Unhurried Journey

 

Unhurried Journey. Performed by Elena Moon Park. CD. Approx. 53 min. Moonpark Music. 2020. Price: CD: $15; Digital: $12.  All ages

Elena Moon Park performs six appealing original songs that she composed and ten traditional and original songs from Asia. Musical styles are varied, from bluegrass and jazz, to the folk music of various Asian countries. Her wonderful guest musicians are many and hail from the US and Asia: Elizabeth Mitchell, Dan Zanes, Sonia De Los Santos, Barbara Brousal, Claudia Eliaza, Yorn Young, Kyungso Park, Gamin, Akiko Hiroshima, Sumie Kaneko, Annie Chen, and Peni Candra Rini. The variety of musical instruments used is staggering and the performances are outstanding: acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, cello, violin, upright bass, piano, organ, musical saw, jarana, shamisen, pipa, gayageum, tro ou, flute, piri, fue, saenghwang, trumpet, gongs, trombone, French horn, vibes, roneat, marimbol, accordion, synthesizer, mellotron, drums, taiko, shakers, and percussion. The original songs are in English, while most of the Asian songs are in the language of the country, with some English translation. In “Brilliant New Idea,” everyone shares songs, stories, and new ideas. The “Flower Dance” (Cambodian folk song) is dedicated to springtime flowers floating on a lake. On an “Unhurried Journey,” we enjoy looking at trees and changing leaves, and feeling breezes. “Sae Taryeong,” a Korean folk song, celebrates springtime with people watching birds flying and listening to their songs. A light-hearted original Japanese song, “Ito Maki” tells about making underwear for a bear, pants for elephants, and fluffy socks for a fox. “Dia Mal Ka” (original Taiwanese  song) tells of children rambling down a tarry street, while smelling stew cooking. “Flying Starfish” are flying free but can return to the sea to be with family. A Korean folk song, “Springtime in My Hometown,” celebrates springtime blossoms, wheat fields, singing birds, and the springtime harvest. There are people saying I can’t be me, “Let It Come, Let It Go,” let it drift in the river and flow. In “Musikaru Ride to the Mountain,” a family of four take a hot air balloon ride, letting the wind carry them along. “Pong Dang Pong Dang” is a fun Korean song about skipping stones, then watching them cause ripples and make waves in the stream. “Hanagasa Ondo” is a Japanese folk song that accompanies a dance performed with a flower straw hat. “Gong Xi Gong Xi” was written to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year by shouting ‘Congratulations!’ (Gong Xi). You and me, we’ll meet in a dream “Underneath the Marshmallow Tree.” In the Indonesian folk song, “Count the Waves,” a child tries to catch a butterfly, but it slips away. What a wonderful way to introduce American children to the variety of musical styles of Asia. 

Backyard Bop

 

Backyard Bop. Performed by Red Yarn. CD. Approx. 39 min. Red Yarn Productions. 2020. Price: CD: $12; Digital: $9.  K – Grade 5

            Red Yarn, aka Andy Furgeson, performs 12 lively original songs in rockabilly and folk rock musical styles. Yarn and his backup musicians, which includes Grammy-winning Dean Jones, make beautiful music on electric and acoustic guitars, pedal steel guitar, bass, upright bass, organ, cello, violin, sax, trombone, balafon, drums, and percussion.  Yarn’s country accent enhances these down-home, delightful songs. The title song, “Backyard Bop,” encourages families to dance in their backyard. Everyone should rise and shine, make some noise, dance with freedom, and “Jump for Joy.” The “Mama Bird” can sing like the spring, wing through the sky and spin a circle around the sun. Everyone is playing tag, riding on skateboards, and tilting on the see-saw in the “Neighborhood Park.” One can enjoy looking “Outside My Window” and see birds singing, squirrels scampering, and leaves dancing. A family decides to get “Lazy Tonight” and watch a movie while eating popcorn and cookies. A gardener wants all the “Critters in My Garden” to get out and leave his vegetables alone. “Around This Town” people can stroll the streets, meet old friends, and find new friends. Will “Cats & Dogs” ever get along? Something is going on down at the “Town Hall Meeting,” where everyone should respect each other’s opinions. In “My Own Backyard,” a child can imagine washing up on a treasure island and other adventures. Whether a family of rabbits, possums, or humans, everyone needs “Someone to Love.” These heart-felt and soulful offerings are a welcome breath of fresh air during this time of staying at home and social distancing.

Website: www.redyarnproductions.com

Imagine That!

 

Imagine That! The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss. Performed by Rena Strober. CD. Approx. 39 min. Rena Strober. 2020. CD: $14.99 ; Digital: $9.99. Pre-school – Gr 3, and their parents

Award-winning actress, singer and advocate for the blind Rena Strober wanted to introduce a selection of Sesame Street songs that exemplify human kindness to a new generation of children. With her special guests, Jason Alexander, French Stewart, Michael-Leon Wooley, Deborah Grausman, and opera singer Cristina Jones, she accomplishes this goal. A small band of excellent musicians perform on piano, synth, guitars—acoustic and electric, drums, percussion , bass, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, musical saw, washboard, banjo, and tuba. A special children’s choir, DOTZ, is made up of children who are blind. Strober’s clear and light vocals soar in these pop and jazz songs with a Broadway show flair. The album opens with an invitation for “Somebody [to] Come and Play.” Next, listeners are encouraged to “Sing” out loud, out strong, and of things happy not sad; this songs includes some lyrics in Spanish. The narrator wants to “Imagine That” she is a knight fighting a dragon, then on to other adventures. Sesame Street fans will remember that it’s not easy “Being Green.” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder in “I’m Pretty/I’m an Aardvark.” Even though “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon,” I would like to visit and look down at the Earth. “What Makes Music” may be things as diverse as a flat tire’s hiss, a slurpy kiss, or a string you plink. “Candy Hearts & Paper Flowers” will always keep me close to you. My “Imagination” is right in the middle of my head. If you “Believe in Yourself,” you can be what your want to be, learn what you want to learn, and try what you need to try. A smile, laughter, a hug and a kiss is what it takes “To Love a Child.” “High Middle Low” showcases soprano, alto, and bass voices separately, then together in harmony. And “One Small Voice” can teach the world a song. “What Is Braille” is a spoken explanation of Braille—using one’s fingers to see. This outstanding album will give parents or grandparents who grew up with Sesame Street to share their favorite songs with their children and grandchildren.

Website: https://www.renastrober.com/

Invincible!

 

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• Invincible! Performed by Roger Day. CD. Approx. 32 min. Roger Day Productions. 2020. CD: $10.00.  K-- Gr 3

• • Multiple-award winning Day performs 10 encouraging and uplifting original rock songs, accompanied by guitar,  bass, keys, drums and percussion. Books fire up the imagination and help one do anything at all in “Invincible.” Imagination, not masks or capes, is the key to being “No Ordinary Super Hero.” Robots are cool and smart, so “Get a Robot First.” One child uses duct tape and rubber bands to make a jet-pack in “Me and My Jetpack.” A child tells his mom that “I’ll Be Your Super Hero,” but she wants him to clean his room. When a superhero flies around, all the people look like “Little Ants” crawling on the ground. Life is full of problems, but “Solve the Problem, Save the Day,” and you will find it’s full of answers, too. When one investigates like a scientist, one can see the “Big Picture.” Police officers, bus drivers, nurses, teachers, and cooks shine in “The Everyday Hero Song.” A child may not be able to jump over tall buildings or flick spider webs from their wrists, but they can be superheroes and claim that “Love Is My Super Power.” These musically and lyrically appealing songs will encourage children to be the best they can be.

    Website: https://www.rogerday.com/
    

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Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes & Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car

Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes & Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car! Performed by The Wiggles. CD. Approx. 49 min. The Wiggles Pty Ltd. 2020. CD: $14.99.

Pre-School-K

For almost 30 years, this multi-award winning group from Australia has been entertaining and teaching preschool children with their age-appropriate songs. The current group is comprised of Anthony Field, Lachlan (Lachy) Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and Emma Watkins, performing 23 songs in a variety of rock and pop musical styles. The band pours on the Aussie accent for “Old Man Emu” (he can’t fly, but he can run the pants off a kangaroo). And conscious of current events, they urge listeners to engage in “Social Distancing,” suggesting that listeners stay home and use video calls to visit Nana. “The Handwashing Song” teaches listeners when, how often, and how to kill germs on their hands. In “Wiggle at Home” listeners are encouraged to find pots and pans and form their own band. “Beatrice Bee” celebrates honeybees and worker bees. In more operatic voices, they cover Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Sun, Whose Rays are All Ablaze” (from The Mikado). “How Good Is That” includes a short instrumental chorus from the Irish song “I’ll Tell Me Ma.” The rest of the songs showcase various types of transportation, including walking, space travel, swimming, surfing, trains, planes, automobiles, and even wheelchairs: “Trains, Planes and the Big Red Car,” “Trains Rolling Down the Track,” “Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car,” “Moose in the Caboose,” “Paddlin’ Australia,” “Big, Big Heart,” “Rocket Ship,” “Watching the Planes,” “Emma’s Bowmobile, Beep Beep,” “Are We There Yet,” “Zoo Be Doo Dee,” “Walk,” “Do the Propeller,” “We Fly the Plane to the Outback,” “Wheels on the Wheelchair Go Round and Round,” and “Roll the Acrobats.” There is plenty in this ambitious album for old and new fans alike to love.

Website:  thewiggles.com.au

Songs Across the Pond

Songs Across the Pond. Performed by Brady Rymer and David Gibb. CD. Approx. 41 min. Little Seeds Music and Bumblin’ Bee Records. 2020. Digital: $9.49.

Ages K and up

Multi-award winning Brady Rymer joins his Brit buddy David Gibb to perform on this delightful, musically retro album of 12 songs. Taking a time machine back to the 60s, 70s and 80s, the duo pay homage to the Beatles, the Stones, David Bowie and Madness in these rock, pop, and soul songs. The duo and their instrumental mates give masterful performances on guitar, violin, keys, banjo, flute, bass, harmonica, drums, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and accordion; while the vocals soar with fantastic harmonies. Along with the original songs, they perform a rousing rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Twisting the Night Away,” and a lively arrangement of Cat Stevens’ “If You Want to Sing Out.” Drifting on over the waves “Across the Pond” there’s a friend you’ve not made yet. Brady and David compare their “Two Towns,” one on the beach and the other surrounded by country. When it is not easy to talk to someone you don’t know, smile and say, “Hey There,” and ask how they’re doing today. Brady and David celebrate Eleanor Rigby, Lovely Rita, Penny Lane, Lucy and much more in “Living in a Beatles Song.” The sky is blue, the grass is green, and I was born with a “Summertime Soul.” Blowing through just like the wind, “Traveling David,” greets every morning with a brand new song. More and more “Roundabouts”  are popping up in my city. Comparing US and UK vocabulary is fun in “You Say This, I Say That” from trunk/boot to sneakers/trainers. Take my hand across the floor and “Get Up with Me and Dance.” Curled up in the car on the back seat, I’m “Happy to Be Going Home.” This wonderful album will not only appeal to children, but those who grew up in the 60s and 70s will also love it. A slam-dunk.

Websites: www.bradyrymer.com and www.davidgibb.com

Avocado

Avocado. Performed by Rolie Polie Guacamole. CD. Approx. 47 min. RPG Records. Year. 2020. CD and Digital: $15.00.

Ages 2—8

Award-winning Frank Gallo and Andrew Tuzhilin, the duo that makes up Rolie Polie Guacamole, perform 13 funny and silly songs in high energy rock, funk, rap, and folk musical styles. Several of the songs are rich with electronic sounds. The duo and their musician friends, including Dean Jones, create great background music on guitar, synthesizer, bass, and drums. Enthusiastic children join in on several songs. The title song, “Avocado,” repeats the word over and over. Celebrating all things baseball, “Ay Batta Batta” includes game announcers. “Basketball Jane” proves herself Queen of Basketball after she wins a competition with Nasty J. I wanna ride on a “Firetruck” and work in a fire station. “Dancing on the Sun” is a participatory movement song, as listeners are encouraged to dance slowly on the moon, rapidly on the sun, and “shiveringly” on Pluto. Arriving back on Earth, they sing along with “A Very Quiet Song,” a lovely lullaby. “Aguacate,” the Spanish word for avocado, has the same tune as the title song, and with the word sung repeatedly. In a cumulative tune, listeners are asked if one puts “Pizza Pie” in one’s eye, nose, ear, etc. “iScream” is based on the old chant: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. When an iceberg in Patagonia splits down the middle, “Persevering Penguins and Pals” are separated from one another. While searching for her own talent, “Sammie the Cat” discovers she can write songs, in this spoken and sung story. The duo performs a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells” in a polka style arrangement. A brief outro of “Avocado” closes the album. These lively and humorous songs will have listeners singing and dancing along with the music.

Website: roliepolieguacamole.com