fR312 PAGES 22-23 1/5/09 15:24 Page 1
root salad
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Portuguese Squeeze
It’s accordeon heaven. Michal Shapiro visits the
Acordeões Do Mundo festival in Torres Vedras, Portugal.
Lubenov of Bulgaria on piano accordeon,
and the Portuguese quartet Danças Ocul-
tas who play a variety of gorgeous old
diatonic accordeons. Borghetti brought
along guitarist Arthur Bonilla, and Luben-
ov was accompanied by Vladimir
Karparov on saxophones and clarinet. The
idea was to see if these three entities
could work together to present one cohe-
sive night’s entertainment. Incidents of
insensitivity abound in the ‘Player’s Hand-
book Of Cautionary Tales’, but in this case
worries were dispelled as it became
apparent that all the musicians were com-
mitted to listening to and respecting
what each player brought to the table.
B
orghetti has made his reputation
playing evolved “gaucho music” and
although he can display plenty of
velocity on his instrument, he has an
extremely physical presence, throwing his
body back into his chair, or leaning far
forward, all the while cranking out
rhythmically charged phrases. He was
definitely the showman of the group. The
bear-like Martin Lubenov is known for his
personal blend of jazz with Bulgarian
wedding music, and has a very centred
persona, as his hands glide effortlessly over
the large piano keyboard of his instrument
executing lightning chromatic riffs, and
The residency concert simultaneously negotiating irregular Balkan
rhythms on the bass buttons. Danças
Ocultas are another beast altogether: four
I
’ve been a free-reed fanatic for years, I know that these people exist and I sympa-
ever since my baptism of fire thise with their handicap); or if you really
musicians with a carefully orchestrated
producing the Planet Squeezebox love to stand in the sun and pee in a Port-a-
ensemble sound, where no one player
compilation, so an invitation to the Pottie this is also not the festival for you.
stands out as a flashy frontman, and all
Acordeões Do Mundo festival in Portugal This event is a labour of love and an expres-
subordinate themselves to the larger
was not something I was about to turn sion of the city’s pride and culture. Even
endeavour of creating shimmering folk
down. I was going to be in Seville the amateur accordeonists serenading the
fusion. Four days of rehearsals, together
anyway for Womex. On the last day of locals in cafés and bars attract a serious,
and in separate groups, bore their fruit on
that event, I packed my bags and instead appreciative audience, as the citizens of
a Friday night to a packed theatre,
of heading back to New York, I headed the city display what turns out to be a true
complete with visiting Bulgarian consul.
for Lisbon in a rented car with my Portuguese affection for the squeezebox.
The music was excellent: varied, thoughtful
polyglot pal Sabina Schebrak, manager of
The night-time programmes feature
and exciting. I was in free-reed heaven.
accordeonists extraordinaire, to pick up
just one act, and while centred on the
And about that ocean walk: if you
the musicians who would be in residence
accordeon, are wide-ranging, a tribute to
have a car, further out and a 20-minute
at the festival. That done, we headed for
the versatility of the instrument. France’s
drive, is the lovely resort town of Santa
the small city of Torres Vedras.
Daniel Mille brought in his ensemble for
Cruz, almost deserted in early November,
First off: this is not your soundstage-in-
the opening night in the town centre’s
with an equally almost deserted hotel. It is
a-field and dance-in-the-mud festival. From
small but well appointed theatre for an
a short walk to the beach, which has stone
the end of October through the first week
evening of lyrical jazz. The succeeding
walkways up to various vistas, as well as a
or so of November, the recently designated
nights brought the whimsical free-form
storeys-high boulder hollowed out by ero-
city of Torres Vedras rolls out the red carpet
music of Kraft, a Finnish duo, playing vio-
sion, which is a local landmark. There is
for the leisurely festival that bears its
lin, amplified toy piano and accordeon;
something quite wonderful about the
name. During the day there are wine-tast-
and the sophisticated Tango Quattro (a
lowering sky in the morning that gives
ings paired up with dances and both pro-
quintet from Argentina) was followed by
way to afternoon sunshine, only to cloud
fessional and amateur concerts. You can lis-
the residency concert, and capped off with
up again for a brooding evening sky. Then
ten to as much free-reed music as possible
the more classically leaning Paulo Jorge
back to town and more great music.
while sampling the wonderful local cuisine,
Ferreira on five-row chromatic button For information about last year’s festi-
and with a 20-minute drive, you can do all
accordeon, with Carlos Alves on clarinet. val and to keep up to date with develop-
this and walk on the beach. Of course, all The residency was a first for the festi-
ments, visit:
www.acordeoesdomundo.com
of this could be a nightmare for someone val. This year it consisted of Brazil’s Rena- The next edition of the festival will be
who fails to appreciate the accordeon (and to Borghetti (on gaita ponto), Martin from 24 October to 11 November 2009. F
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