Veikko Ahvenainen plays Beautiful Days Waltz, Pietro Deiro, 1994

Veikko Ahvenainen is a great performer from Finland. He plays everything from Bach to folk to rock and originals from Deiro, Frosini and his own fine compositons. Here I caught him in U.S.A. in 1994 playing his Giuliette chromatic accordion which he likes to use for the lighter style of music.

[@garrettgustkey6750]

this music soothes me and make me just jump from emotion to
emotion.
I love accordion

[@rkberta]

I first met Veikko around this same time (1994) if not earlier when he made a few trips to California to play for the San Francisco Accordion Club that I was a member of the board. His playing on his Russian Bayan (not the Giuliette seen here) was very polished. I particulary enjoyed his own compositions and have them still on some tapes I bought at the time. He was about 65 at the time so wondering if he is still alive today. His Russian bayan was perhaps the best sounding one I ever heard. It was the last one made before the maker died...that man was legendary for his creations.
One of my more interesting stories is when I played right before him in a concert. At the time I hadn't heard him before and I was very impressed...but it was a little unnerving to "open" for him ;-)

[@danfrezza]

Great!

[@susanmarshall3555]

+Robert Berta Thank you for sharing your memories and information .. I appreciate this video more because of information you shared. Have a wonderful Christmas holidays.

[@harmonikkasoi2539]

Veikko is still going on having concerts! In his own words: "Oh I have just turned age 45 second time."

[@RobertKarlBerta]

@@harmonikkasoi2539 Wonderful that he is still going strong at 90 years young! I have great memories of hearing and visiting with him. I like his arrangements which are excellent. Also his own compositions were neat....especially the ones that were more of tone poems really stood out as exploring all the capabilities of an accordion. He was also one of the few who uses bellows shakes artistically rather than as a novelty. Thanks for the update and answer to my query of whether he is still here. If you or any others here happen to see him please pass on my congratulations from a fan who was there in San Francisco. By the way....he and another member of our club in San Francisco, John Molinari Sr., sadly now departed, traveled together and gave concerts years ago.

[@GennaroRuffolo]

beautiful performance !!!!

[@AccordionLadyMi]

Beautiful melody. Very well played. Fran

[@mmcrosbie]

I saw Veikko in Sointula, British Columbia in the early 1970s. What fun!

[@kalevimarkkanen4732]

Veikko konsertoi tänäkin vuonna täällä Suomessa!! Kyvyt on tallella!! Terveisiä Sointulaan Suomen Pertunmaalta!!

[@ybrjkfq31]

Великолепный вальс!

[@Romanromanprivatarcordekot]

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo.

[@46olli]

Valitettavasti Veikko ei ollut parhaimmillaan!

[@eerik129]

Veikko is good,but listen lasse pihlajamaa! he is king of finnish accordion music!!

[@eugensalaleigum6125]

King is Esko Könönen...