Fred Spek's CaMp CoMbO
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2002 | SELF
Music
Press
Fred Spek's Camp Combo - Rock, Paper, Scissors
By Glen Hall
After a long winter hibernating you may be thinking, "I need something to raise my spirits, something to give me an emotional spring cleaning." Look no further. Fred Spek and his cheerful bunch of summer music campers have got the antidote for anybody's case of the grumpies. With good-spirited humour and exuberant playing, Rock, Paper, Scissors takes a vaudevillian view of life and love. Delivered in a declamatory style reminiscent of Frank Zappa on Freak Out, Spek belts out lyrics like, "I'll never forget my blunder/Until you're six feet under" that will bring a wry smile to even the most sullen of listeners. The four-song EP keeps its rib-tickling focus throughout, including on the raucous reading of the 1895 pop tune "And the Band Played On." Camp Combo also provide food for thought, painting a vivid picture of God and Satan playing rock, paper, scissors to determine some hapless human's fate. This is a fun disc that's appropriate for pleasant social gatherings with friends and family.(Independent) - Glenn Hall for Exclaim Magazine
...and you would love to dig the opening band, Fred Spek's Neo Swing band Camp Combo playing tunes like the theme from "Secret Agent Man", and "Animal Crackers".
- Stanley Fefferman The Live Music Report
Saturday Sept 3
"Great jazz doesn't always have
to come from dark and tortured souls.
Take Fred Spek's Camp Combo for instance. This quartet
delivers goofy jazz and novelties. Just don't let
any Billie Holiday fans know,
there may be a riot, with jazz hands flying."
Christine Clarke DOSE commuter daily - DOSE (commuter daily)
Discography
1. Beans 'N Wieners 7 song EP (available at CD Baby)
2. Rock Paper Scissors 4 song EP
3. Roughin' It 5 song EP
4. Crackers 11 song CD
All songs can be listened to (via streaming audio
players) at http://www.campcombo.ca
Fred's compositions were featured in:
Departures Entertainment travel documentary series - 2009
Season 2 - Episodes #2 (Libya) and #5 (Cuba)
Photos
Bio
Fred Spek's Camp Combo began in 2001. Our music is influenced by old-time jazz, swing, latins and show tunes, from the late 1800s all the way to about 1970.
This band entertains. We can stretch out solos, but soon want to move on to another fun song. We know plenty, and along with originals, have a hoot tearing apart recognizable standards.
Infiuences include Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford, Spike Jones, Slim Gaillard, Boots Randolph, Bonzo Dog Band and "modern" composers like Thelonius Monk, Henry Mancini, Robert Scott, and Esquival.
Guitarist Nichol Robertson loves country and old time folk, but churns out some weird jazz chords too.
Drummer Great Bob Scott, is a Spike Jones reincarnation for sure! Bob played drums for Toronto wackos Look People, who's members included Jaymz Bee.
Bassist Rachel Melas plays folk, jazz, blues and klezmer (check her band The Horables!), and is with Toronto Cajun purists Swamperella.
Band Members
Links
