These reviews by Fred Koch appeared in the September, 2002 issue of “Chicago Parent Magazine.” Reviewed in this column:
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| Children's music at its best is family music--music parents and kids
can enjoy together at home or in the car. Today, we have many musical styles
and approaches to choose from in family music, letting us enjoy and expose
our children to a wide world of music. Here are some diverse recommendations.
Night Time! by Dan Zanes, Festival Five Records, ages 5-10. Don't let the title fool you. This is not a lullaby recording. Zanes, once the lead singer of celebrated roots rockers, The Del Fuegos, says he found his calling creating "21st century folk music the whole family can enjoy." An eclectic group of musicians sings and plays with him in his home studio. Night time! is Zanes' third release, and my favorite. The first time my son and I heard this 16-song CD, we listened to it three times in a row. "Night Owl," the first song, is a lazy duet between Zanes and Aimee Mann. It's followed by the traditional folk song, "Pay Me My Money Down." Other standouts being "Down By The Riverside," "Que Fortunidad," "Wild Mountain Time" (with Dar Williams), and "Leadbelly Songs." My favorite arrangement is Zanes, the Rubi Theater Company and Lou Reed doing the Louis Armstrong hit, "What A Wonderful World." Reed does a great job reinventing the melody in the second verse. Zanes' musical arrangement is soulful, and the recitation section performed by the Rubi Theater Company is moving. My favorite song might be "Linger For Awhile," a picturesque, singable song about Zanes' neighborhood in New York: "This block seems like a universe/ Every time I see you smile/ Spring just turned to summer/ I hope it lingers for awhile." Rocket Ship Beach and Family Dance both by Dan Zanes, Festival Five Records. each $16.98; For ages 5-10. Go Back to Top Zanes' first two releases deserve mention, too. Rocket Ship Beach is a nice mix of traditional folk songs blended with some old standards. You'll sing and dance along with "Bushel and a Peck," "Goodbye Old Paint," "Mole In The Ground" and "Erie Canal" (with Suzanne Vega). Dankin' Don's distinctive Rastafarian voice comes smiling through In "On The Sunny Side of the Street," and you can hear Sheryl Crow help with "Polly Wolly Doodle." Go Back to Top Family Dance uses the formula of coupling neglected traditional folk songs with roots-folk-and-rock arrangements for his second release. Bringing in some well-known singers to help doesn't hurt either. This time his friends include Sandra Bernhard, Loudon Wainwright III and Rosanne Cash. Of the 15 songs included on Family Dance, you'll hear "Rock Island Line," "Fooba Wooba John," "The Hokey Pokey" and "The Flowers of Edinburgh." Dan Zanes and his band, The Rocket Ship Revue, will be touring This fall to promote Night time! Chicago is not on the list of cities yet. Keep your fingers crossed. The music of Dan Zanes should be available at local Borders and Barnes & Noble stores. for more information about Zanes, visit www.danzanes.com. Go Back to Top Farkle & Friends by John Lithgow, Kid Rhino, $13.98; for ages 5-10. John Lithgow's latest release was inspired by his New York Times bestseller children's book, The Remarkable Farkle McBride (Simon & Schuster, 2000). Reminiscent of Danny Kaye's fanciful children's recordings, Farkle & Friends features Lithgow singing five original compositions and four favorite songs from his childhood. He is accompanied by a full orchestra conducted by Bill Elliot, whose film credits include Independence Day and Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. With a nod to "Peter & The Wolf," Lithgow created The Remarkable Farkle McBride, an entertaining modern story that teaches young listeners about the orchestra. In this story, Farkle, a child prodigy who is bored with every instrument he easily masters, discovers that conducting the orchestra is his real passion. My son and I are also fans of Lithgow's CD/storybook combo, The Story of Marsupial Sue, which is included on this recording. Other compositions loaded with great music and themes include "The Bandshell Right Next to the Zoo," "I'd Rather Lead The Band" and "The Wrong Note Rag." And you'll be singing right along with Lithgow on "I Got Two Dogs." Since Farkle & Friends enjoys national distribution, you should find it easily wherever quality children's music is sold. And if this is the first you've heard of John Lithgow's music, you might want to find his first audio recording, Singin' In The Bathtub (Sony Wonder) or John Lithgow's Kid-Size Concert, a 30-minute video for ages 5-10. Go Back to Top The Swing Set by the Jazz-A-Bye Quartet, proDUCKtunes, $13.99; all ages. I've heard lots of CDs that put standard children's songs to a swing beat and call it jazz. I can't stand most of them because true jazz has a much higher level of musicianship. But the Jazz-A-Bye quartet--piano, bass, drums and sax--is a tight group of fine jazz musicians, and The Swing Set is an easy-listening jazz sampling you and your children will enjoy. This instrumental recording follows the jazz formula: the melody is stated once, then there's a section of improvisation before the melody is played again at the end. In this hour-plus recording, the band plays around with 11 traditional melodies, from "Ring Around the Rosie" and "Pop! Goes The Weasel" to "Frere Jacques" and "Alouette." Since The Swing Set is an independent label release, I suggest you contact the Jazz-A-Bye Quartet for ordering information. Call proDUCKtunes at (800) 816-6706 or visit them online at www.jazzabye.com. Go Back to Top 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 |
