Cafe Accordion OrchestraCafé Accordion Orchestra feels as cozy as a Parisian sidewalk cafe, with music full of French flavor, the occasional Spanish spice, plus a little swing. While others cop styles with a deadpan irony that gets old fast, it's refreshing to encounter a whimsical labor of love like this one. Led by the quietly dazzling Dan Newton, this quintet knows the value of understatement, warmth, discretion, subtlety and easy and genuine swing.
Café Accordion Orchestra (CAO) performs an eclectic mix of vintage Swing, Latin, American, and French Café Music. The band first formed in 1994 with the idea of recreating the repertoire of Bal Musette orchestras, the bands that were popular in Parisian cafés and bistros in the 1920’s through 1950’s. While this romantic music is still at the heart of CAO’s play-list, they have expanded their repertoire to include Colombian Cumbia, Tex-Mex Polka, Brazilian Forro and Chorro, and anything else that the members find appealing. Their 2006 release, CINEMA, is a testament to the group’s adventurous nature, as they cover everything from the Marx Brothers to Surf guitar, and Japanese Enka, to Henry Mancini.
Locally CAO has been primarily known as a dance band. But their high level of musicianship, expressive abandon and good-natured passion for performance makes them an entertaining concert act as well. They have presented their accessible approach to European and American music across the country and on the continent. Café Accordion appeared at the 2005 International Akkordeon Festival in Vienna, Austria, the birthplace of the accordion. They have been a repeat performer at the Midsummer Night Swing series at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York, Bastille Days in Milwaukee, and the Minnesota State Fair. The CAO style works in smaller venues as well, as they have pleased crowds in coffee shops, house concerts, and performance venues in towns like New York Mills, MN, Coon Valley, WI, and Moundridge, KS.
Café Accordion Orchestra is led by DAN NEWTON on accordion and vocals with BRIAN BARNES on guitar andvocals, ERIC MOHRING on mandolin, fiddle and vocals,ERIK LILLESTOL on bass and JOE STEINGER on percussion. They have a combined 125 years of performance experience, and a combined height of over 25 feet!
The January concert at the Cedar has become a tradition for CAO. Become a part of the tradition yourself! There will be room for dancing in the wings.
Tickets on sale now from Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Ticketweb, and Cedar outlets.
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