Accordion A La Mode/A Perfect Match

I think there is more fun made of the accordion than any other instrument in jazz. You can also make more fun of the old "Lawrence Welk Orchestra" than any other TV Show we watched in B&W on Saturday nights.But you'd be wrong. He just happened to use an accordionist named Art Van Damme & also a clarinetist named Henry Something; his last name escapes me.This CD actually has two albums on it. One is "A Perfect Match,"; the other called "Accordion a la Mode."On "Accordion a la Mode" he teams up with the vibes, bass & guitar to do such great standards a "You Stepped ouit of a Dresam, "How About You," & "You were meant for me."On the other album, "A Perfect Match," he teams up with famous Johnny Smith on guitar. This is a Quintet which does a great job on Ellingtons' "Satin Doll." Other notable tunes are "Spring is Here," & "In the wee small hours of the morning."This not jazz that overpowers the listener with hard bop; rather it , & I mean both albums have a relaxing sound to them. That's why I'm giving them 5 stars.

I discovered this album thanks to the book, "Accordion Revolution". Full of great Jazz standards. It's a double album compilation. The second album with Johnny Smith on guitar just soars.

When I played this CD for a teenaged niece of mine, it was like music from outer space for her. Living a short distance from Houston, we have no radio source for this music any more. Mr. Van Damme's music demonstrates what we have lost somehow. It is truly a separate beast entirely from either the polka music with which we associate the accordion, or the musette of Paris. How fortunate that we can hear samples on Amazon! His version of 'Poinciana' has been my favorite for decades. This is great music for listening in the car, and that is where my CD stays.

Art's music works back and forth between toe-tappers and soul massage, all with a professionalism and a warmth that comes through every cut. Between Art and George Shearing's quintets, you couldn't wrap yourself up in more intimate sounds.

You cant beat these two albums. I've listened to these over and over an cannot get enough. Art van Damme is mind blowing on every song. He was amazing, and I only wish I could have heard him live. This is accordion at its best and I absolutely can't say enough about how good these players are together.

Art Van Damme brilliantly shows off his mastery of both accordion and jazz idiom.Hie expertly blends melodies with riffs while at the same time allowing his fellow band members to shine.

love it

Having played accordion for 50 years professionally, I find Van Damme absolutely incredible. He did more for making the instrument more than just for polka music. Wish he was still around.

久しぶりに素晴らしいアルバムに出会いました。２ＣＤのカップリングですが、スピード感溢れる演奏から、しっとりとしたバラード、ミディアムテンポのスイング感、全てが良い内容です。編成はアコーディオン、ギター、ビブラフォン、ベース、ドラムですが、全ての楽器がフューチャーされていて、アルバム全体のバランスも素晴らしい。とても楽しめる内容です。また、演奏アレンジも素晴らしく、とても凝っています。「Perfect Match」の方はギタリストが何とジョニー・スミス！！彼のソロが全編存分にフューチャーされています。JAZZギター好きの方にも、たまらないアルバムです。