Bellows & Squawk

Uncle Yascha, having been deeply affected by the playing of Thelonious Monk, Jelly Roll Morton, Oscar Peterson, and Fats Waller, chose as his instrument the accordion. Why an accordion, you ask? Who can resist an instrument that goes oom-pah and comes in colors? Uncle Yascha describes his musical genre as not jazz, not popular standards, not ragtime, not Yiddish show tunes, and not tangos. He has never channeled such artists as Dave Van Ronk, Sophie Tucker, and Frank Sinatra. Despite his profound respect and reverence for song writers, he has sometimes been known to take liberties with a lyric. He also tells stories accompanied by music. Uncle Yascha's performances have been well received at nursing homes, street corners, funerals, charity benefits, the Oregon Country Fair, the Northwest Folklife Festival, Miz Kitty's Parlour, the Ridgefield Bluegrass Festival, ScratchPDX, and various farmers markets, art galleries, coffee houses, and pubs.