Accordions Rising2015

Accordions Rising is the story of the variety of styles, cultural diversity and extraordinary virtuosity of the instrument and the music that it can make. Touching on its deep history but focusing on the present, the film offers entertaining, conversational style interviews, anecdotal commentary and both formal and informal music performances from celebrated accordionists, composers and bands working and performing in America today. These primarily New York based but globe trotting musicians, make up the colorful cast of characters who drive the story by tracing their uniquely personal attractions to the instrument and sharing their surprisingly divergent paths: from immigrant roots, Creole or Roma beginnings, for example, to a recognition of the very special niche this so-called "low art" form provides for inspirations in jazz, classical, new music, pop, fusion forms, operatic styles and beyond.