‘Street ..should be ranked among top accordionists anywhere’ ..
Ronald Atkins – Jazz Review

Street proves herself to be a thoughtful but vigorous soloist, intelligently exploiting the considerable textural possibilities of the instrument with great aplomb’….
Chris Parker

‘A promising solo career … finally beginning – John Fordham

‘Karen Street is a composer and accordionist whose debut album is a fine showcase for her versatile talents’ – John Walters - Guardian

Musicians who have given the accordion a genuine voice are rare, but Karen Street is undoubtedly among them.
Jazz UK Dec/Jan 2005

Together with her first CD Finally …..a beginning, Accordion Crimes cements Karen’s standing as one of the most evocative and dexterous accordionists in the country. Folk jazz at its unique best.
The Musician spring 2005

The real highlight ...is the accordion playing of Karen Street. Anyone who thinks of the accordion as just a crude "squeeze box" to accompany boozy singalongs, or a noise-generator for Red Army ensembles, or the musical equivalent of a bottle of French Dressing, really must hear Street’s playing: it is phenomenal. The very first reference I made in my listening notes, during Strafe Me (track 3), was "1st. time heard accord. clearly - very expressive instr!" By the time I’d got to The Streams of Lovely Lucienne (track 8), in which the accordion has a big solo, I was noting "as ever, beaut[ifully] artic[ulated]". That, and more - from touching mellifluousness to congested anger, whether intimating a fine-spun lyric or chomping away in the "rhythm section", the exertions of Karen Street’s arms and fingers were, quite literally, music to my ears.
Paul Serotsky April 2002