Bryant Park presents Accordions AROUND THE WORLD

Accordions Around the World is a four-week series that brings over 100 accordionists, as well as bandoneón, bayan, concertina, and harmonium-players of different musical genres, to perform at Bryant Park. Accordion Picnics, each Wednesday between June 28 and July 19, spotlights 24 musicians at each performance and offers audiences the chance to experience the range of this often-overlooked instrument.

Performers include father/daughter duo Lena and Charlie Giordano (who occasionally plays with Bruce Springsteen) and Rob Curto from Brazilian bluegrass band Matuto on June 28; the acclaimed Mario Tacca and Lila Downs accordionist George Saenz on July 5; Norwegian group Smörgåsbandet (the first Norwegian performers in the series' history) and former accordionist for Gogol Bordello Yuri Lemeshev on July 12; and, premiere bandoneónista Maestro Tito Castro, Gregory Grene (from the Irish band The Prodigals) and longtime accordionist for Regina Carter, Will Holshouser, on July 19.

The series culminates on Friday, July 21, with the Accordion Festival, hosted by long-time New York City-based accordionist Rachelle Garniez, whose original lyrical and melodic story-songs have been described as "romantic, rhapsodic and casually hilarious" (The New York Times). This special event features Bil Afrah Project, which celebrates the legendary Lebanese album, Bil Afrah, by Ziad Rahbani; Zlatni Balkan Zvuk, the debut project from top accordionist Peter Stan that brings Balkan wedding music to the streets of New York City; Osnelda, a group that mixes elements of frontman Felipe Hostins' Southern Brazilian upbringing with forró, the music from Northeastern Brazil; Gregorio Uribe, Colombian accordionist and big band leader; and, more to be announced.

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, my priority for Accordions Around the World is to include immigrant accordionists, giving them and their communities a space for sharing their culture."

"Each summer since 2013, Bryant Park becomes the best place in the country to see an extremely diverse, talented, and entertaining selection of accordionists from around the world," says Ethan Lercher, Executive Producer of Bryant Park Presents. "For four weeks starting June 28, curator Ariana Hellerman expertly brings together some favorite accordionists as well as several new faces to play music of even more cultures from every corner of the globe. And the Accordion Festival on July 21 promises to be one of the City's can't-miss summer music extravaganzas." Accordion Picnics Wednesdays from June 28 to July 19, 6pm - 8pm
Wednesday, June 28, 6pm - 8pm

Lena and Charlie Giordano (Palmer Hughes Favorites), Suzanne Davenport (French Musette), Julie Winterbottom (Cajun Music from Louisiana), Toni Field (English, Irish, French), Laura Vilche (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Patty Furlong (Traditional Irish), Madeline Solomon (Children's Songs), Mikhail Smirnov (Garmoshka: Russian Folk), John Sherman (Cajun, Appalachian + Blues), Matt Dallow (Rock + Blues), Felipe Hostins (Northeast Brazilian), Ivan Filipchyk (Bayan: 17th Century Baroque + Original Compositions), The Wisterians (French Bal Musette + Jazz Manouche), Jody Kruskal (Concertina: Old Americana), Ismail Butera (Ancient Mediterranean), Rob Curto (Brazilian Bluegrass), Harold Rodriguez (Colombian Vallenato), Christy Mc Namara (Concertina: Irish Traditional), Alan Morrow (Waltzes, Tango + Blues), Gregorio Uribe (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Mindra Sahadeo (Harmonium: South Asian), Earl Accordionist, (Polka, French + Tango), Adam Matlock, (Klezmer + Romanian Folk), and Guillermo Vaisman (Coastal Argentine Chamamé)

Wednesday, July 5, 6pm - 8pm Melissa Elledge (Pop + Rock), Jeanne Velonis (Music of New York Composers) Christina Crowder (Moldavian Klezmer), Shoko Nagai (Japanese + Jewish), Suzanne Davenport (French Musette), Michael Spudic (French Musette, Klezmer + Tango), Sam Reider (American Roots), Eduardo de Carvalho (Brazilian Forró), Foncho Castellar (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), George Saenz (Tex-Mex), Laren Droll (Cajun + Zydeco), Mario Tacca (French Musette + Waltz), Charley Layton (Vaudeville, Bal-Musette + Ragtime), Dan Gurney (Irish Traditional), Vitor Goncalves (Brazilian Choro + Forró), Sadys Rodrigo Espitia (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Jody Kruskal (Concertina: Old Americana), Kenny Margolis (Zydeco + Blues), JorDan Shapiro (Cajun, British + Balkan), Bob Goldberg (American Roots + Post-Modern), Michal Salak (Northeastern Slovakian), Ben Rosenblum (Jazz + Klezmer), Javier Sánchez (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), and Michael Parziale (Pop)
Wednesday, July 12, 6pm - 8pm Laura Vilche (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Christina Crowder (Moldavian Klezmer), Melissa Elledge (Pop + Rock), Erica Mancini (Jazz, Blues + Country), Smörgåsbandet (Music from Scandinavia), Maestro Tito Castro (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Earl Accordionist (Polka, French + Tango), Rob the Accordion Man (Doo Wop + Classic Rock), Alan Morrow (Waltzes, Tango + Blues), Mindra Sahadeo (Harmonium: South Asian), Sadys Rodrigo Espitia (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Josh Cho (Italian-American Standards), Albert Behar (Gypsy Jazz + Waltz Musette), Evan Perry-Giblin (Music Without Borders), Vitor Goncalves (Brazilian Choro + Forró), Dick LaVine (Concertina: The Great American Songbook), Felipe Hostins (Northeast Brazilian), Gregory Grene (Irish Rock), Mario Tacca (French Musette + Waltz), Kenny Margolis (Zydeco + Blues), Yuri Lemeshev (World, Classical + Jazz), Phil Passantino (Cajun + Zydeco), Simon Moushabeck (Arabic Folk Music), and Gennady Gutkin (Bayan: Jewish and Russian)

Wednesday, July 19, 6pm - 8pm Simone Baron (Original global chamber jazz), Erica Mancini (Jazz, Blues + Country), Shoko Nagai (Japanese + Jewish), Patty Furlong (Traditional Irish), Jeanne Velonis (English Folk Dance), Phil Passantino (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Dmitry Sokolovsky (Retro, Samba, Musette + Jazz), Yuri Lemeshev (World, Classical + Jazz), David Hodges (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Gregory Grene (Irish Rock), Papa Joe De Clemente (Italian + American Standards), Foncho Castellar (Colombian Cumbia + Vallenato), Maestro Tito Castro (Bandoneón: Argentine Tango), Eduardo de Carvalho (Brazilian Forró), John Sherman (Cajun, Appalachian + Blues), Ismail Butera (Ancient Mediterranean), Albert Behar (Gypsy Jazz + Waltz Musette), Nathan Rivera (Gypsy Blues), Art Now (Blues, Pop + Standards), Ed Goldberg & the Odessa Klezmer Band (Eastern European Klezmer), Burlap Don Simons (American Swing), Will Comer (Great American Songbook), Will Holshouser (Jazz + Folk) and Niall O'Leary (Irish Traditional)

Accordion Festival
Friday, July 21, 5pm - 10pm Hosted by Rachelle Garniez Featuring Bil Afrah Project, Zlatni Balkan Zvuk, Osnelda, Gregorio Uribe, and more TBA

Musician, songwriter, singer and native Manhattanite Rachelle Garniez is known as a "Diva with a Difference" (Billboard) and a "certified free spirit" (The New Yorker). She first picked up an accordion in the early 1980s, during the era of the Downtown club and performance art scene. Garniez has released six albums of original songs, composed the music for Taylor Mac's Obie Award winning piece, The Lily's Revenge, and was musical director and performer of the neo-cabaret troupe The Citizens Band, performed with choreographer Keely Garfield.

Bil Afrah Project is a diverse group of New York City musicians joined in celebrating one of Lebanon's most legendary albums: Ziad Rahbani's Bil Afrah. An instrumental song suite recorded by Rahbani's ensemble in 1975, Bil Afrah features some of the Arab world's most beloved standards, as well as the dazzling taqasim (improvisations) for which the Arabic tradition is so well-known. Renowned in the Arab world, the album is a favorite of aficionados and an inspiration to musicians, and its songs are performed often; but, rarely, if ever, has the Bil Afrah suite been performed in its totality, live and in sequence.

Zlatni Balkan Zvuk evokes colorful images of a Roma wedding dance party. Meaning "Golden Balkan Sounds" in the Serbian language, Zlatni Balkan Zvuk is the debut project of heralded accordionist, Peter Stan. Stan brings us to his native Banat (a region on the border of Serbia and Romania) to share the traditional, highly-energetic music from his native land, played alongside Stan's actual and chosen family in the Balkan community in New York and abroad. Stan is known for his playfulness and innovation as the long-time accordionist for the fiery Balkan brass-funk outfit Slavic Soul Party!, as well as one half of the duo with acclaimed vocalist, Eva Salina.

Osnelda is a Brazilian Forró group created by Brazilian Accordionist Felipe Hostins (Lorenzo Jovanotti, Cyro Baptista, +.) Osnelda is Hostins' grandmother and he mixes elements of home (the music from his South Brazilian upbringing) with Forró, the Northeastern music from Brazil. Hostins has played the music of Luiz Gonzaga, Dominguinhos, Mestre Ambrosio, Jackson do Pandeiro, Joao do Vale, Marines, Flavio Jose, Elba Ramalho, Fagner and others, all around the U.S.

An established singer, songwriter, accordionist and big band leader, Gregorio Uribe was born in Bogotá, Colombia and is currently based in New York City. Uribe has made a name for himself in the Latin music scene of both New York City and Boston. Well known for leading the Gregorio Uribe Big Band, a 16-piece orchestra that blends cumbia and other Colombian rhythms with powerful big band arranging, Uribe released the debut album Cumbia Universal (Zoho Music) featuring 8-time Grammy-winner and Latin music icon Rubén Blades in 2015. Uribe has been a guest artist with Carlos Vives (multiple Grammy winner) on several occasions, most recently at Madison Square Garden Theater.
* Artist lineup subject to change.

About Bryant Park Corporation
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.
About Ariana's List

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.