experience thanks to Paul Hardy in the UK this fall and really have made progress on the EC. I bought a preowned Jackie from Concertina Connections last Christmas. So I have my eye on and my ear open to a 48 key Wheatstone or Lachenal, an intermediate step up. Perhaps I might consider the Concertina Connection Busker EC. But here's the thing. I live in Dallas, Texas. Greg Jowaisas has been very kind to send me sound files of some instruments he has for sale that are in my price range. But while I might be able to choose what I prefer from the sound of one instrument over another, I also have learned that playing the instrument is critical. Paul Hardy was very kind to let me come play the instruments in his collection - and while I didn't have a lot of time to spend playing, what I realized is how unique the feel of the instrument is, the weight, the spacing between the buttons. So I guess my question is how in the world do I purchase that next instrument living here in Dallas, Texas - a long way from any concertina provider. Your thoughts or advice?

here

Check out my bands new website: www.dcambiance.com

Here is my performance of Edith Piaf's Padam Padam*. Performed at the Saturday evening concert at this years Northeast Squeeze-in. *Padam, padam..." is a song originally released in 1951 by Édith Piaf. It was written for her by Henri Contet (lyrics) and Norbert Glanzberg (music)

I have been a lurker on this forum for the past three months as I waited not so patiently for my Busker EC from Concertina Connection. Yesterday it arrived, and I am thrilled. I don't have anything to compare to, but it seems very light and responsive. I got it loaded with metal-capped buttons and the Wakker bellows, so it is probably much like a CC Rose with fewer buttons. During the wait I have listened to a lot of great concertina music, and especially enjoyed Simon Thoumire, and the Leveret CDs. Now I have a lot of patient work to do with much simpler tunes. I would appreciate knowing about EC teachers and players in the Portland, Oregon area. This is a hotbed of Irish music, so I expect Anglo is more plentiful. I look forward to learning more about concertina, and sharing the journey with you all!

I'm working through Paul Hardy's Session Tunebook and loving it! The Blackthorn Stick and Off to California are among some of the tunes I"m trying to commit to memory. I'm going to be in England for three weeks this fall and wondering if I will be good on my English concertina to sit in on some sessions. So, this question comes to mind: What ten tunes are most commonly played in sessions that I should have in my fingers and by memory? This may be an oversimplified question as I imagine "favorite tunes" are very much a local matter. Still, I would love to hear your opinions.

My English Concertina (stagi tenor treble 56 key) lost one of its metal buttons. The lower part broke. Is there any way out there to get a new one? Or is there hope, that the original button can be fixed? I include a picture of the button and a picture of the action I finally managed to open, so you can see, what I need. If everything fails I may use the button of a rarely used note to fill the gap… but of course, I would prefer it to be "really" fixed Any hints? PS: Don't buy this stagi model! Really badly made.

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.

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

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.

Here's another one...

My lovely - in fantastic condition - 45 button Morse Geordie Tenor English Concertina is up for sale. It's a bit like a treble, but has an extra row so it goes to a 5th lower (i.e. the lowest note is a C rather than a G). It is in excellent condition, has fast action and plays beautifully (I don't though). I have a smaller Morse EC, which I am keeping, but I need to sell this one. I am a lifelong string player (mandolin etc) and 1 concertina is enough for me to enjoy. Rosewood stained Cherry ends, black Delrin buttons, brass fittings, riveted action, 6-fold bellows, and high-quality accordion-type reeds. With original hardshell case. Here's a link to the instrument on the Musicroom website... http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/5115 All offers will be considered - you may grab a bargain ) If anyone is interested, then please email me howard@thehilltribe.com. I live near Oxford, England. Once sold, then a donation to this website will be made. Thanks Howard (edited to include Musicroom link)

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Music by Jerome Kern, 1933 from the musical Roberta. Based on an arrangement of Boris Matueswitch. Smoke_in_eyes_Stein (1).MP3

I am doing my usual monthly gig at the Caboose Cafe in Alexandria, VA. Thursday, July 14th from 6:30-8:30. This is a lovely Cafe/Restaurant owned and run for the past 20 years by Rhoda Gachou. The homemade breads and pastries are amazing and she serves an eclectic Ethiopian fare which is one reason I come back to play here. If you are nearby stop in, say hello, and enjoy. rss

Music for Solo English Concertina Featuring French, Italian, Tango, Popular American Standards and more... When: Thursday June 16th 6:30 - 8:30 Where: Caboose Cafe 2419 Mt Vernon Ave (Del Ray) Alexandria, VA

Appearing at DC Folk Music Festival in Glen Echo Park THE SQUEEZERS Jim Besser - Anglo Concertina Gus Voorhees - Melodeon Randy Stein - English Concertina Bill Brown– Vocals Saturday June 4th, 2016 4:00 PM on the Yurt Village Stage http://fsgw.org/myorgnet/public.php?Org=fsgw&ProgramID=10&NoTitle=1

Jim Besser and I on and off play various current artists pieces. Jody being one of them. We took two of Jody's tunes that we play and put them into a short set: Fickle Moon and Pumpkin Moon. This recording was at a rehearsal with just the two of us. Notice the difference in the sounds of the two different systems and the way we do our phrasing. https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/fickle-moonpumpkim-moon

Hi This is my first video attempt with my Edeophone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z21BfLpxOvo I welcome any advice that you can give me! Eddy

Mal Derricott has asked me to post this article (below) that she has written about Rollo Woods being awarded and receiving an EFDSS Gold Badge. Rollo was incredibly generous with his knowledge when I interviewed him for my dissertation, concerning the pitch analysis of field recordings of Stephen Baldwin. (He was there at the recording, and was able to offer me incredibly useful background and information on exactly how it was done, the atmosphere and how he coaxed Mr Baldwin into letting us all hear him). Its fantastic to see Rollo being recognised for his many contributions to and work in the folk scene! Rollo Woods – EFDSS Gold Badge Award On Saturday 28th. November a very special party was held in Rollo’s home town of Swanage to celebration his award of the Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. He is in very great company; Vaughan Williams received it too! 200 people attended the celebration from many sections of the Folk society. The event began with a ‘Sing the Old Carols’ workshop and some of the carols were mentioned by Thomas Hardy. Others were chosen for their particular link to the Purbeck area of Dorset. The carols chosen were Rollo’s favourites, or at least some of them as his repertoire is so vast it must have been very difficult for him to make a choice, and only 2 versions of ‘While Shepherds Watched’ out of a possible 400+! There followed a wonderful afternoon tea and then the main event; the formal presentation of the EFDSS Gold Badge Award. A long citation (although still an abbreviated version of the original text of 45 pages long) covering his lifetime of achievements involving Folk Music and Dance, was read out by Jack Crawford, the Chair of the West Gallery Music Association and then he presented Rollo with the Gold Badge on behalf of the English Folk and Dance Song Society. The celebration then continued with a family barn dance with caller Nigel Close (a long term friend of Rollo’s and band caller) leading Rollo’s current ceilidh band, Maiden Oak. We were also entertained by members of Rollo’s musical family. His grandson, Owen, a noted melodeon player, his son Tony and his daughter-in law, better known to jazz lovers than to folk enthusiasts. We were also surprised by a group of dancers from the local school who did 2 country dances and the Purbeck Mummers. It was an absolutely fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Rollo is recognised today as a collector and researcher of West Gallery Music; but far more than that he is also a performer of this music, folk song and dance music and an inspiration to others to perform. He is also recognised widely amongst concertina players for his skilled playing and his enduring encouragement to all who play or aspire to play concertina. Rollo has that rare combination of the eye of an academic researcher combined with the active participation of a dancer and musician. Without performance the research could lie gathering dust on a bookshelf and what Rollo has done is ensure that this music is sung and played and above all, enjoyed. Rollo also represents in many ways the full range of activities of a Village Band member of Hardy’s day. He was an instigator and is now an Hon Vice President of the West Gallery Music Association. He was the founder, and is now the researcher and band leader for the Purbeck Village Quire and before that was a founder member of The Madding Crowd. In these groups he has championed the performance of Church music from the West Gallery era. But he is just as much at home as leader of his dance bands Maiden Oak and before that of Greenwood Tree and when in Hampshire, the Black Glove Band. As a dancer he was a member of the Cambridge Morris Men and later the Winchester Morris Men. This combination of West Gallery musician, dance band leader and Morris dancer is something very special and has been beneficial to all three areas. In all these roles Rollo has always been actively encouraging new talent and through that to ensure that the next generation will carry on singing dancing and making music! Mal Derricott Purbeck Village Quire

Randy Stein on the English Concertina European and American Standards The Caboose Cafe Thursday October 15th 6:30-8:30 2419 Mt Vernon Ave (in Del Ray) Alexandria, VA

I play Speed The Plough on three different English concertinas in this video. https://youtu.be/k7cZP_8MhbE This might help someone make up their mind about buying one of these or at very least, be a useful reference video. 1) Jackie 30 Button 2) Marcus 37 Button 3) Lachenal 48 Button