This instrument is mainly aimed at jazzmen, who wish to play real jazz left hand chords. Exit the “almost” major or “almost” minor 7 chords, the accordionist stops playing “2 chords to make a similar chord”... With Gadji, you can accompany, improvise with real major 7, minor 7 and ninth chords. You can make successions of chords with a jazz sound, much more freely, while enriching it with the right hand. It allows a logical behaviour in the chord progression and to free one’s mind in order to achieve a much more marked rhythm. (such as the Bossa Nova guitarists of Brazilian music for example).
The left hand of Gadji inaugurates a new type of complementarity of the two hands, solo or with a music group, for bossa nova, bebop, swing and every possible variety of jazz. It offers an additional opening onto the technique, richness and complexity of the practice of jazz.

Left hand system explained by Marcel :
On a standard accordion, in order to obtain a major 7 and minor 7chord, we always have to press simultaneously two chords at the same time, which is not always comfortable to play a jazz standard.
For example: for a chord of G major 7 on a standard accordion, we have to press G major and then D major simultaneously, which gives a kind of G major 7, but in fact this is not really a major 7 because as these are ready-made chords composed of three keys, pressing both simultaneously gives six keys.
Here is the description, G major: G, B, D, and as regards the second chord, D major: F sharp, A, and D, (the A is too much and the D is repeated twice).
While with the Gadji Accordion, pressing simultaneously one chord and the fundamental note (Bass) gives a true major 7 chord! Which is much neater in terms of “VoicesSings”.
This is exactly the same for minor 7 chords which are on the second row of chords (located where minors are on a standard accordion)

9 et 13 chords (without the fifth) are located where Seventh chords are on a standard accordion.

Download table (PDF version - DOC version)

As for Stephanie Simon’s finishing touches in order to provide the accordion with a warm powerful sound, and the kind of chord you want (Marcel’s Gadji is tuned for swing music), the Gadji keeps her secret!

For further information : nouvelaccord@wanadoo.fr or +33.(0)2 48 96 60 22

Why this left hand system, Marcel ?
After years playing on standard accordions, my conclusion is : to properly play jazz as it is, I believe that the left hand of a standard accordion is much too limited in terms of chords. Therefore, I wanted a different instrument with much richer chords for the left hand, like on a piano. With chords appropriate to jazz, this leaves me freedom for a much more intense rhythmic; I therefore turned to a professional craftswoman to achieve this dream.

Small personal words :

Stéphanie : “I would like to thank Marcel to have given me the opportunity to share this adventure with him and to have provided me with his knowledge which has contributed to the achievement of this instrument and its evolution. I would also like to thank in advance all musicians who will like our instrument and will ... play it! ; I hope that you will find this instrument attractive, for its use, its look and the colour of its sound !”

Marcel : “Thank you, Stéphanie, to have followed me in this adventure. Today, I can no longer do without this instrument. During the recording sessions, I feel that I am accompanied by another accordion, as this left hand completes the right hand so perfectly. It is an essential working tool for my career. And I am rather proud of its name ... ! I hope that other accordionists will appreciate it and follow me in my keyboard logic !”