Rock & Rhyme

Rock & Rhyme. Performed by Mr. Jon and Friends. CD. Approx. 47 min. Produced by Jon and Carrie Lewis. 2018. $15 for CD or download.

K-Grade 5

Jon Lewis, on staff in the children’s department of a public library in Frederick, MD, and his wife Carrie present 20 energetic songs in mostly various styles of rock, but also with some bluegrass and gentle pop as well. This 3^rd album features a band of excellent musicians performing on guitar, mandolin, ukulele, bass, organ, piano, accordion, recorder, melodica, drums, and percussion. The Lewis children join in enthusiastically on some of the songs. Inspired by Raffi, they perform an a cappella cover of Raffi’s “Brush Your Teeth.” Several songs invite listeners to perform participatory movements, including “Rock and Rhyme,” “Dance Party,” “Clap Your Hands,” “Going on a Bear Hunt,” “Dragonfly,” and “Let’s Move to Some Music.” In different seasons, I “Play My Drum” for everyone. The traditional “Tortoise and the Hare” is presented as a musical story, with a fast tempo for the hare and a slow tempo for the tortoise. This album’s “Old MacDonald” has chickens, snakes, tickle-opes and yogurt on his farm. Children are invited to join in with elephants, lions, alligators, and more in “Animal Parade.” It is relaxing floating down the Delaware in a “Yellow Tube.” A child who can’t sit still has "Ants in My Pants.” A “Hermit Crab Going on a Walk” shows off his brand-new shell. “Clean Up” tells the story of cleaning up a messy room. In “Alphabet Song,” the alphabet is recited at different tempos. A “Red Balloon” escapes from its child and floats away. When there is “Summer Rain,” it is a good day for reading a book. “My Little One” is a gentle lullaby. The final track is a humorous exchange between Jon and his puppet monkey, George, in which George sings a silly version of “Old MacDonald.” A fun album that will keep listeners moving and grooving.
Website: https://mrjonmusic.com