Schwadamo Polka

Here's a Cleveland Slovenian Style Button Box Instrumental Polka that I arranged back in the mid-90s. The A section is from an arrangement on Joe Fedorchak's "For that Old Gang of Mine" album- (with an added left hand Bass lick/ break) and I composed the B section to show off some chromatic motions that aren't typically played on diatonic button accordions in this music.

I did a full band recording (drums, bass, keyboard) of this arrangement while I was recording the "Familiar Faces in New Places" album but it was only issued on a limited edition Sampler CD for Euro-Class Music. If you're interested in hearing the full recording- it's available as a download for members of my Patreon page. (For only $3/ month or a $34 annual membership- you have access to the downloads of new and classic/unreleased recordings)

Become a Patreon Member Today!!

Musical Journeys – Sandra Wong & Alex Meixner Performance & Discussion

This was a fascinating hour of conversation and music facilitated by Dr. Gibb Schreffler at Pomona College between Alex Meixner (accordion) and Sandra Wong (nyckelharpa). All three participants were undergraduate students together at Ithaca College in the mid-1990s and have been out of touch for over 20 years. Finding familiar grounds between our different folk music traditions, academic experiences, and travels in the music business made for an interesting session.

Meixner and Wong trade stories from their unique journeys to becoming multi-instrumental recording artists, touring performers, educators, and cultural ambassadors. Throughout the event, they “trade tunes,” sharing favorite pieces on the instruments through whose traditions they have made their mark on the American musical landscape.