Caring Is Key, Say Lindsay Munroe and Raffi

Mentoring is a tricky business. When it goes bad (think "All About Eve"), terrible things can happen. But we're talking about children's music, where collaboration is a hallmark of the camaraderie and good fellowship that sweeps through the genre. Since meeting Lindsay Munroe backstage at one of his concerts a few years ago, Raffi – the recording legend who needs only one name – has taken on the Herculean task of turning Munroe into a frontline figure on the kid's music scene. 

Munroe's second CD under Raffi's tutelage, FROGS AND BIRDS, has just been released. A mother of three children with autism, Munroe wrote many of the songs as part of her Bridges Learning System (BLS), a curriculum that highlights the strengths of neurodiverse students. In conjunction with the SEA Bridge curriculum, BLS reinforces concepts around social communication, such as recognizing our similarities and celebrating our diversity. FROGS AND BIRDS is a big honking deal for another reason, in that Munroe is the first artist (other than Raffi) in decades to be distributed by his label, Troubadour Music.

Raffi has always possessed a strong connection with his audience of "Beluga Grads" and their progeny. His resurgence into the industry a few years ago was welcome, and his subsequent return to touring brought him and Munroe together. Her story, songs, sincerity, messaging, and YouTube videos enchanted the veteran and led to the creation of two CDs, with videos including performers such as Yo-Yo Ma. FROGS AND BIRDS, subtitled "Songs of kindness and caring" is filled with gentle, well-meaning tunes such as "If I Knew You Were Coming," “Where There Is Love” and "Take A Breath" (penned by Raffi), and "Faces Show Our Feelings.”

Espousing emotions and inclusion, FROGS AND BIRDS is nearly a timeless collection of children's music. Being cased in amber is not necessarily a good thing, as the world (and the genre) has evolved. Artists are receiving Grammy attention covering frontline issues like racism (Alphabet Rockers) and glass ceilings for women (Joanie Leeds), as well as creating mashups between classical compositions and musicians from around the world (Secret Agent 23 Skidoo).

FROGS AND BIRDS is a serviceable, upbeat CD of inclusive music. The sweet melodies and harmonies produced by Munroe and Raffi should find a receptive audience. As Raffi realizes, sometimes you don't have to reinvent the wheel to assemble pleasant children's music, especially in unpleasant times. 

FROGS AND BIRDS is available from Lindsay Munroe's website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is Lindsay Munroe's official puppet video for "Frogs and Birds" featuring Raffi:

Ben's Playlist - Monday, August 23, 2021

Plates Spinning – Jack Forman
Leaves & Sky – Alison Faith Levy
Stars – Ants Ants Ants
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys

Have Words With Weinkauf's Red Pants Band

Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band would like to have a few words with you and your family. In fact, they'd like to share a whole album of WORDS. If Danny seems obsessed with the language, that stems from more than 20 years working with special needs children. Communication opens many doors and is an enormous challenge for children on the spectrum, which presented an educational opportunity for Danny and bandmates Tina Kenny Jones, Steve Plesnarski, and Russ Jones.

WORDS is the snappy sixth set from the sartorially selective syndicate. The previous sentence is a tongue twister, the subject of an infectious same-named tune on this collection from kids label 8 Pound Gorilla Records. Over the course of 11 tracks, the band also looks at the origins of words ("Etymology" featuring Danny's son Kai on vocals), using repetition of similar-sounding words ("Alliteration"), and why spelling is important ("Silent Letters"). Prime offenders in the lyrics include the "T" in tsunami and "P" in pterodactyl. 

On "Hyperbole," Danny demonstrates how exaggeration can emphasize your point but also blow things out of proportion from reality, such as the following examples:

My girlfriend’s name is Shelly she’s as sharp as a pin
She’s skinny as a toothpick and as fast as the wind
She lugs around her backpack - man, that thing weighs a ton
But reading Harry Potter makes her shine like the sun

Aside from his composing work, Danny has played bass for They Might Be Giants since 1998 (the longest band tenure other than the two founding Johns). TMBG dipped their toes into children's music (recording five CDs and winning one Grammy award). Danny's tracks on those albums motivated him to expand his presence in the genre, earning him and the Red Pants Band airplay on Spare the Rock (kid's music podcast) and SiriusXM's Kids Place Live.

Danny's dedication to increasing the art of communication led to the cultivation of the "Words Project,"  a collaboration of 25 animators across six countries sharing the common goal on showing the impact of words and how they affect the society around us, both locally and globally. WORDS is a bouncy, brisk journey that takes less than 30 minutes to complete, even with an updated version of "Champion of the Spelling Bee" featuring Tina on lead vocals. The video from the group (directed by Eric Kreidler and Mike Owens) recently made its debut (see below). Parents and educators alike may now sagely distribute their words as well as share jaunty, upbeat WORDS songs for young listeners.

WORDS is available from Danny Weinkauf's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the new video for "Hyperbole":

Quick Hits: Jazz Cats Get Friendly, Levy Loves Magic

Friendship is more powerful than a pandemic. That's never been as true as on "Friendship Party," the new video from Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats' upcoming EP, WHAT KIND OF WORLD? (from kids label Eight Pound Gorilla Records). The Grammy Award-winning band's trombone player Ron Wilkins survived a bout of COVID last year, yet he sounds as fit and feisty as ever on the EP (review to follow in September). "Friendship Party" cuts between black-and-white instrument playing and colorful street scenes. The buoyant lyrics feature 1940s harmonies from Lucy and fellow jazz enthusiasts Jazzy Ash and Joelle Lurie (of JoJo and the Pinecones). For kids who might be confused about what kind of dance moves should accompany this type of American music, the accompanying video (shot in Brooklyn) showcases swing dancers and choreography that they can easily follow and teach to their friends and family. Here is the brand swinging new video from Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats:

Alison Faith Levy is back on the children's music scene after taking a well-deserved hiatus (and I'm not talking the enforced coronavirus isolation break that we all endured). With filmmaker Danny Plotnick, Levy has released a video for the title track of her upcoming CD, YOU ARE MAGIC. The theme of the concept album is how our own individual creative energy and momentum draws from – and is reflective of – the universe that surrounds us. The song nicely tracks how actions can have positive consequences:

Can you care for the earth and things that grow?
Just plant some seeds in nice straight rows
See you did it, there’s nothing to it
You are magic, and you can do it!

YOU ARE MAGIC is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp. In the meantime, you can watch the video for "You Are Magic" from Alison Faith Levy:

Quick Hits: New Father Goose EP; Video from Esther Crow & Lucy Kalantari

When you're the self-proclaimed "King of the Family House Party," it's important to acknowledge that there are homes all over the world. Even though Father Goose has planted his flag in the New York area, he is expanding his base. That means a new EP,  INVISIBLE, with collaborators from a literal United Nations: Jamaica, Singapore, Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Netherlands, and Africa.

Sidelined from doing live show in performance spaces due to the coronavirus, FG spent his pandemic crafting a gamut of songs with his rotating touring crew, making music that could be viewed remotely. But it turns out he had a bigger goal in mind. Goose used Zoom and cloud sharing to deliver danceable melodies with positive messages that enforce social responsibility and community engagement. 

FG puts words into the mouths of a young generation that feels "Invisible" while adults repeat the same mistakes, over and over. "Why" addresses deniers of systematic racism, as people of color seek to "keep on rising," despite challenges from existing class structure (and even a police siren to drive home the point), with a chorus that refrains, "Is it the color of my skin?" There are no easy answers for these tough questions, but FG uses music as his forum to offer possibilities so kids won't feel invisible.

You can also view the video for "Invisible" here, as well as stream the entire EP on YouTube:

Schoolhouse Rock exists only on the Internet (and in our collective memories). Children's musician and ethicist Esther Crow recently enlisted double Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari to duet with her on "Bees, Beavers, and Bats," which now has its own educational video, courtesy of animator Elana Fox (yes, Fox and Crow fighting on the same side). The song, from Esther's album ALL TOGETHER NOW, touts the importance of the animal kingdom in relation to biodiversity, centering on the three tune title characters. The song was arranged under the watchful eye of über-producer Dean Jones (who plays drums on the song). You can follow Esther Crow on Spotify and watch the video for "Bees, Beavers, and Bats" below:

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Moment – Tame Impala
Now is the Moment – Alison Faith Levy
Plates Spinning – Jack Forman
One Of The Boys – Huey Lewis & The News
Super Bookman Dude – Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band
Lo/Hi – The Black Keys

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, August 10, 2021

'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
Have You Ever – Brandi Carlile
Remind Me Why I Love You Again – Huey Lewis & The News
The Gift – Alison Faith Levy
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
No Parking – Jack Forman
Speaking of Adverbs – Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band

Ben's Playlist - Monday, August 9, 2021

I Am There For You – Huey Lewis & The News
My Song – Brandi Carlile
Canopy – Alison Faith Levy
Silent Letters – Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band
White Whale – Kepi Ghoulie
It's a Mystery – Jack Forman

Fun Summer Music from DJ Willy Wow, Mista Cookie Jar

It's tough to be a DJ when the parties are all remote. DJ Willy Wow (William March) experienced this firsthand during our pandemic year. With the world reopening, Willy has dropped his latest rave collection, IT'S ALL GOOD IN THE NATUREHOOD (featuring Grotch the Sasquatch) on 8 Pound Gorilla Records.

NATUREHOOD spends its eight songs educating kids to the importance to conservation (as it directly relates to forest fires on "California Fire") and gives background on the character of Grotch on "We Found Bigfoot! (Believe It Or Not)" and "Funky Bigfoot." National parks and camping get shout-outs on "More S'Mores" and "Butterflies." COVID is not ignored, with mentions on "Curbside DJ Slide" ("Don't forget to wear your mask"), as well as a chorus on "We Found Bigfoot":

We know you waited
We're glad you made it
Let's celebrate it
And Grandma's vaccinated

Willy is not new to the DJ game, having first entered the arena way back in 2005. He and his cast of characters have been featured on Sirius XM Kids Place Live and performed at four annual White House Easter Egg Rolls. This collection ably showcases his ability to generate kid-friendly old school dance music for all ages. Willy (and Grotch) are out of the woods on NATUREHOOD – now it's up to the rest of us to get vaccinated so the party never ends.

IT'S ALL GOOD IN THE NATUREHOOD is available from DJ Willy Wow's website, Apple Music, Spotify, or Amazon Music.

Here is the video for Willy's song, "More S'Mores":

 

People talk about the "plight" of the disabled while sometimes ignoring their strengths and achievements. Mista Cookie Jar is taking a crack at a summertime anthem with his new song, “Magic Day.” Joining him is collaborator Orbit Deen (Michael Cooney). In his day job, Cooney is an activist for the disabled, as well as a songwriter and motivational speaker. His "Able Cafe" podcast delves into ways to bust stereotypes about the disabled. "Magic Day" drops a happy beat about personal powers and potential, delivering a potent message about overcoming obstacles to accomplish new tasks and activities with family and friends. You can grab the song from Bandcamp (below):

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, August 5, 2021

Reality In Motion – Tame Impala
Draw – Alison Faith Levy
Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys
Nouns – Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
El Corazon – The Lucky Band
Hanukktopus – Jack Forman

Ben's Playlist - Monday, August 2, 2021

The Story – Brandi Carlile
Hyperbole – Danny Weinkauf and the Red Pants Band
Putting It Back Together – Alison Faith Levy
Go – The Black Keys
Good Things – Jack Forman
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas