Waiting for the Elevator

Waiting for the Elevator. Performed by Laurie Berkner Band. CD. Approx. 47 min. Two Tomatoes Records. 2019. CD: $11.98; Digital: $9.99.

Pre-S – Gr 2

Toe-tapping, catchy pop tunes are the hallmark of this 13^th album from the Laurie Berkner Band. Performing 19 fun, educational, and quirky songs are band members Laurie Berkner, Susie Lampert, Brady Rymer, and Bob Golden. They give excellent performances on guitar, bass, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, drums, and percussion. The vocals soar with great harmonies, including guest singer, Tony-award winnnig Gavin Creel. The theme of the album is growth; for example, learning about feelings, movement, letters, numbers, colors, months, games and relationships. Berkner has been likened to Fred Rogers for her respect, validation and reassurance of children. “Waiting for the Elevator” is a counting song with cardinal and ordinal numbers. Ten dimes make “A Dollar,” and other combinations of coins, such as five nickels in a quarter. “Did You Go to Ohio,” Florida, Washington, and Arkansas to sing, spin, swing, and hop? With a fun new melody, “Look at All the Letters” introduces the alphabet. The a cappella introduction to the “12 Months,” features stomps and hand claps a la Queen’s We Will Rock You. Berkner harmonizes beautifully with Gavin Creel on “Do You Hear the Bells,” in which one bell tolls for one o’clock, two bells for two o’clock, etc. The narrator stops at a gas station, where she sees a “Chipmunk at the Gas Pump.” A child welcoming his parents home tells them, “I Missed You.” The narrator explains “I Know How That Works,” in describing a vacuum (push and pull), a rocking chair (back and forth), and a kitchen light (on and off). A child exclaims, “I Love You Daddy,” as he is picked up and spun around. “A Hug from My Mama,” or a kiss, makes a child feel all right when everything is wrong. “The Big Blue Box” starts out a cappella, but then adds musical accompaniment as instruments are removed from it: guitar, bass, piano and drum. The other songs include “Piggyback Ride,” “A Mermaid’s Song,” “Come Out Come Out,” “I Am Angry (Yes I Am!),” “Purple Bricks in the Sky,” “The Mountain,” and “Somos Los Dinosaurios,” the Spanish version of Berkner’s hit “We Are the Dinosaurs.” This wonderful album teaches young listeners some important concepts in a fun and engaging way, as well as including some silly and quirky songs.

Website: www.laurieberkner.com