1. Cowering Mess
2. Louie, Louie
3. Patricia Twist
4. The Tsamikos
5. Yo No Bailo Con Juana
6. Undercover Medley
7. Mission Impossible
8. Honga
9. Another Night
10. El Camaleon
The life of Brave Combo is both exotic and rocking. These songs prove it. But was there ever any doubt? “Cowering Mess” is about a cat and, since it’s in the style of Puerto Rican salsa, poetic license allows the choro line, “mi amarillo gato,” rather than “mi gato amarillo.” Sounded better that way. Our version of “Louie, Louie” follows a minor-minor-major chord pattern, not the classic major-major-minor progression. And it’s a cha cha.“Patricia Twist” was a mambo hit for Perez Prado in the 1950s. When the twist craze hit in the early 1960s, he released a new arrangement. Now, decades in the future, it finally makes sense. A Greek dance called, “The Tsamikos” is usually enjoyed by men only, the night before going to war. It’s cool with us if both sexes get down equally and even blow off the war bit. “Yo No Bailo Con Juana” is an old song by Claudio Ferrer. We play it as a revved-up merengue. “Undercover Medley” speaks for itself. Turn it up and explode. Although “Mission Impossible” seems like a logical follow, it wasn’t intentional. This is the familiar tune played as a deep-groove cumbia. “Honga” is traditional klezmer cacophony. “Another Night” is an song, originally titled, “Sabor de Engano.” I first heard it as a bolero by the popular Norteno artist, Ruben Naranjo. “El Camaleón,” another perky merengue, closes the set. Hope you’re worn out by now. If not, start over.
JEFFREY BARNES – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Backing Vocals
ARJUNA CONTRERAS – Drums, Tambourine, Maracas, Cowbells
CARL FINCH – Accordion, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
ANN MARIE HARROP – Bass
DANNY O’BRIEN – Trumpet, Washboard, Vocals
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:
JOE CRIPPS – PERCUSSION (1, 2, 9)
MIKE DILLON – PERCUSSION (5, 10)
DANNY JERABEK – BUTTON BOX (10), TROMBONE (2, 3, 5, 8)
ROSS SCHODEK – BASS (1, 2, 5, 10)