Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo is a polka variety band based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band plays a wide variety of music from polkas, waltzes, and schottisches to country and Cajun. Their commitment is to perform and promote polka music; to give the dancers a unique song selection and a solid beat; and to have fun!
Craig Ebel is featured on concertina with DyVersaCo and is the band's leader. Craig has been involved in music all his life with his mother, LaVay, singing and playing guitar in country western bands and his father, Elhart, building and operating the Bel-Rae Ballroom from 1964 to 1971. The Bel-Rae became one of the most popular dance spots in the upper Midwest and a great influence on Craig's musical career, which has spanned over 30 years. Craig has played drums, concertina, and keyboard in all styles of music including rock, country, big band, and polka. He has performed with "America's Polka King" Frank Yankovic, Grammy Award Winner Walter Ostanek, Myron Floren, Dick Contino, Karl & The Country Dutchmen, Roger Bright, Joey Miskulin, and countless others. Craig is also the host of "It's Polka Time!" a syndicated radio show heard across the United States and over the Internet. His knowledge of the music makes him the perfect person to front the band.
Lori Ebel, Craig's wife, distinguishes DyVersaCo from other bands with her fun fiddle playing and solid trumpet tones. Originally from New Ulm, Minnesota, a city famous for generating renowned Dutchmen-style polka bands, she grew up in the midst of legendary polka musicians such as Whoopee John, Harold Loeffelmacher, Elmer Scheid, and Fezz Fritsche. With over twenty years of playing polka music with her parents' band (The Marv Nissel Band), Lori brings great enthusiasm and diversity to the band.
Keeping the beat for DyVersaCo is Dana Lindblad, who has been playing drums since age 10 and performed with the late, great Marion Lush at age 16. Growing up in western Pennsylvania, he was influenced by both Slovenian and Polish style polkas. He has performed with Polkatown Sound, AKA, Stix-N-Tones, Alvin Styczynski TV Recording Orchestra, Joe Fedorchak, Bob Turcola & Bill Bevec. Dana's amusing personality and steady rhythm assures that the band provides excitement and solid entertainment at each performance.
Mike "Julio" Sariego plays bass with DyVersaCo. Julio is an astonishing and versatile musician playing numerous instruments including trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, percussion, and keyboards. His musical career spans over 35 years, and he has played with such bands as Rogers & Friends, Polkatown Sound, AKA, and a wealth of other local bands from Central and Northeastern Wisconsin. Julio's ability to formulate song structure complements DyVersaCo's unique sound.
Jean Stang also plays bass with DyVersaCo. Jean grew up in west central Minnesota, where people learned to polka before they learned to walk. She started playing clarinet at the age of 10, and quickly learned the concertina. After winning first place at a talent contest playing her concertina, she formed her own polka band at the age of 14. Wanting to add more variety, she learned the bass guitar. Jean has also performed with Renata & Girls, Girls, Girls and LaVerne & The Starlite Girls. After 20 years away from the scene, she is thrilled to be performing again. Her love and excitement for the music make her the ideal "alternate" bass player.
DyVersaCo is fortunate to have an array of second trumpet and sax/clarinet musicians performing with them. Included in this are Gary Jasicki, Mike Cielecki, and Jens Jensen. Gary is an original member of the Jolly Jokers and has also performed with The Polka Padre (Father Kapoun) & The Ambassadors, Billy Jasicki & Polka Joy, and John Filipczak & The Classics. Mike is a long time member of Ray Dorschner's Rainbow Valley Dutchmen as well as Karl & The Country Dutchmen. He also had his own band for a number of years called the Polka Chips. Jens is also a long time member of the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen and has recorded with the Andy Justman Orchestra. He has been a band director/music teacher for over 20 years. These astounding musicians have countless years of experience in the polka field, which give them the ability to improvise and provide perfect harmonies for the band's arrangements.
Last, but not least is Craig and Lori's son, Christopher Ebel, who travels with the band to most gigs and plays accordion, fiddle, and drums. Chris was recently featured on Channel 4 WCCO TV, the Minneapolis/St. Paul CBS affiliate, where he was labeled the "Amazing 6-Year-Old Polka Drummer." Below see Chris on drums. This is just amazing.
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DyVersaCo - Office Party
$15.00
DyVersaCo is proud to announce their new recording entitled "Office Party"! Musicians on "Office Party" include: Craig Ebel, Lori Ebel, Gary Jasicki, Mike "Julio" Sariego, and Dana Lindblad. Special guests include: Lorin Ebel (age 1) on the "go's" on Fiddler's, Christopher Ebel (age 6) on the drums on Merka Merka, and Florian Chmielewski, Jr., on the "horse" on Horses, Cows, & Chickens.
Songs include Y'all Come, Green Parrot, Fiddler's, Wanda's, Polka No. 5, Iron Casket Oberek, King of the Beasts, Golden Slippers, My Best Friend, Merka Merka, Jailbird, Polish Lullabye, North, South, East, West, Chocolate Soda, and Horses, Cows & Chickens.
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DyVersaCo - A Company Affair
$15.00
DyVersaCo's third CD entitled, "A Company Affair," welcomes a new director, Mike "Julio" Sariego, whose creativity and passion for the music is astonishing. Continuing directors include Craig Ebel, Lori Ebel, Chuck Burak, and Gary Jasicki. Now in his fourth year, the company's CEO, Christopher, took a leave of absence during this recording to focus on continuing his education. Also, the company featured a special guest, Accordionist David Austin, on a selection. This latest release will become a must-have to all polka music lovers!
Songs include Polka Time Is Here, Pump And Hop, That's The Way I Feel, Ring Dance Mazurka, Hoja, Jeszcze Moja, Down In The Valley a/k/a Birmingham Jail, Come Back To Me, Kiss Me Tonight, Stay There 'Til I Get There, Kiss Me Polka, Polish Home Polka, Oj Duli Duli Do Oberek, Knock On Your Door, True Love Song, and That's The Chance I'll Have To Take.
This appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Polish American Journal Newspaper.
"For Ebel, Recording is a Company Affair.
A Company Affair by Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo is the lastest offering from this polka music corporation. A 15 track collection, Ebel and the office crew have created another unique array of tunes to please everyone. "Polka Time is Here" has that Minnesota feel that takes you back to the sounds of Polka Soul. The country flavored "That's The Way I Feel," with plenty of fiddle, nice box work, and Craig on vocals, fits well in the variety-filled tracks of this CD. The smooth "Ring Dance" mazurka and the good-time mood on "Kiss Me" polka also deserve special mention. "Polish Home" polka may be the one that grabs those who love hard-driving eastern style polkas and certainly was a favorite here. Add "Oj Duli Duli Do" oberek and the Richie Tokarz song, "Come Back To Me" and this package provides a full mixture of music for all. DyVersaCo is Craig Ebel on concertina, piano and drums, Lori Ebel on fiddle and trumpets, Chuck Burak on drums, Gary Jasicki on clarinet, alto and tenor saxes and Mike "Julio" Sariego on bass. Special Guest David Austin does a superb job with the accordion on "Polish Home." This one definitely grows on you with each play. Each listen brought something out that was missed on a previous play-through. Each time "another" track will become your favorite."
by Steve Litwin, Polka Editor/Associate Editor and 2004 Inductee - WCC Concertina Hall of Fame
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DyVersaCo - Eye On Polka
$15.00
DyVersaCo's second recording, "Eye On Polka" features a unique photo cover introducing the CEO of DyVersaCo, Christopher Ebel. This release contains 15 dynamic selections making "Eye On Polka" a must-have! As quoted by Christopher, "DyVersaCo's upbeat Polish/variety style appeals to all listeners and dancers. Their music is the best on the circuit today!" "Eye On Polka" also includes an exclusive interview with Christopher conducted by Gary Rhamy of Peppermint Productions.
Songs include Clap Hands, Polka 'Til I Die, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Bouncing Tony, By My Cradle, One and Only, Only One, Mary Lou Oberek, Everybody Sing and Dance, Goosetown Polka, Eyeballs and Shoestrings, Jaz Pa Pojdem Na Gorenjsko, Violins, Play For Me, Play Little Gypsy, If Anyone's A Fool, It Should Be Me, and Mama Tried.
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DyversaCo - Unanimously Approved
$15.00
The first full-length recording by DyVersaCo is entitled, "Unanimously Approved." Musical ideas and song selections contained within were taken from many different genres of music including polka greats like Frank Yankovic, Babe Wagner, Ray Dorschner, and Marion Lush; folk groups like Peter, Paul, and Mary; and country music legends like Johnny Cash and June Carter. Songs include I Can't Stop Doing The Polka, Polka Marie, Time's A Wastin', On Your Toes, Broken Down Merry-Go-Round, Marvelous Toy, I Got Stripes, On Our Wedding Day, Haystack, Bohemian Laendler, Peanut Butter and Crackers, Take Me From The City, Rainbow Valley, In The Evening, Arcade Polish Day Parade, and Columbus Stockade Blues.
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DyVersaCo - SPECIAL ALL 4 CDs RELEASED TO 2011
$49.00
INCLUDES FREE SHIPPING TO THE US
The Complete DyVersaCo collection to 2011
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