Tuesday, May 19, 2020

A Place to Call Home


A Place to Call Home. Performed by Dana Cohenour. CD. Approx. 40 min. Music Playground. 2020. Digital: $7.00.
K—Gr 3



Dana Cohenour performs on piano, keyboard, organ, and synth steel drums for her 11 original songs. Her clear, soaring vocals adeptly handle the various musical styles of pop, rock, bossa nova, bluegrass, and reggae. Dana’s heartfelt melodies are professionally backed up by guitars, bass, fiddle, viola, dobro, banjo, mandolin, saxophone, flute, drums, and percussion. An enthusiastic and cheerful children’s chorus joins in on several of the songs. Everyone and every creature needs “A Place to Call Home.” Creatures digging tunnels create an “Underground Traffic Jam.” Accompanied by humpback whale song, "Migration" tells of the annual tug felt by the whales. Beavers tell each other “Let’s Build a Dam,” in this rollicking, driving rock tune, complete with guitar riffs. Bird calls enhance the “Rainforest Symphony,” as do gentle sounds of splashing water. The “Honey Bee Bee Bop” shines a light on the bee’s waggle dance to direct other bees to flowers. A “Bluebird” flies high in the sky accompanied by a lovely flute descant. It’s hard to sleep with a “Dog on My Head.” For a hermit crab, every day is “Movin’ Day.” Lots of animals like to play “Animal Hide and Seek” and reach home base. “Home” can be many things: a cabin on a lake, a castle, an apartment, etc. Partly bouncy and lively, and partly gentle and soothing, this album ably presents young listeners with different concepts of home.
Website: www.danasmusicplayground.com

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Night Life


Night Life. Performed by Sara Lovell. CD. Approx. 45 min. Unbreakable Chord Music. 2020. Price: CD: $15.00.
Pre-School – K



Multi-award winning Sara Lovell performs 13 rocking and beautiful songs of the end of the day on her 3rd album in rock, disco funk, R & B, pop, and folk musical styles. Sara’s lovely voice handles each musical style with aplomb and is joined by other vocalists who contribute gorgeous harmonies and descants. Great musical performances can also be heard on guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, piano, horns, synth, shaker, tambourine, triangle, chimes, glockenspiel, whistle, harmonica, kalimba, drums, and percussion. This Parents’ Choice Gold Award winning album starts off with the lively “I Don’t Want to Go to Bed,” (I just want to keep playing on). Planet hopping, trapeze flying, and deep-sea diving are among the activities in one child’s “Nightlife.” A variety of animals are making too much noise, so send them outdoors, but “Leave the Monkey.” There’s a “Rocket” in the sky and it’s waiting there for me. An owl keeps a log of the miles of dreams that the “Sleepwalkers” travel. Furry intruders, “Scooter and Skeeter” produce vibrating purrs at the end of the song. “I Don’t Sleep in a Bed” because I am sleeping in a tent with my dog. A child makes friends with “Little Bug.” Another child begs “Bed Oh Bed” to be allowed to stay awake and play. A parent encourages their child to “Wear Yourself Out Now” so they can sleep later. “Rock-a-Bye My Baby,” “How the Jungle Sleeps, and “Lullaby for Grownups” will help young ones drift off to sleep. Well-deserving of the award, Lovell’s catchy tunes and clever lyrics will please adults as well as children.
Website: www.saralovell.com