Paul Betken - Paul's Turn - Jazz Accordion

This CD was over 2 years in the making. Featured on the recording is Paul Betken on a Classic 127 Guilietti acoustic accordion and on a Roland FR7X digital accordion along with three other fine musicians in accompaniment. Paul is a widely-known jazz accordionist. Originally from Chicago, and now residing in Phoenix, besides his regular musical dates, he is a favorite at many national festivals and accordion events which has enabled him to achieve national recognition. Accompanying Paul are his friends and outstanding musicians as follows: Sean Brogan is a first-call acoustic bass player from Phoenix and a graduate from the Herberger School of Music at ASU. As a Performance Major Sean's education focused heavily on Theory, Performance, Ear Training, Arranging, Composition, and Improvisation. Being well versed in many musical styles has led Sean to work alongside other great artists like the great jazz accordionist Frank Morocco. He appeared with Frank on numerous occasions at the Mesa Accordion Event in Mesa, Arizona. Stan Sorenson is a professional guitarist and a native of Phoenix, Arizona and the busiest guitarist in the Phoenix Metro. Stan has performed locally and internationally, working with such greats as Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Smith, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Jeffrey Osborne, The Fifth Dimension and many others. Rusty Jones is a world-class drummer/ percussionist originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and residing for many years in Chicago. He is from a very musical family-his Uncle, Isham Jones wrote "It Had to be You" and I'll See You in my Dreams." As a member of the George Shearing trio, he toured Europe and the US (72' to 78'). Afterward, he toured for several years with Marian McPartland and Stephane Grapelli. In addition, Rusty has performed with Buddy DeFranco, Art Van Damme, Anita O'Day, Lee Konitz, Flip Phillips, Kai Winding, and a host of other great musicians too numerous to mention. The songs on this album stretch many genres. One of the goals of this CD was to showcase the accordion on more contemporary songs which are seldom thought of as instrumental material for the accordionist. For this CD, Paul has arranged some extraordinary favorites like "Hey Jude" (the Beatles); "Sweet Caroline" (Neil Diamond) and "Good Bye Yellow Brick Road" (Elton John). However, there are some additional favorites such as "Oblivion" (Astor Piazzola) and "If I Only Had a Brain" (Harold Arlen) among others. The contemporary songs are presented in a fashion which strives to maintain the beauty of the acoustic accordion.