By his junior year in high school, Jimmy Sturr, a young man of Irish descent, was fronting his Orchestra in Florida, New York, a fertile area to where European immigrants brought their culture, music and farming skills. Now, 14 Grammy Awards later, the big band is still primarily a polka band although its repertoire includes songs from rock 'n' roll, country, Cajun and western swing works also. This hard-working and prolific band tours extensively and has appeared in some very prestigious venues. Their music is spirited, energetic, infectious and stimulating. His creative approach has been to adapt hits from other genres to the polka tradition. So the American melting pot is also reflected in his own simmering musical cauldron.

Songs on the 47-min project include: 1. Beer Barrel Polka 2. Tavern in the Town 3. Papa, Won't You Dance with Me 4. Pennsylavania Polka 5. Tic Toc 6. Champagne Polka 7. Yellow Rose of Texas 8. Lichtensteiner 9. Blue Skirt Waltz 10. Hoop Dee Doo 11. Charlie Was a Boxer 12. San Antonio Rose 13. Metropole 14. Just Because 15. Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie 16. She's Too Fat Fro Me (Village in Polka) 17. Julida 18. Helena Polka

Opening with "Beer Barrel Polka," this sampler from various Jimmy Sturr albums gives both the common and obscure. There well known tunes like "Tavern in the Town," "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "San Antonio Rose" and others that you think you've never heard of ("Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie") but you somehow instinctively know. Includes Jimmy Sturr's classic renditions of "Pennsylvania Polka," "Helena," and 16 others. "Blue Skirt Waltz" provided a nice rhythmic change in the set. A few more waltzes would've been nice. 

Jimmy fronts a full orchestra, but most pieces have featured musicians - vocalist or instrumentalist. Myron Floren's accordion is spotlighted on five selections. His most alluring moment might be "Champagne Polka" with its intricate, but uplifting, key work. Boots Randolph's supple sax jazzes up "Tavern in the Town." Willie Nelson is tapped to sing a couple swing numbers ("Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Just Because"). Other featured vocalists are The Rocco Sisters, Mel Tillis, Jordanaires, Cathy Rocco, Johnny Karash and Frank Urbanovitch. 

The music is lively and upbeat, and it's certainly infectiously danceable. Hoop Dee Doo, I hear a polka and my troubles are through!