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Victor Prieto

Victor Prieto is a native of Galicia, Spain born in the town of Orense in 1975. At the age of nine Victor was encouraged by his mother to study the accordion-an instrument deeply ingrained in Galician folklore. While studying classical accordion at the Orense Conservatory Victor understood the immense musical potential of his instrument and branched out from the classical education by concurrently taking harmony, arrangement and improvisation classes at Estudio Escola de Musica (Santiago de Compostela, Spain). In 1998 Victor received a scholarship from Berklee College of Music where he majored in performance under the direction of Joanne Brackeen. Berklee, where Victor was the only one to date to specialize in accordion, did not offer any classes focusing on accordion. Uninhibited by these circumstances Victor created his own study program applying the expertise offered by educators at Berklee to the accordion.

Today Victor Prieto is revolutionizing the way that the accordion is played by creating new sounds and techniques for this instrument. His music embraces Jazz, Tango, Classical and Celtic Roots enriched with new rhythms and colors. He is the creator of a new technique for the accordion called “chord approach on both hands”, which creates rich and elaborate harmonies.

In 2002 Victor moved to New York where he quickly established himself as one of the most prolific and versatile accordionists on the music and Jazz scenes. As a leader Victor has performed at many prestigious venues and events such as Berklee Performance Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note NY, New Jersey Performance Art Center, Three Rivers Musical Festival, Williamsburg Jazz Festival, Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

Victor has performed and recorded with Yo-Yo Ma (Songs of Joe and Peace, Sony BMG Masterworks. “2010 Grammy Winning Album”), Jeff Ballard, Chris Cheek, Paquito D’Rivera, Matt Wilson, Donny McCaslin, Lionel Louke among others and is involved in projects such as Pablo Aslan’s Avantango, Emilio Solla’s NY Jazz Tango Project, Tessa Souter and Beat Kaestli.

He teaches Master Classes in Spain, Italy, Portugal, USA and has headed the jazz accordion studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory (2003 �” 2004). He is a recipient of numerous awards and prizes for excellence in accordion performance and composition, among them are: the Creative Performer award from the Spanish Association of Artists and Performers, and the first prize at CMZK’s Concourse of Composition (Argentina).

Victor now lives in New York City dividing his time between performing, teaching and recording. He has recently introduced his third recording, “Chris Cheek and V. Prieto. Rollo-Coaster.”, Cheekus Music.

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2
Album Review

Victor Prieto: The Three Voices

Read "The Three Voices" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


On the cover of his CD The Three Voices, Victor Prieto looks as if he's going to do something crazy with his accordions. He is a giant behind the big city skyline, towering over tall buildings. It's sort of like a “Godzilla of the squeeze boxes" scene. But the accordionist doesn't look like he's bent on Godzillian destruction; he, in fact, looks as if his intention is the spreading of musical joy. Prieto is New York City-based now--he ...

248
Album Review

Chris Cheek / Victor Prieto: Rollo Coaster

Read "Rollo Coaster" reviewed by Martin Gladu


Chances are you have never heard the accordion played the way Victor Prieto plays it. Indeed, much like Toots Thielemans established the harmonica in the jazz lore huffing and puffing bop lines through his teeth, Prieto breaks the glass ceiling hovering above the crown of Cyrillus Demian's patented invention, squeezing improvised airs with a technical assurance that deserves more widespread recognition.Long known for catapulting the French valse musette, the Bohemian polka, the French-Canadian reels, and the festive music ...

187
Album Review

Victor Prieto: Persistencia

Read "Persistencia" reviewed by Marcia Hillman


On Victor Prieto's debut recording, the accomplished Spanish accordionist has chosen to approach his instrument in a new way. Aided by bassist Carlo DeRosa and drummer Allison Miller, Prieto included Egberto Gismonti's “Frevo, John Coltrane's “26-2 and Astor Piazzolla's “Libertango in a program with six original compositions. Starting with “Frevo, Prieto immediately dazzles with his fast fingering, switching from single notes to chords in rapid fashion. The group is equally at home playing the up-tempo material (like ...

263
Album Review

Victor Prieto: Persistencia

Read "Persistencia" reviewed by Tom Greenland


Originally from Orense, Spain, accordionist Victor Prieto brings old-world charm and a new-fangled approach to jazz. Prieto's debut CD release, Persistencia, featuring Carlo DeRosa on acoustic bass and Allison Miller on trap drums, showcases the leader's unique approach to harmony, melody, and tone, effectively translating the accordionist's unique jazz sensibility via an unusual instrumental vehicle.

The accordion's distinctive timbre often conjures up associations with Polish polka, German folk lieder, Viennese waltzes, French musette & cabaret chansons, North American Tex-Mex, Louisiana ...

359
Album Review

Victor Prieto: Persistencia

Read "Persistencia" reviewed by William Grim


Spanish-born jazz accordionist Victor Prieto is the most exciting such player to come on the scene since Eddie Monteiro. Melding Argentine and Brazilian influences with a bop sensibility, Prieto gives the lie to all of the nasty things that have been said over the years about the much-maligned squeezebox.

Backed by Rachel Z drummer Allison Miller and the extraordinarily gifted bassist Carlo DeRosa, Prieto presents a varied and virtuosic set of performances on Persistencia. The variety of tunes ...

258
Album Review

Victor Prieto: Persistencia

Read "Persistencia" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Trios are sensitive things. They take a jump in the complexity from duos, yet can't be split into rhythm and lead instruments like quartets. To create a cohesive sound, all the members of the trio must be listening carefully to the overall balance. Each can essentially be a soloist at a different level. The trio that accordionist Victor Prieto leads on Persistencia is very finely tuned and highly responsive. Prieto plays accordion the way Toots Thielmans plays ...

130
Album Review

Victor Prieto: Persistencia

Read "Persistencia" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The accordion seems to be gaining favor in the jazz world--just think of Gary Versace's beautiful playing on the title cut of Maria Schneider's masterpiece, Concert in the Garden, in an orchestral setting. Victor Prieto goes with a pared-down approach on Persistencia, placing the squeezebox out in front of bass (Carlo DeRosa) and drums (Allison Miller).Originally from Galicia, Spain, the New York-based Prieto offers up his own personal vision of accordion playing with Persistencia. It's a sweet sound, ...

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89

Radio

The Jazz Session #270: Victor Prieto

The Jazz Session #270: Victor Prieto

Source: AAJ Staff


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Performance / Tour

Vocalist Beat Kaestli @ Blue Note, NYC December 13th, Feat. Aria Hendricks and Victor Prieto

Vocalist Beat Kaestli @ Blue Note, NYC December 13th, Feat. Aria Hendricks and Victor Prieto

Source: Michael Ricci

Vocalist & Bandleader Beat Kaestli will be performing with his group at The Blue Note in New York City on December13th, 2009 in celebration of his newest release “Far From Home - A Tribute to European Song" - Brunch sets at 12:30 PM & 2:30 PM.

“Soulful, sensitive singing. I am impressed by Beat Kaestli's CD and I look forward to hearing more!" -Legendary Vocalist Jon Hendricks

Beat Kaestli, voice Aria Hendricks, voice Victor Prieto, accordion ...

128

Performance / Tour

Beat Kaestli Quartet @ The Kitano Hotel, Thursday March 20th, Featuring Victor Prieto

Beat Kaestli Quartet @ The Kitano Hotel, Thursday March 20th, Featuring Victor Prieto

Source: All About Jazz

BEATKAESTLI QUARTET at The Kitano Hotel featuring Victor Prieto Thursday, March 20th 2008, 8:00 and 9:45 PM 66 Park Avenue (at 38th street) New York, NY 10016 , 212-885-7000 No Cover/ $15 minimum Transportation: Subway to Grand Central Station/ 42nd street Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wong - bass Fred ...

137

Performance / Tour

Victor Prieto Trio at Smalls in NYC on January 23rd, 2008

Victor Prieto Trio at Smalls in NYC on January 23rd, 2008

Source: Two for the Show Media

Victor Prieto Trio will be performing at Smalls in NYC Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008- 9:30 PM & 11:00 PM The Victor Prieto Trio Victor Prieto-Accordion Carlo DeRosa- Bass Ted Poor-Drums “Prieto plays accordion the way Toots Thielmans plays harmonica or Dino Saluzzi plays bandoneon. He transcends the instrument and just plays music. The key features of Prieto's music are lyricism and drama. He writes fine, memorable melodies, then works with the band to create ...

156

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Featuring Victor Prieto (accordion) and Magos Herrera (vocals) Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:00 and 9:30 PM 88 Seventh Avenue South 212-255-3626 Cover: $15 ($10 Minimum) Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Magos Herrera - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wang - bass Fred Kennedy - drums After returning from his fourth European tour, a tour in Canada ...

181

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Vocalist Beat Kaestli at Sweet Rhythm: Tues, December 18th, with Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

BEAT KAESTLI QUARTET at Sweet Rhythm featuring Victor Prieto (accordion) and Magos Herrera (vocals) Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:00 and 9:30 PM 88 Seventh Avenue South 212-255-3626 Cover: $15 ($10 Minimum) Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Magos Herrera - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wang - bass Fred Kennedy - drums After returning from ...

183

Performance / Tour

Beat Kaestli Quartet at Sweet Rhythm, December 18th - Feat. Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Beat Kaestli Quartet at Sweet Rhythm, December 18th - Feat. Victor Prieto and Magos Herrera

Source: All About Jazz

BEATKAESTLI QUARTET at Sweet Rhythm featuring Victor Prieto (accordion) and Magos Herrera (voice) Tuesday, December 18th 2007, 8:00 and 9:30 PM 88 Seventh Avenue South 212-255-3626 Cover: $15 ($10 Minimum) Transportation: 1/9 to Christopher street/Sheridan Sq

Line up: Beat Kaestli - voice Magos Herrera - voice Victor Prieto - accordion Jamie Reynolds - piano Gary Wang - bass ...

86

Performance / Tour

Tony Malaby Tuba Trio (Fri) Ryan Scott And Sean Wood (Sat) Victor Prieto Trio (Sun) Amram & Co (Mon) At Cornelia Street Cafe

Tony Malaby Tuba Trio (Fri) Ryan Scott And Sean Wood (Sat) Victor Prieto Trio (Sun) Amram & Co (Mon)  At Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street, NYC, New York212-989-9319 http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St. This Weekend At Cornelia Street Cafe Sat Dec 02 9:00PM & 10:30PM - RYAN SCOTT AND SEAN WOOD (Ryan Scott, Vocals and Guitar;Christopher Hoffman, Cello;Matt Klimer, Percussion;Sean Wood, Vocals, Guitar and Piano;Patrick Hay, Guitar;Dave ...

Primary Instrument

Accordion

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Three Voices

Self Produced
2016

buy

Rollo Coaster

Cheekus Music
2010

buy

Persistencia

Foxhaven Records
2006

buy

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