There is one less accordionist in the world.
I will mark the occasion by wearing black.
About Me
- Name: Dean Olsher
- Location: Queens, NY
Author of FROM SQUARE ONE: A MEDITATION, WITH DIGRESSIONS, ON CROSSWORDS - hardcover from Scribner and spoken-word adaptation (with rich sound design and original music) from Random House Audio.
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You have my sympathy in your time of loss.
I am having a hard time picturing this:
"He was known for conducting the orchestra with his elbows while playing the accordion."
Did he have freakishly long arms? Or a very understanding orchestra? Or both?
I have an even harder time with this picture, as printed by the Times. Who can tell me what's wrong with this photo?
is the accordion upside-down? I mean, are the keys on the wrong side? I thought the keys were played with the right hand.
But is there a cool word for playing the accordion lefty? I hope there is.
Myron Floren may have been the Jimi Hendrix of the Accordion because of technical wizardry, but not left-handedness. The photo is printed backwards.
I expect to see your name under an angry letter to the Times forthwith!
I was just chatting Friday night (at the Cajun French Music Association dance) with folks about the upsurge in the coolness of the accordion. There have always been geek-cool folks playing accordion, like John Linnell, and of course there are also Myla Goldberg and Brian Dewan (as well as, a little birdy told me, you), but I've been hearing lots of accordion on hip contemporary recordings. The Decemberists are one band I can think of off the top of my head. Of course, if my head weren't about to implode from exhaustion and generally feeling drained, surely I could remember more. Maybe it's a Francis question.
And do get on the Times about their photo error! Feh!
one fewer, dean. one fewer.
One fewer accordionist? What are you, British or something?