Lo Zen e l’arte dell’organetto (Zen and the Art of the Organetto?) is a new blog on diatonic accordion music written by Gianni Ventola Danese, founder of the Diatonic Accordion Academy. While it’s best enjoyed by someone who understands Italian, there are plenty of excellent photos and videos that need no translation. Fisarmonica fantastica!

Lenny Gomulka is no stranger to the Grammys, having racked up 12 nominations (but no wins) since the award’s creation in 1986. A talented multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, clarinet, and sax), Gomulka grew up playing with the biggest names in Chicago polka: Marion Lush, Li’l Wally, and Eddie Blazonczyk.

In 1980, Gomulka left Blazonczyk’s Versatones and started his own band, Chicago Push. Their style is heavily influenced by the Polish-style polka music that Gomulka grew up with, but with modern arrangements and plenty of Gomulka-penned originals. After moving to New England in 1990, Gomulka wasted no time spreading the polka gospel there; he even wrote the official Massachusetts state polka (“Say Hello To Someone In Massachusetts”).

As Sweet as Candy is a textbook example of the “Push style”: tight horns, driving rhythms, and enough bellows shaking to make you think there’s an earthquake. The album alternates between traditional waltzes and obereks (some, like “Hop Ciuk Oberek”, are sung in Polish) and lively originals like “We’re Gonna Jam” and “She’s Got Nothin’ On You.” Nick Koryluk and Matthew Rosinski handle the concertina and accordion duties admirably.

But will it be enough to give Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push their first Grammy? We’ll find out on Sunday.

Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push: Dyngus Day in Buffalo (MP3 sample)

Buy As Sweet As Candy by Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push

The Grammy Awards are Sunday, so this week we’re looking at the five nominees for “Best Polka Album.”

The first (and only) woman ever to be nominated in the polka category, LynnMarie Rink grew up in a Slovenian community in Cleveland, listening to her father play accordion at the Slovenian National Home. Now based in Nashville, LynnMarie aims to bring polkas to a new generation, playing high-energy shows that fuse traditional polka with modern rock and country rhythms. And, as her album cover shows, she’s easily the sexiest nominee in this year’s field (sorry Mr. Sturr).

Party Dress is LynnMarie’s fourth Grammy-nominated album and, like her previous efforts, it mixes originals with covers ranging from “Blue Moon” to The Who’s “Squeeze Box.” The Carol Lee Singers (of Grand Ole Opry fame) lend their voices to a cover of jazz hit “Happy Feet” and Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) guests on LynnMarie’s original “Polka Till the Cows Come Home.” Inspired by her recent, highly-successful tour of Slovenia, the album also includes three tracks influenced by the current direction of polka music in Europe (think Atomik Harmonik, but without the babes in hard-hats).

Party Dress is an incredibly fun, bouncy album that’s both a little bit Nashville and a little bit Cleveland. LynnMarie’s spunky personality shines throughout, and she’s one heck of a button-box player, too. With her energy and drive, I can’t imagine a better spokeswoman for the next generation of polka.

LynnMarie and the Boxhounds: No Beer Today (MP3 download)

Buy Party Dress by LynnMarie and the Boxhounds

Our accordion events calendar has only been live for a week and there are already more than 100 events listed. Here’s what’s happening this week:

• Mexico in Seattle (Saturday in Seattle, WA)
  Celebrate Mexican-American culture with performances by Son de Madera, Los Texmaniacs and Eva Ybarra.
• Merita Halili & The Raif Hyseni Orchestra (Friday in Lawrence, KS)
  Albanian folk queen Merita Halili is joined by her husband, Raif Hyseni, a noted composer and accordionists known for his “speed demon accordion.”
• Joe Vento Tribute Concert (Saturday in Sugar Land, TX)
  Dan and Kim Christian, Mario Pedone, and Sammy Thomas will perform at this tribute to accordionist Joe Vento, who played in The Three Suns and has numerous Hollywood credits to his name.

And there’s much more… including Julieta Venegas in Southern California, the Fishtank Ensemble in Arizona, and a conjunto/tejano accordion jam Saturday in San Jose. Check the calendar for more accordion happenings in your neighborhood.