A lot of people have done great avant garde things with accordion music and a lot have done work to raise the profile of the accordion. Erica Mancini is at the forefront in both of these endeavors.
We first met Erica in 2020 when she performed for our virtual world tour. Because no one could go to an auditorium to listen to great music at the time, we went into people’s homes in nine different countries and listened to them play. During those two virtual concerts we had waves of messages from people excited by this young woman from New York City with her versatility and her mastery of the accordion.
Many accordionists are comfortable playing the polka at an Octoberfest. Yet, how many also take the time to video a performance in the forest with a harpist and a violinist; or play hard rock at a bar called Snacky; or play jazz in one NYC club and the next weekend play country songs at a club in Chinatown? On top of all that she is an aerialist who can play the accordion while doing acrobatic moves 20 feet up in the air?
Yet, there is one role that she has taken on that is a head above the others, and that is being the accordionist for Gogol Bordello. Erica, by traveling the world playing with Gogol, has raised the profile of the accordion to new heights. Watching her running out to the edge of the stage tongue playing the accordion with 20,000 fans screaming and dancing is a stunning site. Dick Contino, who would sell out the Hollywood Bowl with an audience full of screaming bobby-soxers, would be proud.
The fact that she can shift gears, go back to a NYC club, and make people feel like they are in a Parisian Cafe is testimony to her versatility and talent. Right now her schedule looks like it allows a trip to California in August, but I am sure Gogol’s management is doing all they can to book one more weekend before they leave on their tour in September.I am keeping my fingers crossed.
