Article: "A Magical Sunday Afternoon of 'Virtual' Accordion Music"

by Lenn Feldmann

Date: October 11, 2009  
Time: 1:00PM-4:00PM
Where: Holiday Inn – 1 Rt.46W in Totowa, NJ

   Almost 100 accordionists and accordion enthusiasts were mesmerized as they watched and listened to accordion music perfomed on a brand new "V" ('V' for Virtual) Roland FR7x electronic accordion producing sounds from an extended String Bass solo (played entirely on the right hand keyboard) to a full drum set (including cymbals) perforned on the left hand buttons and... everything in between... fantastic Hammond Organs... Strings... Vibes... Saxes.... Scat Singers... a multitudfe of different accordions... and so much more!

     This was the first such event in the Greater New York City area, featuring a unique program of live V-Accordion musical performances by special guests including Roland V-Accordion Clinicians - Jazz Great Eddie Monteiro and the 2009 Coupe Mondiale International Digital Accordion Competition Champion Cory Pesaturo, as well as US National V-Accordion Festival Junior Division finalist Peter Chudolij, a surprise appearance by Frank Toscano (of THE ACCORDION KINGS fame) playing a duet with Eddie Monteiro, and Bruce Gassman (a featured performer at the 2009 Las Vegas International Accordion Festival) trying out this new instrument "cold-turkey" and entertaining the attendees with some unique classic rock arrangements.   

     Someone once said 'a picture is worth a thousand words...' so... here's the rest of the story in photos taken during the afternoon.

     This wonderful concert and demonstration was sponsored by Music Magic, U.S.A. and the Roland Corporation.  Alex Chudolij (owner of MMUSA) moderated the afternoon's events and was ably assisted by his lovely wife, Lillianna, who was the "hostess with the mostest" and provided all attendees with tasty (and plentiful) refreshments during the afternoon break.  Near the end of the afternoon, they had a drawing for door prizes donated by Roland (Cube Amp - several sets of Roland Earphones) and the great Ralph Stricker donated a copy of his Jazz Accordion and Improvisation Book as one of the prizes.

Links:

Music Magic, USA

Eddie Monterio

Cory Pesaturo

Frank Toscano

Bruce Gassman