Winterland

Winterland. Performed by The Okee Dokee Brothers. CD. Approx.48 min. Produced by Dean Jones. 2018.

CD: $12.49; Download: $9.49; Vinyl: $25.00.

K-Gr 5—

The Grammy and Parents’ Choice award-winning duo, The Okee Dokee Brothers (Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander) perform sixteen cold and shivery songs celebrating winter, in bluegrass, folk, zydeco, country, shanty, Hawaiian folk, pop, and jazz musical styles. Their guest musicians, including Dean Jones of Dog on Fleas give outstanding performances on banjo, guitar, ukulele, bass, fiddle, upright bass, violin, piano, organ, flute, saxophone, trombone, harmonica, accordion, and percussion.

     “Blankets of Snow” keep people warm on cold days. “Welcome Home” is played to the tune of the traditional Irish ballad “Whiskey in the Jar,” and welcome’s Joe’s newborn son. The only thing biting is the weather at the “Ice Fishin’ Shack.” “Keep Me Warm” and snug as a bug in the rug uses a traditional Irish tune, “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” which is a circle game for children. The “Abominable Yeti” is horrible, deplorable, and indomitable, among other things. Stay true to yourself is the message of “You You You.” Children are like “Candles,” so let them shine; this song partly uses the tune “This Little Light of Mine.” In the duo’s first recorded a cappella song, “Slumberjacks” don’t cut down trees. Learning to play a “Ukulele in a Snowstorm” is one way of staying warm. The duo wants to “Howl” with a pack of wolves. “Snowpeople” are dressed in various ways. There is just so much to do on a “Lazy Day.” The silver maple lying on its side, “Great Grandmother Tree,” shows that out of death comes life. The “North Country Dance Band” lit a fire in the dance hall. The “New Year” brings a new baby boy. Daffodil sprouts are just one of the “Signs of Spring.” The accompanying booklet has an illustration and a sentence for each of the songs. This is a wonderful album to listen to while huddling by the fireplace on a cold winter day. 

Here is a link to their video "Snowpeople":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGMScC1i1d8&feature=youtu.be