Accordion Festival Comes to Bryant Park This Weekend

The Accordion Festival, a five-hour finale to the Accordions Around the World series at Bryant Park, features the the wide range of this often-overlooked and little-known instrument. This special event features Shashmaqam (Bukharian Jewish Music and Dance from Central Asia), Rhode Island-based João Cirilo Pilom Batuko Band (Funana and Batuko from Cape Verde), New York's own Shilpa Ray (Indie rock on the harmonium), Italian superstars Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Pizzica Tarantata from Puglia), and all-women, sister act Rimel (Mexican Norteño), whose performance will be the perfect way to start your Mexican Independence Day weekend celebrations! The festival will be hosted by NPR's Anastasia Tsioulcas and curated by Ariana Hellerman.

Ariana Hellerman, series curator and founder of Ariana's List, says, "Accordion is often confused for yesteryear kitsch in America; but, in many parts of the world, it's one of the most important instruments that convey the sound of the region. In New York, we are lucky to have access to many of these cultures. In addition to showcasing the versatility of the instrument and providing an intimate and accessible performance experience for audiences and passers-by alike, a priority for Accordions Around the World is to give communities where the accordion is played, a space and platform for sharing their cultures in the heart of Manhattan. We aim for the artists in this series to be reflective of the city. This year is particularly special because we are featuring music from Africa for the first time with Cape Verdean artist João Cirilo as well as Mexican Norteño music with Rimel."

Friday, September 14, 5pm - 10pm Featuring Shashmaqam (Bukharan Jewish music and and Central Asian dance), João Cirilo Pilom Batuko Band (Batuko and Funaná from Cape Verde), Shilpa Ray (Indie rock with the harmonium), Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Pizzica tarantata from Puglia, Italy), and Rimel (Norteño music from Mexico).

Shashmaqam is a vibrantly colorful ensemble from Queens, NY that performs the highly compelling and centuries-old musical traditions of Central Asia. As the United States' premier ensemble dedicated to Central Asia's Bukharan Jewish music and dance traditions, Shashmaqam performs a panorama of classical and folk music from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Simultaneously, they perform the liturgical repertoire of Bukharan Jews which instrumentation includes the tar (lute), doire (frame drum) and accordion. Shashmaqam, which takes its name from the ancient repertoire they perform, was founded through musical evenings dancer Firuza Yagudeava hosted at her former restaurant in Manhattan in the late 1970s. Since then, they have performed on stages across the US and have recorded for Smithsonian Folkways Records.
Hailing from a long legacy of musicians, João Cirilo Monteiro, along with his Pilom Batuko Band, is an ambassador of Cape Verdean music abroad, having brought the highest quality of Funaná, Batuko, and Coladeira traditions to the United States. These music styles developed after Cape Verde was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century, when the islands were used as holding centers for captured Africans who were later shipped to North and South America as slaves. The mix of European, African, Brazilian, and Caribbean cultures created these new forms of music. Monteiro was born in Cape Verde and came to the US in 1982. He has several recordings to his name, including Pilom Batuko (2010). His "Po D'Terra" was featured on Space Echo: The Mystery Behind the Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde Finally Revealed compilation in 2016 (Analog Africa). He has performed in many folk festivals in the U.S. and abroad.

Nobody grows up wanting to be an artist's artist. Appreciated by the sub sect of the sub sect is like being the beauty queen at the leper colony. Anybody who claims they grew up wanting to even be an artist rather than an astronaut or a Cthulhu is probably lying or was a corny kid. Your friends will find you irritating and your parents will certainly not throw you a parade. Shilpa Ray is, through no fault of her own, one of our unsung great artists. Having made her bones with the gothic Sturm und Drang of Beat The Devil and moving forward to the blues erosion of ... and The Happy Hookers, Shilpa Ray has been, armed only with an incomparable voice and harmonium haunted by the ghosts of dead lovers, perpetually crying in the wind, hoisting both middle fingers in the general direction of god. It's not a life a wise man would choose. But, again, what can you do?

Formed by writer Rina Durante in 1975, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is regarded as Italy's leading and longest-standing traditional music ensemble, hailing from the Salento, the heel of the Italian boot, in Puglia. CGS is a dichotomy of tradition and modernity together; the seven-piece band and dancer are the leading exponents in a new wave of young performers re-inventing Southern Italy's Pizzica musical and dance traditions. The ancient ritual of pizzica tarantata is said to cure the taranta spider's bite and the resulting altered state of consciousness, with its frenzied trance dances. Fueled by the tamburello (a frame drum which resounds like a never-stopping beating heart), CGS shows are explosive: full of energy, passion, rhythm and mystery. They bring the audience from the past into modernity, and back. Critically acclaimed with 18 albums and countless live performances throughout USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, in 2010 CGS was awarded Best Italian World Music Group at Italy's MEI confab. They have also performed at globalFEST, SXSW, and Festival international de Jazz de Montréal.

Rimel is a regional Mexican band formed by sisters: Letty (vocals and bajo quinto), Shely (accordion), Tita (vocals and bass) and Melen (drums). Rimel's goal is to create a stronger presence and awareness of women in Norteño (also known as regional Mexican) and to expose this style of music that has traditionally been played only in the Latino community ---- all over the world. Bryant Park Picnics appreciates Hohner's generous support for the appearance of Grupo Rimel.

Host Anastasia Tsioulcas is a reporter for NPR Music. She reports on a wide range of musical genres and music-industry topics for NPR's flagship news programs, "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered," as well as for NPR Music. As a video producer, she has also created some of NPR Music's high-profile music documentaries and performances, including episodes of the popular "Tiny Desk Concert" series. She has reported from across Europe, north and west Africa, south Asia and Cuba for NPR and other outlets.

Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), a private not-for-profit company, was founded in 1980 to renovate, finance and operate Bryant Park in New York City. BPC is funded by income from events, concessions and corporate sponsors, as well as an assessment on neighboring properties, and does not accept government or philanthropic monies. In addition to providing security and sanitation services and tending the park's lush lawn and seasonal garden displays, BPC provides public amenities and activities, including movable chairs and tables, cafe umbrellas, restaurants, food kiosks, world-class restrooms, and a wide range of free events throughout the year. The Midtown Manhattan park is visited by more than six million people each year and is one of the busiest public spaces in the world. BPC's website, bryantpark.org, is available for more detailed information and a schedule of upcoming events.

Part guide, part cultural diary, Ariana's List started as a listing of free summer cultural events that take place in New York City, written and curated by Ariana Hellerman. The List has been a leading source for local cultural recommendations, so that anyone, regardless of financial standing, can participate in arts and culture. Ariana's List has evolved into a year-round consultancy, producing cultural events in public spaces in New York City and around the world. Taking into consideration local contexts of culture in order to bring relevant art to each potential audience, Ariana's List connects public space with artists, institutions, and communities. Working with a variety of partners including parks, non-profit organizations, governments, universities, and real estate companies, the guiding mission of all Ariana's List projects is to make arts more accessible to all people. For more information, visit www.arianaslist.com.