Accordion in Americas

The poor squeezebox – if it's not a busker on autoplay, it's an off-the-peg cumbia band or a Seine-spoiling cliché-churner. Yet the piano accordion (not to be confused with tango's button variety), as the detailed Frémeaux sleeve notes explain, ‘can venture into society and music as a pure solo voice whatever the context regarding melody, harmony or rhythm.’ This three-CD set celebrates this versatility with music from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda and the US. Random? Well, yes, in the time-honoured manner of budget compilations. And the compiler chooses to ignore Louisianan Cajun because it ‘deserves more specific attention.’ Still, we do get more than three hours of shimmering talent as well as impressive variety over 69 tracks – from the racy rural rhythms of the Trio Seibano to the mellow jazz covers of the Tommy Gumina and Art Van Damme quartets, via the enigmatic choros of Luiz Gonzaga. It's a rich mix, with the distinctive sound of the instrument as the sole connection. As lead, the accordion can sometimes become a sort of drone and the best songs here – Luiz Gonzaga's ‘Légua Tirana’, the Luis Kalaff band's ‘Compadre Cholo’ – play the accordion off against voice. Overall it's a lively, likeable, if inevitably limited, sampler.