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Some of the Italian songs you may hear:
That's Amore,
Arrivederci Roma,
Funiculi Funicula,
Come Back to Sorrento,
Godfather Theme,
Volare,
Aneme E Core,
Santa Lucia,
Tarantella,
Sicilian Tarantella,
Ah Mari,
Carnival of Venice,
Cosi Cosa,
Summertime in Venice,
O Sole Mio and more.
Some of the timeless Frank Sinatra chestnuts sung by Murl:
New York New York,
Fly Me To The Moon,
I've Got You Under My Skin,
I Get A Kick Out of You,
Way You Look Tonight,
Beyond the Sea,
Strangers in the Night,
They Can't Take That Away From Me,
Cheek to Cheek,
Mack the Knife and more.
"This is music that will make you unwind and smile!"
-Melinda Bargreen, The Seattle Times
Murl's unique, readily indentifiable style on accordion sets him apart from all other modern players. "My earliest accordion influence was Stan Boreson, a local children's television personality, accordionist and comedian in the late 50's and early 60's still working in Seattle who inspired hundreds of kids to play accordion. Aside from my first basics instructor, Leo Furman, I had only one truly influential accordion teacher, Doug Middendorf in Seattle. However, my musical education has included (and still includes) many wonderful and inspirational teachers: John Wittwer, Jerome Gray, George Peckham, Terry Moore, Dave Peck and Barbara Lundquist most noteably."
"My other important early influences were Brazilian accordionist, Sivuca, jazz accordionists Art Van Damme, Leon Sash and Tommy Gumina. Many of my musical influences are not accordionists, most notably pianists Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, organists Billy Preston, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Mcgriff, Richard "Groove" Holmes and Jack McDuff, saxophonists John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and many others, guitarists B.B. King, Freddy King, and Eric Clapton. The list goes on... Other important accordion influences through the years are Astor Piazzola, the Argentine bandoneon player, Ken Olendorf, a local jazz player, zydeco/cajun players like Clifton Chenier and Bruce Daigrepont, celtic and European players like Maria Kaliniemi, Joe Derrane, Ivo Papasov's band, Phil Cunningham, various Brazilian and African accordionists, Los Lobos, Flaco Jiminez and Klezmer music all have played a role in expanding my accordion consciousness and style. I definitely have eclectic tastes and it has allowed me to play in many different situations."
![[Murl Allen Sanders]](murlallensanders4.jpg)
Murl's versatility has led him to be in demand as a freelance artist for Muzak, TV and radio commercials as well as many CD projects in the Pacific Northwest. He also leads his own band, does solo work, composes, teaches and arranges music. He has worked with such diverse national artists as Chuck Berry, Etta James, Leslie Gore, Peter Duchin, Theodore Bikel and a host of regional luminaries including Michael Tomlinson, Papaya, Kelly Harland, Nadine Shanti, Michael Powers, Jim Valley, Susan Pascal, Danny Deardorff, Tickle Tune Typhoon, Magical Strings, Renee Redeker and Leon Lishner among others.
"Murl Allen Sanders' trio dazzled the audience with his unique accordion style and energy..."
-Doris Osgood, Northwest Accordion News
"Sunday's delight was the unique accordion and keyboards of Murl Allen Sanders..."
- Sandy Burlingame, Earshot Jazz
"His jazz accordion is outstanding and his piano chops very accurate, warm... At the same time he is a fine
composer and jazz stylist..."
- Chris Lunn, Victory Review
Listen to an MP3 sample of Italian accordion music:
![[Murl Allen Sanders]](murlallensanders3.jpg)
![[Murl Allen Sanders]](murlallensanders1.jpg)
