Born and raised in Baranavichy, Belarus, Aliaksandr Yasinski studied bayan (button accordion) at his local music school, Republican Music College in Minsk, Belarusian State Academy of Music in Minsk and Prague Conservatory in the Czech Republic. Now based in Prague for over a decade, Yasinski's solo debut album Hlybini (Depths) is a musical adventure that tells his personal story and demonstrates the expressive potential of his instrument. Conveying many musical moods (with some occasional vocalizing), the accordionist takes us through storms and tranquility, dark and light, tragedy and happiness. Original compositions from this consummate musician belie his young 33 years of age. The titles of his self-penned tracks give some clue and indication of his inspiration, “Happiness,” “Spell,” “Song of the old Hurdy Gurdy,” (100 vs. 1,” “Sunny Fairy Tale,” “Storm,’ “Calmness and Strength.” “Sunny Fairy Tale” is quite whimsical as it progresses until finally culminating in the highest register of Aliaksandr’s instrument.

Over the years, Yasinski’s training and experience have instilled within him an affinity and appreciation for many styles including rock, classical, electronic, Argentinian tango, Balkan, and cinematic scores. His main aim is to encourage and promote accordion music without the confines of any stylistic borders. He works as a solo performer, composer, arranger, sound engineer and music teacher. On Hlybini, the “depth” of his songs represent the “far corners of the human soul or something that touches us powerfully like music.” Midway through his set of solo music, “In Freedom and Dignity” is an evocative jazzy collaboration on which he plays accordion and bass guitar with Roine Stolt (electric guitar) and Marco Minnemann (drums). The surreal and deeply moving “Waltz in A” is also a unique track on which Yasinski plays a batanola MB-1, button accordion midi-controller that allows him to play faster and get wider chords than is possible on piano.

I appreciate this young man’s creativity and interpretive innovation, an element that the liner notes (by Neil Record) call a “style imbued with a sense of expressive, yet structures freedom.” On a quest to develop and present his own signature style, I commend this masterful musician for his vision, insight and desire to find new musical languages. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)