Karen Axelrod’s piano playing combines expressiveness, energy, lyricism, and power.

She is equally at home with styles ranging from traditional folk melodies to passionate tangos to old world French musette waltzes to 17th century English Country dance tunes and much more.  She left behind classical music over 35 years ago, and has happily settled into her musical home...somewhere between folk, classical and improvisation. Her playing is soulful yet touched with humor and whimsy.

 

When she is not playing concerts, Karen Axelrod

is one of the busiest and most sought after traditional dance musicians. Her elegant and rich piano playing and her colorful, gorgeous accordion playing are enlivened by her off-beat humor.

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Karen plays with a number of bands for traditional dance events as well as concerts. Her bands include Peregrine Road (with accordion player Rachel Bell), Alchemy (with Rachel Bell and Eric Martin on violin and viola), Foxfire (with New Orleans fiddler Daron Douglas) and 3rd String Trio (with Kate Barnes on guitar and Aldo Fabrizi on mandolin).  

 

Based in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, Karen tours extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, playing at dances, festivals, concerts, camps, private parties, and other events.