These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the April, 2000 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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I'm excited to be spreading the word about some new releases that are shining stars in an ever-increasing crowd of children's music contenders. These projects stand head-and-shoulders above the rest, and I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed discovering them. What an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise Gunnar Madsen's Old Mr. Mackle Hackle (G-Spot Records, 1999) turned out to be. This is some of the freshest, funniest and most inventive children's music to come out in a long time! Madsen is a co-founder of the a cappella group The Bobs, and is an award-winning actor, composer, and pianist. He even provided the singing voice of Sammy Davis Jr. in the film "The Rat Pack." But he absolutely shines on this, his debut children's album. His vocal prowess is simply amazing; I had to look at the liner notes to make sure it was him doing all the vocal acrobatics. From the first listen you'll be singing along to catchy songs such as the bouncy, feel-good "Summertime Is Here," the rockin' dinosaur tribute "Born To Chew (We Eat Meat)" and the quirky "I'm A Little Twerp." Other outstanding cuts include the hilarious "Chicken Road," "Tiny Mosquito," which is sung from the mosquito's point of view in a melodramatic opera-esque style, and "Elephant Traffic Jam," which offers a musical tip of the hat to Henry Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk." This is about as cutting edge as children's music gets. It's intelligent without being preachy, humorous without being childish and musically eclectic. No wonder Old Mr. Mackle Hackle has already gathered in a bunch of awards and rave reviews. I just hope Madsen has some more songs up his sleeve. Go Back to Top One of my favorite children's music performers, Jessica Harper, has a new family album, Rhythm In My Shoes (Rounder Kids, 2000). True to form, this is a fun-filled, child-centered romp featuring some great new songs--all with that distinctive Jessica Harper vocal treatment. And as usual, Harper performs the lead vocals as well as the lush layers of background harmonies, rhythmic chants and vocal wordplay. Her song themes are also original; she gets many of her ideas by listening to her own children. "Girlquakes" explains, "Look out, sister, yeah, she's a twister! If the dishes had wishes they would get outta town." "Too Much Snow In Tokyo" is a fun, nonsense rap/chant. If I had to choose, though, my favorite would be the tongue-in-cheek "My Baby Is A Genius." It's funny because we've all been there at one time or another, extolling the virtues of our children. You're bound to enjoy this new batch of original songs, which move comfortably between island style and lightly swinging jazz. Go Back to Top To celebrate 15 years of producing children's music, Music For Little People has released their 15th Anniversary Collection (Music For Little People, 2000). It's a compilation of some of the best tracks from their vast library of children's music. (I love "best of" compilations because they tend to offer great value and a nice mix of songs.) You'll find a wide diversity of music and artists, including Raffi singing "Baby Beluga," Buckwheat Zydeco belting out his rendition of the Louisiana classic "Iko Iko," Billy Haley and The Comets doing the original "Rock Around The Clock," Maria Maldaur's swingin' "On The Sunny Side Of The Street," and John McCutcheon's fun take on "Skip To My Lou." But Ladysmith Black Mambazo's extraordinary "Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)" puts the collection over the top. Go Back to Top Budding dancers are sure to enjoy the delightful recording, Young Dancer (HearAgain Music, 1999). It is subtitled "Great Masterpieces and Contemporary Music Arranged to Inspire Young Dancers," and the simple, elegant CD cover art, depicting a young dancer lacing up her ballet slippers, gives a clear picture of what is inside. This is a collection of 19 short pieces for young ballet dancers. Eleven are re-orchestrations of classical dance masterpieces; eight are original compositions by Monika Tusnady. Her expressive pieces, with titles such as "Run!!!," "Jump Forever," "In Slowmo" and "I'm Late," nicely compliment the classics. The songs range in length from 52 to 101 seconds, yet each offers a complete musical theme and evokes plenty of movement ideas. Judging by my nearly 4-year-old son's reaction, you don't have to be a ballerina to like this CD. Go Back to Top It's best to call ahead to check availability before you go out to purchase these CDs. On the Internet, find Old Mr. Mackle Hackle at www.gunnarspot.com, Rhythm In My Shoes at www.harpcomusic.com, the 15th Anniversary Collection at www.mflp.com and Young Dancer at www.hearagainmusic.com. Readers, keep those comments and recommendations coming. My e-mail address is fred@bestchildrensmusic.com or write to me in care of Chicago Parent. Fred Koch is an award-winning music educator and a nationally recognized children's musician. His new children's music website, www.BestChildrensMusic.com, provides recommendations and information about selecting quality children's music, as well as access to past Chicago Parent reviews. Koch lives in Lake Bluff with his wife and son. Go Back to Top |
