Podcast: The Accordion Episode with Marié Abe

The accordion, one of the most fascinating, unique and without question culturally important musical instruments that all of us pelangueros can’t get enough of. Yet to be honest, we actually know very little about these squeezable typewriter-looking devices. That is why we knew we had to dedicate an entire episode to the accordion and why we were so excited to welcome Professor of Ethnomusicology at Boston University, Co-Producer of Public Radio International’s Squeeze Box Stories and bad-ass acordeonista of the group Debo BandMarié Abe. Listen as we learn about the accordion’s origins and its travels through Europe, Africa, the Americas and all the way to Japan.

 

Tracklist:
Ferew HiluEshururu
Debo BandAmbassel
Debo BandDC Flower
Los Cholos de PastoCumbia de O. Vreeskin
Alejo DuránMi pedazo de acordeón
Squeezebox Stories – Trailer
Los YukinosDe party con las malandrinas
Los PerlasTener o no tener
El Cieguito de NaguaLa bailadora
José Santiago VegaNo me hable estrujao
北原謙二 – 銀座パチャンが通り  (Kenji KitaharaGinza Pachanga)
Ferro GaitaTareza
Petar RalchevTo the north of Bulgaria
Fred FrithHands of the juggler

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Alejo Durán on Black History Month

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This is as good a month as any to invite Alejo Durán, el Rey Negro Vallenato, to tell us a bit of American history. This is “Los Hermanos Negros”, from the album I posted a few weeks ago

That reminds me of “El Indio Sinuano”, a strong, proud track on Zenú history written by David Sánchez Juliao. It’s a simple thing, but the break at 3:20 is one of my favorites in vallenato. I don’t think I have the energy to translate the lyrics to the English speakers, but I’m sure the internet does. You can find them here

papicultor

Alejo Durán – El legendario caballero del canto vallenato

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Este post va para Carlos Mendoza — el joven inquieto de 51 años que está tratando de redefinir el sonido de la música chilena de Oaxaca desde el Valle Central de California — y para las cumbiamberas Marië y Julie, que cuentan un poquito de la historia de Carlos en el radiodocumental Squeezebox Stories (When are you writing a guest post for us?)

Pajarito by Alejo Durán

I’ve met several accordionists from all over the world (and Carlos is one of them) who, when they find out I am from Colombia, won’t stop raving about the virtuoso accordionists in vallenato. And yes, no doubt I agree, and I love listening to them, but I keep coming back to the down-home vallenateros who leave the fancy tricks aside, who keep it simple and honest and deep. Not many do that better than Alejo Durán.

Anything I try to write about Alejo Durán is outdone by a beautiful chronicle written by Alberto Salcedo in the book “Diez juglares en su patio”, where Alejo talks about his love for accordion, women, and his sombrero vueltiao, his  disinterest in alcohol and new vallenato, and his encounters with Gabriel García Márquez. (Muy recomendado este libro, si lo consiguen! El último libro de Salcedo también está buenísimo.) So maybe I’ll just let them talk, and hope my translation doesn’t get too much in the way:

Alejo: “When someone talks to me about fingering, it is as if they talk to a deaf man. I have nothing to do with fingering. I am an accordionist of style. […] I don’t crack my fingers trying to make the notes run fast, but I assure you that I have my style, and if you hear me from far away you will now that it is me who is playing. You’ll mix up the other accordion players. Not me.”

If you want style, check out his accordion work in this song, especially towards the end; I never heard anything quite like this.

Nazira by Alejo Durán

Alejo, father of 24 children, “all with the same one but with many different women” says “…I had to be in love to keep composing. Or heartbroken. Because, really, there are two topics to compose about: love and sorrow. Everything else is make-believe, and I don’t like to make things up. […] If some guy can get excited singing about lies, things that haven’t happened, let him do that. We, the old guys, prefer to sing about what happens to us.”

Cuerpo Cobarde by Alejo Durán

Salcedo: “Durán’s main merit is that he understood that the accordion has its voice, and it’s important to let it speak. Not like most of today’s interpreters, for whom the accordion is simply an instrument; as if it wasn’t an extension of our feelings.”

Durán: “My life, my trusted friend, and part of my soul is the accordion. I tell my secrets to him.”

Son Pesares by Alejo Durán

Enjoy,

papicultor