Brave Combo Musical Varities CD

MUSICAL VARIETIES is a compilation of selected tracks from Brave Combo's first four DOT albums.

This set assembles portions of Brave Combo's first three, self-released albums. MUSICAL VARIETIES serves as a fine introduction to this Texas band's love for, and adaptation of, the polka. They also favor Tex-Mex flavors, along with dance music from around the world. The band is led by guitarist/accordionist/singer Carl Finch, who is aided and abetted by some superlative players. Deserving special mention are drummer Mitch Marine and multi-horn player Jeffrey Barns, both of whom bring a style of their own to each idiom they visit.

Not content to merely ape the forms they play, Brave Combo has studied well and is able to move between and synthesize polka, hora and tango. Finch's originals manage to be lyrically witty without drawing undo attention to themselves ("Gigi" is a particular joy). Their version of Mexican accordion master Steve Jordan's "Oaxaca" is a dazzler--lesser bands would be beaten to a pulp by a tune this difficult to play. Brave Combo makes it sound so easy you don't even notice them working up a sweat.

Personnel: Carl Finch (vocals, guitar, accordion, piano, percussion); Jeffrey Barnes (vocals, clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, percussion); Tim Walsh (vocals, clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, percussion); Lyle Atkinson (tuba, percussion); Mitch Marine (drums, washboard, percussion); Dave Camron (drums, steel drum, percussion); Lee Ann Harris (congas); Steve Fisher (timbales).