Family duo George Stevens (on Bouzouki, Guitar and Mandolin) and brother Paul Stevens - pictured right, (on Midi Accordion and Guitar) have just released a new CD.

As a duo, they play a mixture of ethnic music such as, Greek, Gypsy Romani, Klezmer, Siberian, Italian and Latin music.

Their new CD "Midnight Passion" is a blend of Gypsy Latin Flamenco Music Featuring songs from Gipsy Kings, Alex Fox and more. Plans are already underway for a new CD featuring some of the best Gypsy Romani Singers in the USA

CD's are $16.50 (includes Shipping and Handling)

Please make Check or Money Order payable to Paul Stevens and mail to:
Paul Stevens
1570 W. Katella Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92802

Phone: (714) 772-8585 or e-mail: bouzouki1@msn.com

Norwegian accordionist Jarle Fjeldheim was one of the featured guests in the recent Georgetown, Texas Viking Fest.

Jarle Fjeldheim plays beautiful Norwegian folk music on a three row diatonic and is a fan of Lillebror Vasaasen, playing many of his tunes. According to Jarle, Lillebror is the main two row player and composer of two row tunes in Norway.

A few years ago Jarle heard Flaco Jimenez play on a three row diatonic accordion, and that spurred him on to purchase a three row accordion for himself so that he could learn some of Flaco's tunes. In November of 1999, he traveled to Austin, Texas and met Flaco Jimenez for the first time. Jarle also took lessons from Flaco's brother, Santiago Jimenez, Jr., so that he could perfect his technique with conjunto music.

Jarle not only plays Norwegian folk music and conjunto tunes, but also plays many Irish tunes. While he was in Austin, he also met and jammed with Yann-Fanch Perroches, one of Brittany's premier accordion musicians. In March of 2000, Jarle came to Texas once again - this time to play at the International Accordion Convention held in Plano, at which he received a standing ovation. At that time, he was fortunate to meet several members of the Friends of Norway and play some traditional Norwegian tunes for them.

Jarle's interest in accordion music encompasses many different genres. Jarle plays with great skill and emotion, and his music and concerts at the Viking Fest were very well received.

Heralded as a major international cultural event, "Sounding the Margins: a Retrospective of the Works of Pauline Oliveros" will commemorate the 70th birthday of this world famous American composer, accordionist, teacher, author and pioneer in electronic music.

The celebration will take place as a series of performances at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco from May 31st to June 2nd. Three of Pauline's current ensembles: "Deep Listening Band", "Circle Trio" and "The Space Between" will perform at the event.

An orchestra of virtuoso New Music performers from around the world will be assembled specifically for the celebrations as well as small ensembles and soloists who will present various compositions by Oliveros (including dance and theatre), from 1960 to 2002. Oliveros herself will also perform. As his contribution to the honoring of Oliveros, the distinguished designer Andrew Hoyem (owner of Arion Press) will design the poster announcing "Sounding the Margins: a Retrospective of the works of Pauline Oliveros".

The organizing committee for the concerts consists of Pauline Oliveros Foundation members Philip Gelb and Tom Bickley working in collaboration with Anne Brodzky and Tony Williams of the Society and Meridian. Dana Reason will coordinate a concurrent symposium.

for further information, please contact:
Pauline Oliveros Foundation
PO Box 1956, Kingston, NY 12402
Phone (845) 338-5984 Fax (845) 338-5986
e-mail: paulineo@deeplistening.org

The annual Le Printemps Des Bretelles Festival will be held in Montreal, Quebec on May 19th and 20th organized by Soufflemuse Productions. This festival is held every year to commemorate the invention of the accordion on May 6th 1829.

Over 15 accordionists will entertain the public including Didier Dumoutier, Mario Bruneau, Daniel Thonan, Sylvain Rondeau, Vladimir Sodorov, Fredy Bal and Jacques Calve who will accompany his father and vocalist Pierre Calve.

Tangos, Javas, Waltzes, Tsigane Jazz, Ditties, popular french songs and Latin rhytmns share the spotlight and take turns gracing the stage. The accordion masters strap themselves in and invite you to loosen your belts and your hair down, inviting you to be seduced by the muse and charmed by the musette.

Soufflemuse Productions and the Lion d’Or Cabaret hold Le Printemps des Bretelles of Montreal on May 19, 2002 at the Lion d’Or Cabaret.

Phone: (514) 634-9672 e-mail: soufflemuse@hotmail.com
http://www.soufflemuse.qc.ca

Tony Lovello is called the Michael Jordan or the Liberace of the accordion. Definitely is the consummate showman, Tony Lovello is scheduled to both entertain and present a seminar to the Milwaukee Accordion Club later this month.

Lovello toured a couple years with the famous Three Suns trio and has a long list of accomplishments on his resume.

His current tour brings him to Milwaukee for a special Wednesday May 29th presentation. Club members and guests alike, look forward to being both entertained and educated that evening.

Acclaimed bayan artist and teacher Friedrich Lips from Moscow will tour the United States and Canada in September offering concerts in Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto and Duluth.

The teacher of Milwaukee based accordion start Stas Venglevski, the two will appear in concert together on several occasions.

Friedrich Lips was born in the Jemanschelinsk (district of Tcheljabinsk) on November 18th, 1948. In 1967 he concluded his musical education at the secondary school of Magnitogorsk (Class of E.A. Kudinow). In 1972 he then concluded his studies at the state-run Gnessin-Institute for music pedagogics (Class of Prof. S. Kolobkow) and in 1974 he finished his post-graduate studies.

Since 1971 he has been lecturing at the Gnessin-Institute (Academy of Music since 1992), first as lecturer, later as assistant professor and from 1989 on as a professor. In 1969 he was awarded the first prize in the international contest in Klingenthal (former GDR). In 1982 he was honoured as a "distinguished artist" and in 1994 as a "People's Artist" of Russia.

Friedrich Lips is the author of the book "The Art of Playing the Bayan" ( published by "Muzika" in Moscow 1985, 2nd edition in 1998, German translation published by "Intermusik Schmülling", Germany ). Furthermore he has published a number of articles on the theory of playing the bajan, as well as many arrangements and transcriptions of organ and piano works for the bajan. He is the initiator and author of the anthology of bajan literature, as well as some volumes on the bajan repertoire.

Friedrich Lips works as an adjudicator at many international accordion competitions and is member of the committee of IAS (International Accordion Society). He is the organizer and artistic director of the international festival "Bayan and bayanists" which has been held in Moscow since 1989.

For information on the concerts in the United States, please contact Stas Venglevski:
3597 S 123rd Street
Greenfield, WI 53228
Phone: (414) 961-9803 or (414) 543-7714
E-Mail: stas.venglevski@gte.net

Milwaukee based accordionist Stas Venglevski will perform on the West Coast in May, offering concerts in Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland and Seattle before heading to Texas.

His keyboard artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought 'Stas' Venglevski, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, increasing acclaim as a virtuoso of the bayan. A two-time first prize winner of bayan competition in the Republic of Moldova, Stas is a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his masters Degree in Music under the tutelage of the famed Russian bayanist, Friedrich Lips. In 1992 he emigrated to the United States.

Stas' repertoire is an astonishing collection of virtuoso works by Bach, Weber, Liszt, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, as well as contemporary and ethnic music. He has toured extensively throughout the former soviet Union, Europe, and the United States. He also performs frequently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his home in America, and is a regular participant in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community education program (ACE) and in Milwaukee theater productions.

For full details, please visit Stas on-line at www.accordions.com/stas

On May 5th, Dr. William Schimmel will perform Alla Bozova's Pinsk and Bule for Accordion and Piano at the Kosciusko Foundation in New York.

On May 23rd and 24th, he will perform in a chamber concert with the ensemble Sospeso at the Tenri Cultural institute. At this concert, he will perform in the premieres of works by Kirk Noreen, Joshua Cody and a work for Violin, Cello and Accordion by Wolfgang Rihm.

For more information please contact www.billschimmel.com