Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz - Ahma

The queen of the 5-row accordion presents her third recording, AHMA, featuring the band Aldargaz: all top players from the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department in Helsinki, Finland. Haunting tunes, passionate playing, and imaginative arrangements are what is in store. Maria is firmly established as Finland's top contemporary accordionist and is recognized by many as one of the most exceptional players in the world. This is due to her astonishing technical skills, as master of the standard 5-row button accordion and free-bass 5-row button accordion, and as a sophisticated and individual composer. She creates works that are both intricate and complex yet sensitive and emotionally charged. Here she continues to be inspired by Finnish folk, jazz improvisations and the Argentinean tango. It is interesting Maria selected the tango Los Mareados composed by Juan Carlos Cobian in 1920. Cobian was also an innovator and led the way for a new style in tango emphasizing rich melodies and sophisticated arrangements.