Name: Master of the Diatonic Accordion
Brand: Arc Music
SKU: 1393489
Availability: OutOfStock

Performer Notes

Personnel: Daniel Thonon (bagpipe, accordion, recorder, piano, harpsichord, keyboards, background vocals); Jean-Louis Cros (guitar); Luc Thonon (bagpipe); Nicolas Boulerice (piano); Frederic Salter (keyboards).
Audio Mixer: Frederic Salter.
Liner Note Authors: Daniel Thonon; Diz Heller.
Recording information: Le Studio Des Annees Mornes, St-Marc-Sur-Richelieu (11/1997-08/2003).
Arranger: Daniel Thonon.
The accordion is often associated with polkas or Oktoberfest. But if you listen to Daniel Thonon's precision and talent on the instrument, you will come away with a new appreciation for both the musician and his squeezebox. Varied into an array of styles, genres, and textures, Thonon opens the record with a Celtic lullaby-tinged song entitled "Marche Bretonne." The number could be mistaken for something off either a Clannad or Enya album or to any epic Irish-oriented film. This leads nicely into the folk manner of "Trafic d'Influences," which has the listener envisioning a foggy seafaring coastal town. The song then evolves into a reel, with acoustic guitar and other instrumentation that even Paddy Moloney would be envious of. "Valse pour Erika" has all the traits of a Parisian romantic ballad with its slow tempo and almost "Love Story"-like arrangement. Thonon's mastery of the instrument is quite apparent early on, especially on the pretty "Les Passantes -- Je Me Suis Fait Tout Petit," with its trace of flamenco guitar before ambling into a slow swinging groove. Another traditional reel or jig, albeit a somber one, is "Le Coucou," as Thonon leads the track throughout. Perhaps the most poignant Parisian moment is during the lovely and charming "A Chacun Sa Chaconne" as well as the downtrodden and wistful "Avec le Temps." One joyful moment that is definitely Celtic-inspired is the whistle-propelled "Yiddish Scottishe," which blends almost perfectly with the traditional klezmer music. The jazzy "Nuit Bleue" is best left to the jazz bands, though, as it does little. The track that personifies the record has to be the toe-tapping yet midtempo "Allez! Gros, Mˆne Ton Troupeau." ~ Jason MacNeil