The voice of the accordion
There is a special charm in the sound of the accordion. Warmth, comfort, dreaming. In addition to traditional French cafes and Balkan orchestras, the accordion (along with its younger brother the bandoneon) is traditionally present in South American music.
Today we are transported there - to Argentina, with the accordion of the magician Horacio "Chango" Spasiuk. A musician who has long been in our sights alongside his performances with the great Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista.
Chango Spasiuk was born into a family of immigrants with Ukrainian roots and strong musical ties. Everyone in the family plays and it is not surprising that at the age of 12 Chango received his first accordion. Thus began his journey and the musical search between the Slavic regiment and the characteristic folklore style chamamé popular in northeastern Argentina.
The traditional chamamé band usually includes two guitars with an emphasis on the accordion. For his more than 30-year career, Chango has released a series of albums, played with musicians of all styles and thus his path took him to concerts in Europe and around the world. As a sign of respect for his Ukrainian roots, in 1999 Spasiuk released the album Polcas de mi Tierra, dedicated to Ukrainian polka tunes.
His participation in the projects of Cyro Baptista deserves special emphasis. The accordion meanders from lyrical gentle melodies to powerful chords that explode the senses. And, as you will see, it is established as the heart of the band.
We leave ourselves in the hands of Chango Spasiuk to enchant us with his accordion today in several songs from his various album, and for the finale his latest project Hielo Azul Tierra Roja.
Tristeza
Chamamé crudo
Hielo Azul Tierra Roja
You can find Chango Spasiuk's music on digital platforms.
July 2021
© MA
Accordion © Pixabay
