Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Combo I caught the Grammy polka award-winning Brave Combo in a working class Cleveland neighborhood. What an enjoyable evening! The ambiance at the venue, which used to be an old Croatian hall, was just right. There was a large, lively crowd composed of people all ages ranging from teachers to professionals to high school kids. They participated in the event too, filling the dance floor. A number were excellent dancers, but there were some who couldn't maneuver too gracefully. Never mind, everyone was intent on enjoying themselves, not showing off. A male nurse in the audience danced frequently with a woman in a wheelchair. The Combo itself was in top form, offering the crowd an eclectic mix of styles, which they fit together seamlessly. The group draws from a number of genres, including polka, Latin and rock 'n' roll, and plays intensely and with an eye toward pleasing the crowd. Leader Carl Finch was especially good at engaging them, they cheered wildly and called for encore after encore after the show ended. The band itself is composed of top instrumentalists, including woodwind player Jeffrey Barnes, trumpeter Danny O'Brien and accordionist Finch. They performed laudably during the band's skillful and sometimes humorous arrangements (I heard a Spike Jones influence) and improvised passionately during their solo spots. I had a great time, even danced a bit for the first time in I don't know when. And you know if I enjoyed myself, everyone else did. 10:54:35 AM