These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the July, 1999 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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Summer is the season for visiting farmer's markets and sampling locally-grown treats. So this month I decided to survey the Chicago area's home-grown children's music talent, and introduce you to some of the best. My first pick comes directly from the farm. JoJo's Barnyard Bash (Digital Generation, 1999), the latest release from the witty Joel Frankel. I have always enjoyed Frankel's recordings and live performances. This one--his third recording--is my favorite. He just keeps getting better and better. In this farm-theme project, all the songs revolve around farm animals. You won't find "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" or "The Farmer In The Dell" here. All the songs were written specifically for this recording. There are songs about roosters, chickens, geese, lambs, piggies and even froggies. Frankel's songwriting talent shines, and he really knows how to have fun with music. After one listening, I was walking around singing the up-tempo chorus from "I'd Be A Bee" and the catchy refrain from "Howdy How-How." Musical styles range from the obvious country-western to old-time Dixieland to pop and even rockabilly. Frankel clearly understands that lots of learning can take place when kids are engaged in playing with language and music. JoJo's Barnyard Bash also features some tender gems. "Hey Horse" features Frankel's daughter, Layla, singing, "Hey, horse, you're beautiful of course/ When you're naying, are you saying "hi" to me in horse?" I also really like "Where Is The Fox?" a call-and-response song that children can immediately join in on. Digital Generation Entertainment (of which Frankel is the music director) has also produced two music videos (one in Spanish) and included them on the CD version of JoJo's Barnyard Bash. You can view them on your home computer. Go Back to Top Jim Gill is another outstanding, if quirky, local performer. His new recording is Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on his Toe Leg Knee (Jim Gill Music, 1999). The title sums up his zaniness. Gill is a child development specialist with a masters degree from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. He travels the country leading what he calls "family play" concerts and conducts workshops for early childhood educators on the value of play in the lives of young children. Music is the perfect platform to get audiences actively involved in his music and drama play. Though I haven't seen him do this live, I can imagine a whole lot of fun happening when he dishes up tunes like "The Tempo Marches On," a rollicking adaptation of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." It's a movement game in which the marching starts out slowly and gets faster and faster with each verse. Gill's version of "My Bonnie" has listeners raising or lowering their arms every time they hear the letter "b." And I can just picture a parent or teacher and a child playing along with "Knuckles Knees," a wonderful body-parts game that swings along with a jazzy guitar and bass music track. Gill's knowledge of what kids like and where they are developmentally also shines through with "Spin Again," in which participants are encouraged to spin around during the chorus and hold a "freeze" position during the slow parts to "enjoy their dizziness!" I break out in a grin each time I hear "Driving Here, Driving There" with its very singable chorus (you won't get it out of your head) and the fun rhyming verses, which kids will gleefully finish. "Don't you fret, don't you worry/ I plan on driving to 'MISSOURI!'" Gill's cleverness shines through again as he adds, "We will change the tempo of the song/ so the windshield wipers can wipe along." Gill's songs always have built-in fun. I predict Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on his Toe Leg Knee will probably be as popular in your house as it is in mine. Go Back to Top Yet another Chicago-based performer garnering some well-deserved recognition is singer-songwriter Susan Salidor. She has three wonderful recordings for children: Little Voices In My Head, By Heart and the recently released Color Me Singing. Salidor combines traditional tunes and original pieces in an eclectic mix of child-centered songs. She's also committed to teacher training and has produced Susan Salidor's Sure-Fire Hits, which is geared toward preschool teachers and includes songs and fingerplays, and comes with an explanatory booklet. Find out about JoJo's Barnyard Bash and other Frankel recordings by calling Crunchy Records at 773-588-3353. Contact Gill at 708-763-9864 and Salidor at 773-271-5568. As always, please feel free to send me your remarks and/or music recommendations. Send e-mail to fkoch@lfelem.lfc.edu or write to me in care of Chicago Parent. Fred Koch is an award-winning music educator and a nationally recognized children's musician. He lives in Lake Bluff with his wife and young son. Go Back to Top |
