artist Camp Combo

Camp Combo is an insanely jolly, entertaining band that plays lots of originals, and has a hoot tearing apart old jazz standards! Composer, band leader, singer and saxophonist Fred Spek will tell you he’s learned much from the old time jazz tunes he’s played over the years.

Band members are Nichol S. Robertson (also in Friendly Rich’s Lollipop People), who plays banjo and guitar, Rachel Melas (Swamperella, +) handling the up-right bass and Great Bob Scott (Look People, Kevin Hearn, +) hitting the drums. Treasa Levassuer plays accordion on the Rock Paper Scissors EP, as does GUH trumpeter Brian Cram.

By shunning long tedious solos, CaMp CoMbO join a list of North American bands who’ve attempted to inject some arty fun into the jazzy side of popular music, including 1940-50s nutbar Spike Jones, zany arranger Esquivel, Toronto’s own Shuffle Demons, Atomic 7 and USA’s Squirrel Nut Zippers.

CaMp CoMbO’s music is a fun mix of swing-jazz, polka and latin, although Fred also sneaks TV themes, surf beats, assorted standards and maudlin ballads on to set lists. File under: playful exotica; space age bachelor pad; futuristic vintage…

CaMp CoMbO have raised eye brows at Toronto venues like The Cameron House, Cadillac Lounge, Silver Dollar, Rex Hotel, Revival, Mitzi’s Sister, Gladstone Hotel, The Rivoli and the Tranzac. Smart promoter Gary Topp has booked them to open for funny spoken-word artists TOFU.

For an MP3 experience of the new Roughin' It EP, find the MP3 player on the band website at www.campcombo.ca  For the “Rock Paper Scissors” EP song, check their Myspace site at: www.myspace.com/campcombo

Also available is their 2005 release 7 song CD “Beans ‘N Wieners” The tune Camper Fanfare is on that disc.
The quickest way to hear two minute samples of the rest of this release is through our online distributor CD Baby at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fredspekscc

Fred Spek's email address is : fredspek@gmail.com