Charles Magnante and His Orchestra Carnival In Far Away Places [1967]

Command Records RS 907 SD

Charles Magnante was one of the most important accordion players in music history. If for nothing else, he would be honored for having first started the Magnante Quartet, the world's first "serious" accordion ensemble along the lines of a chamber quartet. This extremely successful ensemble accomplished much in its career but will be remembered forever by accordion lovers simply for setting foot on-stage at Carnegie Hall. It wasn't Magnante's feet that were important, it was his accordion, as this 1939 spring event was the first time the instrument had been played on the stage of this all-important venue. Lovers of the kazoo, the psaltry, the vina, or the amplified ringer-washer can all either dote on or look forward to their instrument's Carnegie Hall debut, but for Magnante it was particularly significant. The serious classical world's prejudice against the accordion and its traditional musical backgrounds represented one of the great obstacles Magnante had to overcome during his career. Thrice elected president of the American Accordion Association, it was Magnante among others who helped change the accordion's image from a corny instrument reeking of garlic to the serious axe associated with the works of composer Astor Piazzolla, for example.

Dominic Cortese, Angelo Di Pippo, Bob Creash, Billy Costa All Accordion Band [1965]

Time Records Series 2000 S/2172

Perhaps someone at Time felt there just was not enough accordion in the preceding Dominic Cortese solo LPs. All Accordion Band features Dom Cortese joined by Billy Costa, Bob Creash, and Angelo Di Pippo. Is it truly an all-accordion band? No. There also are guitar, bass, piano, celeste, drums, and other percussion. In addition to"Sabre Dance," "Tico Tico," and other standards, Creash and Cortese contribute "Bullfrog and the Grasshopper."Di Pippo wrote "Wrong Note Polka" and "Bajon"; all these are among the more successful compositions. 

Curiously, the liners promise subsequent All Accordion Band recordings. [AllMusic]

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade Command Performances Volume 2 [1967]

Command ‎Records RS 915 SD 

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade Command Performances [1964]

Command Records RS 868 SD

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade Big Band Hits of The 30's, 40's, and 50's Volume 2 [Double LP] [1975]

Project 3 Total Sound PR2 6013/14SD

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade Big Band Hits of The 30's, 40's and 50's [Double LP] [1974]

Project 3 Total Sound PR 2-6005/6006 SD 

As its title suggests, this is an album on which Enoch Light and the Light Brigade re-create some big band hits, note for note. Whether it's Artie Shaw's "Begin the Beguine," Glenn Miller's "A String of Pearls," or Tommy Dorsey's "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," to name only the first three of the 25 tracks, Light has copied the arrangements and, to a large extent, the solos, found on the original records.

Enoch Light and The Light Brigade Big Band Fever [1982]

Seagull Records LG 8205

If what you're looking for is a collection of really well-recorded clips of a single chorus of each of 48 great big band tunes - this is for you!  As always with Enoch Light, the quality of the performances and of the recording are exceptional. Unfortunately, there's only enough to whet your appetite.