The accordion is connected to three rhythm orchestrators: the Roland BK-7M Backing Module, the Ketron X4 Orchestra/Rhythm Module, and the Orla 600 XM. All three arrangers contain a wide range of professional-sounding rhythms and hundreds of great (highest-quality) instrumental sounds. I also use the Ketron SD4 (the latest top-of-the-line digital instrumental sounds) with the orchestrators. The Trumpet sounds are so real you would swear Bobby Hackett or Harry James was playing live. These modules allow me to play three instruments simultaneously with the bass patterns, background chorus, background strings, and percussion. Playing my buttons (chords on my left hand) triggers a bass pattern, background strings, horns, chorus, bass, and percussion sounds (drums). I use my right hand to play the melody on the piano keys. When playing with my right hand, I can sound like many professional, realistic-sounding instruments, including organs, pianos, electric pianos, saxophones, flutes, vibes, clarinets, trumpets, strings, marimbas, guitars, mandolins, harmonicas, trombones, violins, cellos, basses, accordions, and many more. Each sound module is connected to a separate foot pedal. This allows me to be able to play two main lead instruments simultaneously, such as vibes and accordion, accordion and organ, accordion and trumpet, etc.

The Modern Accordion was hand-made by Borsini Accordions in Italy. It was designed by the great jazz master accordionist Tony Dannon. Tony was half-owner of the greatest accordion studio in the United States, which produced more U.S. and international classical accordion champions than any other accordion studio. At its peak, Modern Accordion Studio had more than 1,000 students.

                 

The accordion has 44 treble keys and a 21 3/4" extended keyboard (22 3/4" including celluloid board). A regular full-size accordion has a 19 1/4" keyboard. The Borsini has fantastic handmade BINCI professional reeds, four treble sets of reeds (LM1M2H), concert tuned with just a hint of swing and five sets of bass reeds. The Tone Modulator creates a beautiful, unmatched sound. The keys are American walnut with Lucite keytops. The keyboard has a light touch, excellent keyboard action, and 26 treble switches in two groups of 13 in reversed order for easy access from any part of the keyboard: bassoon, accordion, bandoneon, harmonium, organ, master, musette, violin, oboe, clarinet, and piccolo. The accordion has a Palm Master switch with separate switches to open and close the modulator. It also has 120 basses and chords, a noise-free bass machine, seven bass switches, large volume, airtight, clean bellows with a mahogany frame. It has separate treble and bass mic controls and a 1/4-inch pickup with top-of-the-line Sennheiser microphones. The accordion has comfortable Italian shoulder straps in excellent condition (3-1/2") with a new bellows protector. The switches are mounted over the tone modulator without compromising its integrity. The robust and vibrant sound simulates the finest double-tone chambers when you close the tone modulator. The aged mahogany body and the excellent handmade reeds reward the performer and the audience with instant response and a deep, rich tone. The weight of the accordion is 30 lbs. The accordion comes with a special Italian-made accordion case. Musictech MIDI and the top-of-the-line Sennheiser microphones are installed. The installed MIDI lets me sound like a five-piece band or even a full orchestra. The accordion has a special, extra large, Italian leather hard carrying case.

I recorded 952 songs (61 CDs) at my home music studio using an 8-channel digital recorder (Tascam Digital Porta-Studio DP-01FX/CD). The different instrumental sounds were created by playing the accordion as a MIDI keyboard workstation (synthesizer). All of the songs on my CDs were played, arranged, and recorded by me in stereo.

Working with John Castiglione of Castiglione Accordion Distribution Company

I started working with John in 1997 when I bought my Modern (Borsini) Jazz 44 Key accordion from John "Giovanni" Castiglione. I found out he was interested in having a website made for his huge accordion store in Sterling Heights, which is close to Detroit, Michigan. As the webmaster, I grew his accordion website to over 50 pages and placed hundreds of pictures of the different accordions he sold on his website. He had one of the largest distribution centers of new and used accordions in the United States. I also helped demonstrate to his customers how to set up a MIDI with their accordions. Setting up a MIDI and learning how to use an orchestra/rhythm module was very complex. Whether they needed help with any Ketron module, an Orla module, or the Roland BK7-M module, I volunteered to assist them at his store or my house. Unfortunately, John passed away on May 26, 2020.