Samurai Accordion emerged as a project following Trans-Europe Diatonique, although with a renewed and fresh line-up. The group brings together Riccardo Tesi, Kepa Junkera, Irish musician David Munnelly, Finnish accordionist Markku Lepistö —professor at the Sibelius Academy and regular member of the vocal group Värttinä— and Simone Bottasso, an Italian musician based in Rotterdam, replacing previous members. All of them are leading figures within the world of the diatonic accordion.

Each musician contributes two original compositions, bringing diversity and personality to the album. Kepa presents “Gernika”, previously performed on Maletak (2016), and “Lisbao”, known from Ultramarinos y coloniales (2011). The recording took place at Garate Studios in Andoain with Mikel F. Krutzaga and Kaki Arkarazo as producers and sound engineers, while the final mixing was completed at Oliene, Kepa’s studio in Busturia. “Gernika” stands out for its complexity, combining trikitixa, percussion, the voices of Sorginak and the characteristic irrintzis, and was accompanied by a videoclip filmed among the kupelas of the Saizar cider house in Usurbil.

The album was conceived as a “high-end modular concept” in which the five musicians listen to one another, synchronise and allow the music to flow naturally. The title Te, meaning “hand” in Japanese, reflects both the group’s name and its approach: a dialogue between hands, bellows and cultures. The pieces move between folk, jazz, contemporary music and atmospheres reminiscent of film soundtracks, creating a highly varied sonic mosaic.

Riccardo Tesi contributes the energetic “Sushi time” and “Tarantella rouge et noir”, while Markku Lepistö signs “January sun” and the intricate reel “Kuru”, echoing the sound of La Bottine Souriante. Simone Bottasso presents the cinematic “Il sogno de Fellini” and the innovative “Getting lost in Baghdad”. David Munnelly, with experience in The Chieftains, De Dannan and The Pogues, performs “Herfst” and the serene “New year’s end”, balancing tradition and freshness.

The name of the collective makes reference to Akira Kurosawa’s film Seven Samurai (1954), in which a group of warriors protect villagers. In a parallel way, these five accordionists defend the vitality of the diatonic accordion, showing that the trikitixa, the organetto and the kolmerivinen haitari can engage in dialogue with multiple traditions and styles, offering music that is timeless, creative and strikingly contemporary.

Record label: Visage Music. Production: Kepa Junkera and Samurai Accordion.