Moove to the Moozika!

Moove to the Moozika. Performed by Jesse Goldman. CD. Approx. 30 min. Ruminator Records. 2018. CD or digital: $14.99.

Pre-S—Grade 3

            Goldman’s album is based on the music he uses in his successful music classes for children in Brooklyn. Goldman does a good job performing on all the instruments himself: guitars, bass, piano, organ, synths, trombone, trumpet, accordion, drums, marimba, tambourine, shakers, triangle, cow bell, clave bells, sax, whistle, and harmonica. Goldman and several children perform in several musical styles, including pop, jazz, electronic dance music, folk, samba, blues, ranchera, Latin, and rock. “Moove to the Moozika,” in English and Spanish encourages children to move—stomping, shaking, and moving to the beat. The “Moose on the Loose” chases all the children who run far away. Listeners learn to count to four in Spanish with “Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro.” The “Supa Dupa Soup” has onions, carrots, celery, and perhaps dirty socks and salamanders. “Wiggle Waggin’” teaches listeners some animal sounds. “Wave Your Scarf” encourages participatory movement. Listeners might want to ride a “Burro,” a caballo and a toro while learning some Spanish. The lullaby “Sleep My Baby,” instead of being at the end of the album is in the middle of it, a somewhat unusual placement. The “Brooklyn Baby” goes to the zoo, plays in Prospect Park, rolls across the Brooklyn Bridge, and goes to Coney Island. “Limpia” is a cute cleaning up song. The “Roly-Poly Train” rolls through the mountains and plains, spins its wheels and blows its whistle. “Hasta Luego” ends the album with a bilingual farewell. Goldman’s goal is for families to come up with their own variations of the melodies, or even create new music inspired by this album.

Website:  www.moozika.com