This is a reprint of the San Francisco Accordionaires November 2007 Newsletter.

LET THE MEETING BEGIN

Mario Pedone was hooked up and ready to give the Accordionaires a great concert. Mario brought dozens of CD’s and music books he has written. Sales were brisk before, during and especially after his performance. Our members were inspired to emulate the outstanding technique Mario displayed all evening. Mario performed for just over two hours. His only break came when the police temporarily interrupted the meeting to ask us to come outside to see if our cars had been hit by a suv that had jumped the curb and sheared off the fire hydrant at the corner of Victorio’s parking lot. The flying suv hit three parked cars, but none were from our group. After that bit of excitement, Mario was playing for us again.

Mario used an Excelsior Symphony Grand, which he played to perfection. This is a great accordion and in his expert hands the result was perfection. His presentation took two forms: playing with CD background, and playing solo. As you know from the biography you read in last month’s newsletter, Mario used the piano and keyboards extensively as a performer. Over time he learned to record his own multi-track accompaniment, which could be used with the accordion or other instruments. Parts of Mario’s performance this evening featured the recorded orchestral background as he took front stage live with the accordion. The result was extremely enjoyable. Unlike simultaneously using a midi module, Mario’s method produced a very realistic, orchestral presentation. Mario used our Club amp for the cd accompaniment and a separate amp for his accordion. By having the accompaniment separate (recorded on the cd) he was able to enhance the effect of the accordion or the background independently just as would have occurred in a live band performance. “Feeling” and “expression” were two terms everyone mentioned after hearing Mario.

Additionally Mario had everyone craning their neck to watch him play. His command of the keyboard was simply outstanding. Slow, medium or lightening fast, his fingers were right on target all the time. Mario also interchanged melodies from the bass section and the treble keyboard. Much of his bass work was very reminiscent of Nick Ariondo—his fingers were everywhere on that bass-board. Further enhancing the evening, Mario played selections of all types: Latin, French, polkas, ballads, marches, and waltzes—you name it, he did it.

Here is a partial list of the many songs Mario performed this evening:

·         French medley.

·         Polka medley, Swedish, American and Polish ( with these songs you realized that this man plays a piano keyboard with the same speed we expect from a button accordion).

Using his Ketron keyboard recorded in four or five parts onto a computer track and accompanied live with his Excelsior we heard:

·         Have I told you lately that I love you.

·         Orange Blossom Express.

·         La Paloma de Noche.

·         Accordion solamente.

·         Granada (reversing the melody line onto the bass with harmony coming from the treble keyboard).

·         Estudio d minor and the

·         Woodpecker Song (Expression and double key mastery throughout these pieces).

This time a combination of accordion solo and CD accompaniment:

·         Medley including Hava Nagila.

·         Zorba's Theme.

·         Petticoats of Portugal.

·         Espana Cani.

·         And a tango, and a waltz, and a Latin waltz with Siboney as the finale (Rhythm variations, keyboard cross-over, and double-key action all contributed to this knock-out group).

After a short break Mario was back with his grand finale:

·         La vie en Rose.

·         I’ll Love You Today-I’ll Love You Tomorrow.

·         Czardes – Monti.

·         Santa Lucia.

·         German Songs.

·         Hofbrau Haus drinking house Munich.

·         Du Du Liebst mir im Herzen.

·         Beer Barrel Polka and in a final shift of mood…

·         Diamonds Are Forever.

Numerous Club members have called to express their appreciation for Mario’s

outstanding performance. Pat Striplin reported that Mario had a super night selling his CD’s and books. Without a doubt the Accordionaires know quality when they hear it. Mario, thanks for coming, and please come see us again!