Brave Combo Polkatharsis CD

Brave Combo: Carl Finch (vocals, guitar, piano, accordion); Bubba Hernandez (vocals, tuba, bass), Jeffrey Barnes ( guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, didjeridoo, background vocals), Mitch Marine (drums, washboard, background vocals).
Their first Rounder album has better sound, but a shakeup in personnel altered the focus a bit. There's still lots of jovial world-fusion here. ~ Myles Boisen
Following the compilation of early material (MUSICAL VARIETIES), POLKATHARSIS was Brave Combo's first new album for Rounder Records. The dazzling combo comes out swinging with a thunderous cavalcade of drums in the opening of their high-octane take of "The Happy Wanderer." From there out they stick close to the heart of polkas, with a hora or a waltz thrown in here and there to spice up the pot.
Newest member Bubba Hernandez fills the bass (and tuba) chair with furious aplomb--every bit the match for drummer extraordinaire Mitch Marine. Jeffrey Barnes, the man of many wind instruments, flies over this rock solid rhythmic foundation, trading off with frontman (guitar, accordion, vocals) Carl Finch. This is their first album with the sonic breadth to capture what they do without limitation or interference. POLKATHARSIS, along with nearly any of Brave Combo's albums, makes a fine starting point for getting to know this wonderful band.