Halloween Tricks from Lucy Kalantari and Pierce Freelon

All Hallow's Eve is the perfect time to add spooky to these scary times. Grammy winners Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats have added their jazzy take on October's vaunted holiday with the jazz-infused "Haunting Days of Halloween." 

Are authentic, supernatural creatures walking among us, hiding, pretending to be human, not just politicians? Lucy speculates what if, on the days leading to Halloween, these beings got to be just as they are? As the song posits:

All the creatures you know
Have been walking with you hiding under your nose
But now now now now 
It’s time time time 
To be free!

Halloween is that time of year when monsters walk among men (and costumed children). Lucy sings from the vantage point of the ghouls, jazzed at being able to dance, unconstrained by their physical (or corporeal) appearance. Her orchestrated blend of classical (Libby Weitnauer plays violin) and jazz play over a swinging, nay hypnotizing, beat. Grab "Haunted Days of Halloween" from Lucy's website, Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Here is the video link for "Haunted Days of Halloween":

Multi-hypenate Pierce Freelon has tasked himself to deconstruct the experience of being a Black millennial father living in the South with the D.a.D. project. The accompanying CD incorporated hip hop with clips of his two children to create an engaging, relatable aural trek, D.a.D, which touched on universal concerns that cut across the racial, societal, and generational spectrum. Pierce chronicles the commonality of raising children, delivering messages of encouragement, positivity, and creativity.

For the holiday season, Pierce and his 10-year-old daughter Stella are presenting "Zombi," a pandemic Halloween anthem. Stuck at home (so she doesn't catch COVID cooties), Stella feels like a zombie, in an all-ages song about social distancing during spooky times. Hear Stella and Pierce Freelon's "Zombi" at Soundcloud, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube (below):

Flor Bromley Fall Vid, Dan Elliott Preps for Halloween

Children's music is big enough for two Peruvian-heritage performers. Los Angeles-based Twinkle (Alitzah Warren) holds daily webcasts and Instagram sessions with her fans, and New York-based Flor Bromley has packed her schedule a well. 

Flor had the timing misfortune of debuting her latest release, FIESTA GLOBAL, immediately prior to the world getting slammed shut by the global pandemic (GLOBAL SIESTA would have been more appropriate). She conceived a “Fiesta Global” concept with the advent of children using technology to communicate and interact. Presciently, that's exactly how kids from Japan or Perú are now creating and celebrating together, even if coronavirus hadn't expedited the situation. You can order FIESTA GLOBAL from Flor's website. 

Flor spent the past few months assembling a video for the album's song “Otoño,” which means “Fall” in Spanish. The tune extols the pleasures and treasures of the season, from the colors of the leaves, to pumpkins and apple picking. Listen to "Otoño" from Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. 

Here is the video:

Dan Elliott (Pointed Man Band) gets the kids into the spooky seasonal spirit with his new song, "Halloween." Assisted by Patrick Hanlin (of Josh and the Jamtones fame), the song rocks out with a warning that candy-hungry kids are coming to your home very, very soon:

Yeah we’re knocking on your doors
Now we’re traipsing through the garden
Picking pumpkins from the patch near the old scarecrow
Now we’re running through the rows as the darkness will darken!

I've read a bunch of comparisons of Halloween to the global pandemic (it's here, be scared, etc). However Dan and friends strive to de-mystify the process, and bring it back to its core components – getting together on the one night of the year where it's okay to be scared, in the name of St. Hallow's Eve. You can grab the track at Bandcamp and make your contribution to the cause.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, October 20, 2020

White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer & David Gibb
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.
Animals Talk – caspar babypants
If You Want a Song – The Okee Dokee Brothers
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 19, 2020

Summer's Here – The Bazillions
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Sally-O  – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Knee High Thing  – caspar babypants
Cut the Cheese – Danny Weinkauf
Glue – Francis England
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas

Video Premieres: Frances England Gets Glued; Brady Rymer Masked

Music is coming fast and furious as the holidays approach, including unexpected pleasures from coast to coast. San Francisco's ethereal Frances England drops HONEY, a seven-song EP, early next month. In the meantime, the first video praises the people that you're "stuck" in quarantine with, appropriately titled "Glue."  The short gets its point across with nary a mask in sight – effectively ignoring coronavirus in favor of the proverbial ties that bind us together, as families, pods, communities, whatever you choose to call your chosen living arrangement. I've heard the entire EP (spoiler alert – it's really good). Frances has a soft, fully-defined persona. Her new collection is very much an "extender" until she compiles a full batch of songs for 2021. Looking forward to the post-pandemic era and return of live performances, and hopefully a return to the East Coast from this West Coast original. Here's the video for "Glue":

On the other end of the spectrum (and country) is Long Island's Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, with their educational and instructional "Good Looking Mask." Brady wrote the song to cast mask wearing in a positive and creative light. "Some kids find masks a little scary and off-putting," he explained. "With the new video, I hope it helps kids feel good about putting on their good looking masks." 

Sway that insistent science denier in your family with simple lyrics:

We’ll protect each other
It’s a selfless, loving act
All just by wearing a mask

Brady reached out to his network of fans and followers to send their most fun, most expressive, creative, and joyful contributions, captured in photographs and video clips. The resulting YouTube short includes examples of humans (as well as animals and accordion players) promoting safety, community health, and fun activities with friends and family. There's a cottage industry in songs about the pandemic. Brady's North Fork enclosure is far from a cottage, but he's mastered the industry of consummate children's music. Here's the video for "Good Looking Mask":

Going Koo Koo for Masks; Sonia's Festival Celebration

Teenagers may adore K-Pop groups. But their younger siblings have Koo Koo Kanga Roo, the pure pop duo for kids. Over the past decade, friends Bryan Atchison and Neil Olstad have demonstrated in their live shows what a duo can accomplish with backing tracks on an iPod and two microphones. Their YouTube channel is populated by more than 30 innovative, danceable videos. 

Now they have gone back to the future to promote this year's fashion/safety statement with "Face Mask." I say "back to the future," because they've taken their 2014 song "Fanny Pack" and repurposed the musical bed with new lyrics. You can grab the song from Spotify. In the meantime, here's the brand new video:

Mexican-American songstress Sonia De Los Santos wrote and debuted her original work, "Fiesta con Sonia De Los Santos," at New York City's New Victory Theater in 2019. Children's music endures in the pandemic era as Sonia has separated the lively "¡Fiesta, Fiesta!" from that theatrical experience and released it as an independent single (buy it here).

A celebration of life, "¡Fiesta, Fiesta!" is Sonia's thank you letter, dedicated to all the people who have inspired her musical journey, from her early days in Monterrey, Mexico through her migration to the United States and around the world, literally and virtually. Sonia celebrates her life as a musician, the freedoms granted to performers in the United States, encourages young listeners to be grateful for everything that's made them who they are today, and looks forward to better, non-sheltered days to come.

"¡Fiesta, Fiesta!" is in the upbeat rhythm of cumbia (a folkloric genre and dance from Colombia) featuring Sonia on vocals and guitar, with her band and many children. During the pandemic, Sonia has opted to connect directly with her audience through a Web series, "En Casa Con Sonia." She's within striking range of 1,000 subscribers, so help her out by clicking through and signing up.

23 Skidoo Wakes Up the Dream, Laurie Berkner Plans Halloween Concert

Nobody feels safe using the term "post-pandemic." But there's a lot of new music coming out that was recorded or filmed pre-pandemic and just making it into the marketplace. A shining example of that is Grammy winning children's music performer Secret Agent 23 Skidoo releasing a new song and video, "Wake Up the Dream."

Now more than ever, dreaming has importance for children. Skidoo and his brand spanking new Secret Agency meant to debut the song pre-pandemic. We all know how that turned out.  With his eyes on the future and a whole crew dancing and breaking rhymes, "Wake Up the Dream" espouses relevant values and doubles down on fun with family (and sometimes friends, if they're in your pod).

Here is the video for "Wake Up the Dream":

The Queen of Children's Music, Laurie Berkner, has a new Halloween-themed song, leading into the season of spirits. "What Am I Gonna Be (for Halloween)?" debates the ponderous preteen topic of proper costume etiquette. Once you're done listening to the song and your kids are properly in the mood for All Saints Eve, it's time for a pair of livestreamed family concert on Saturday, October 31. And family tickets allow you entrance into one or both of the events, held at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM ET.

In-person trick or treating is being discouraged in some states, and even banned in more strict communities. Laurie is promoting decorations, pumpkin carving, and a virtual experience where she and her band (Susie Lampert, Bobby Golden, and Brady Rymer) will deck the haunted halls with their spooky apparel. 

Laurie had been hosting Halloween concerts in the New York area for the past few years. A minuscule upside to the pandemic is the ability to perform in a virtual setting to potentially thousands of homes at the same time on that special day. Virtual tickets are available at Laurie Berkner's website. And here's the new single, "What Am I Gonna Be (for Halloween)?"

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 12, 2020

Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie

Finally – Franz Ferdinand

Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas

Hope Machine – The Okee Dokee Brothers

Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith

People Watching – Dean Jones

Come Down Here Monkey – caspar babypants

Raffi Sings Black Lives Matter; Red Yarn in the Backyard

Whereas many children's recording artists feel political songs are anathema, legendary performer Raffi has taken the opposite position. In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, Raffi has decided to explore the concept of unwarranted police violence with his new song, "Black Lives Matter To Me." Simply uttering that very phrase will make him unwelcome in certain homes. Raffi has been around long enough (more than 40 years) to have cycled through several generations of audiences. With this song, he seeks to embrace an enlightened class of listeners.

Raffi founded the Child Honouring program many years ago, and diversity is one of the group's key principles. His admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King also played a part in his decision to branch into politically-charged material. Harmonies are provided by Raffi protégé Lindsay Munroe. Raffi is promising even more new music to further promote his views on diversity and inclusion.

The pride of Portland, Red Yarn, has launched “Red Yarn’s Backyard,” a new video series promoting at-home learning and fun. Episodes will post on his YouTube channel every other week, featuring songs, stories, and activity ideas from Red Yarn (Andy Furgeson), Miss Jessie, and the puppet critters from his live show.

Much like Raffi has embraced inclusion as a hot topic for toddlers, “Red Yarn’s Backyard” welcomes audiences to a warm, friendly space where all can sing, dance, and learn together. The first few episodes will touch on cooperation, body autonomy, and the multicultural roots of popular folk songs. 

Red Yarn recently dropped his seventh album, BACKYARD BOP, and has been active in live-streaming performances to engage young fans and build his following on Facebook Live. His mix of authentic early American folk music and puppetry is a combination that gives Red Yarn a unique place in the current field of children's music performers.

Here is a recent episode:

Peter Alsop Melds Camping With Community

When you're been writing, recording, and performing music for five decades, you're bound to learn a few things. Veteran music artist Peter Alsop has released 22 albums, including his 10th and most recent children's recording, CAMPING WITH DADS. Gather 'round the virtual campfire as Alsop and his comrades crack wise, literally and figuratively, with a diverse range of musical styles and stories.

Part of Peter Alsop's charm is the "they'll learn something if you don't tell 'em it's educational" aspect of his music. There is a mix of skits and songs on CAMPING WITH DADS. The architecture builds the premise, and Alsop manages to hang something outlandish, like "I Brought A Gorilla Home" with more grounded tunes like "You Need A Good Listenin' To." And "Bad Dad Jokes" is an a capella performance number with a few groaners thrown in. 

Alsop spends time deconstructing some of the boys vs girls myth. On "Anthropologist," a young female singer recounts how she's just as capable of becoming an accomplished professional. Widening the circle of caring and respect for women is the fundamental message of "Dads 'N Boys," pointing out that previous generations thought nothing about dipping girls pigtails in inkwells in school. Social issues are covered on "Skin Color" (with a lead-in skit between Peter and MLK) and "I Wear Pink," featuring Steve Denyes of Hullabaloo.

Among the myriad cast of characters on CAMPING WITH DADS are Gerald Rivers (who plays Dr. Martin Luther King); lead singer of Rhythm Child Norman Jones, singer/songwriter Stuart Stotts,  Peter's son-in-law actor/director Chad Scheppner, along with grandkids, Quinnlyn (11), Leon (8), and Julius (5). Other child talents include Gabbi and Brodie Beauvais, and Cosmo Bernstein.

The Okee Dokee Brothers have won Grammy awards with albums based around the concept that nature bonds us all together. On CAMPING WITH DAD, Alsop takes that tact with everyone is the same when we assemble with sticks to roast marshmallow as the sun sets on a nearby lake. He paints a picture of tranquility, equality, and unity. That's a pretty fine campfire to build after 45 years of practice. 

CAMPING WITH DAD is available from Peter Alsop's website, Google Play, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for Peter's song "All Our Kids":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie
Daydreamin' All Day Long – caspar babypants
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Your Love is a Metaphor – Danny Weinkauf
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 5, 2020

Even When....  – Ratboy Jr. 

 Stars  – Ants Ants Ants 

 That's My Style  – The Bazillions

 Five White Ducks  – caspar babypants 

 Perfect Day  – Danny Weinkauf 

 It's a Miracle  – Dog On Fleas 

 Two Towns  – David Gibb & Brady Rymer