Acclarion CD Review from The WholeNote Magazine

Acclarion Acclarion: David Carovillano, accordion; Becky Sajo, clarinet Acclarion Records ACC1000 November, 2004 Review by Colin Savage

This recording is indeed a labour of love, or more accurately a celebration of “amore”. Sajo and Carovillano are partners off stage as well as on, and their intimate musical connection is readily apparent in the performances on this disc. The reedy combination of accordion and clarinet blends beautifully in a variety of colours in repertoire ranging from Handel, Faur? and Puccini to Piazzola, Bucyznski, and three pieces by Carovillano, who also does much of the arranging himself. The playing is energetic, flexible, and polished, and Sajo?s tone and intonation in all registers is smooth and secure.
 
The program notes accurately describe this music as ?after dinner sweet treats that will tickle your ears?, and my favourite bonbons are Handel?s ?Harmonious Blacksmith? variations, a very stylish Tico,Tico, and Carovillano?s wistful Flight of Fancy. The tangos and cabaret style pieces are contrasted with meditative tone poems such as the final movement from Faur??s Requiem and Puccini?s emotional Nessun Dorma.
 
There are a couple opportunities missed: I would have loved to hear more of Sajo?s rich bass clarinet playing; there is no mention in the notes of where and when the live version of Buczynski?s Fast Fingers was recorded (a spectacular performance!); while the notes give us a good sense of the genesis of Kenortango and of Acclarion itself, there is no information on the other living composers featured (Cozens and Buczynski), and no bios of the performers themselves. These small caveats aside, this is a most enjoyable recording, and I hope to hear more from this talented duo.