Alex Plays Button Box ...and Other Stuff

On Alex Plays Button Box ...and Other Stuff, prolific Pennsylvania multi-instrumentalist Alex Meixner plays everything, including the titular instrument, piano, accordion, trumpet, keyboard, bass & drums, flugelhorn, and even some vocals. This album consists of primarily polkas and waltzes and much of it is original material penned by Meixner. This is more than simply a polka album, as Meixner, who is well versed in jazz and who has played with the London Symphony Orchestra, brings a versatility to the music and funnels the tracks through his variety of influences. This is an uplifting and fun album, and the 15 instrumental tracks are particularly strong. "Ribniska Valley Polka" is a Slovenian-styled track (a minor quibble: the actual valley is called "Ribiska") whose trumpet volleys possess an almost Tex-Mex flair. And speaking of Latin flair, the album finishes off with "Hot Peppers Cumbia," a Colombian-styled number that serves as tribute to Meixner's range and musical vocabulary. There are also two English vocal tracks, one sung by Meixner and another by his father, Al, a well-traveled musician in his own right. This is far from a novelty album, but definitely most appropriate for those who are already deeply into button box music.