Musicians' Union Folk, Roots & Traditional Music Directory, 1999
Musicians' Union (1999);
ISBN 0 9539538 0 0; £5

Prefatory remarks to this first edition of an annual directory warn that there are surely inaccuracies and incompletions, but it seems far tighter than the Kerrville Directory in terms of not listing defunct venues, and the Kerrville book is still a desirable resource (though compiled in a less organized way). There are listings for agents and promoters, solo artists, bands, services, festivals, and venues. For those wanting to find contacts in the U.K. it should prove invaluable, but before you leap do know that the scene is not so healthy as to support many tours by unknown Americans, and particularly that there is no way to know whether the venues listed are clubs that pay guest artists or just come-all-ye singers' clubs (which predominate). The Kerrville Directory is more helpful in that regard. Certainly an excellent resource for those with U.K. contacts or even for vacation planning.
— Duck Baker (Richmond, CA)

100 Irish Tunes for Piano Accordion
by David DiGiuseppe
Mel Bay Publications 04435 (1999);
118 pages, with CD, $24.95

An early student of the accordion, David DiGiuseppe once actually abandoned the portable sideways piano for the joys of playing music of the Beatles on the guitar. But in the 1980s he rediscovered the importance of the accordion, and since then has become a recognized player for contra dances in the New England area. He has also released a CD of accordion music, Welcome to Heaven..., named after a famous cartoon.

As the title indicates, this book offers 100 tunes, many of them common session tunes. Each one is complete with left-hand notation, fingering and chords (this will help your guitarist friends to learn new chording options as they bang along beside you). Some of the tunes are transcriptions from highly touted accordion players. Examples are Jimmy Keane's version of "Hunting the Boyne," Phil Cunningham's arrangement of "The Limerick Lasses," Karen Tweed's "The Old Copper Plate," Joe Derrane's "The White Petticoat," and Jackie Daly's "The Bag of Spuds." Even if one cannot follow these along at session speed, the book provides insights into the arrangements of exceptional accordion players.

The tunes are generally uptempo – reels and jigs, for the most part. While this is not designed as an instructional book, with only about two pages devoted mostly to the left hand along with a few tips for beginners, it will be a handy resource for piano accordion players. Furthermore, it will also be useful for players of other melody instruments, since the tunes are important session fare, and the presentation is clear and well thought out (e.g., it is organized so as to avoid page turning in the middle of tunes). A CD is included with nine sets of tunes (played slightly slower than session speed, for instructional purposes).
— Ivan Emke (Corner Brook, NF, Canada)