All in the Family for Vered

I don't remember when my first little brother arrived. I was just under two years old. Same story with the next one. My mother wrote an anecdote in my "baby book" that she passed along a few years ago – After my THIRD baby brother joined the gang, at some point I asked, "When is the next baby coming home?" to which she replied, "That's the last one."

Vered examines the dynamics of family with her new CD, SONGS FOR SISTERS AND BROTHERS. "One Family" delivers the inclusive all-world message, but the other tracks delve into the interpersonal aspects, from excitement upon hearing your family is growing ("You're Gonna Be") to the soulful, bluesy longing for one-on-one contact ("Like It Once Was"). Walter Martin humorously duets on "It'll Be" with insults and wistful enthusiasm, such as "I'll help you blow out all your candles 'cause by then there'll be millions of them" before declaring "It'll be so good to be grown up with you." A kids chorus sings (and whistles) about how everyone's a narcissist sometimes in "Brothers and Sisters."

There's also a view from the parental side. In "Pr Agent," Vered gives a first-person account of succeeding because of – and sometimes despite – her kids. And how those same kids bring moments of pure joy and frustration, just like in every parent-child relationship.

The recent movie "Tully" examines the mental and physical toll of being a full-time, stay-at-home mother. Vered recognizes that after the first child, it's almost impossible to lavish the same amount of attention on all the kids. At which point, it becomes almost astounding when the youngest one suddenly discovers and develops skillsets. As she relates in the song, "Little Bird":

You learn to touch the sky all my yourself
When no one's watching
It's really something.
My little bird, it's like you just need a nest
For when you want to rest.

There are a bunch of special participants on SONGS FOR SISTERS AND BROTHERS, and Vered even credits them as the "Dream Team" on the CD inner sleeve. It's an impressive list of vocalists and instrumentalists who collaborated on a smart, friendly collection of tunes. My brothers may be a little too old to appreciate the sentiments, but my younger son isn't. And maybe even his older brother.

SONGS FOR SISTERS AND BROTHERS is available on May 18 from Vered's website (BabyInTune), iTunes, Amazon, and CDBABY.

Here is Vered and the Babes performing "Hello":

Kindie Quick Hits: Making Music, Videos This Season

Walter Martin has released a new holiday song, "I Walk Slow (Under the Mistletoe)," featuring vocalist Kat Edmonson. The song (not entirely for kids, obviously, based on the title) is available for a free download at Walter's website. He will be performing the show on Thursday, December 18 at Joe's Pub in New York. Is that not enough of a lure? Then watch the video, below.


Your child plays a musical instrument? Wonderful! They want to experience working with others? Excellent! You don't know where to look? No problem!  Come Join the BAND! is a free, and free-wheeling, high-energy show where current performers in children's music acts play with aspiring musicians.

An after school program for kids ages 4 - 18, you can sample the experience on Sunday, January 25 at 1:00 p.m. at DROM (85 Avenue A in New York City). Bands at the January show -- The Um-Mazing Emeralds, U.S.A. (Unusual Squad of Awesomeness), Futurist Robots, The Dragons, Absolute Zero, and Infinity Soil -- will perform. Audience members will be encouraged to dance, sing along, and help write an original song.

Registration is open on an ongoing basis for classes on Mondays and Fridays at UltraSound Studios, 251 W. 30th St., with a shuttle that runs from the Upper West Side. Free trial classes are available. Registration forms may be found on the Come Join the BAND! website.

The Good Ms. Padgett has released a video for her song, "Dance Party Pizza Party!" It's perfect for the post-Thanksgiving, pre-holiday season. Take a gander:



And hey, can you take one last video? This one is from the musical Twigs sisters, for their song, "Sunshine":

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, August 21, 2014

Sing To Me – Walter Martin
I Got You – Jack Johnson
Pendulum – Pearl Jam
Kangaroo! – Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Now Let's Dance – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Jump On The Moon – Human-Tim + Robot-Tim
Don't Touch My Stuff! – Trout Fishing In America
Brick By Brick – Recess Monkey
Swing Low – Josh And The Jamtones

Ben's Playlist - Friday, July 4, 2014

You Got It On – Justin Timberlake
Sing To Me – Walter Martin
You Remind Me Of You – Jack Johnson
The Road To Gundagai – Band Of The South Australia Police
Take Your Kid To Work Day – Recess Monkey
A Million Ways to Play – Eric Herman
Twirl! Twirl! Twirl! – Mr. Leebot
Brave – Sara Bareilles
Midnight Memories – One Direction
That's Just Us (Playing Rock-n-Roll) – Hullabaloo

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Sing To Me – Walter Martin
I Love the Rain – The Real Tuesday Weld
Show Me What You're Feeling – Tom Chapin
BroOKlyn – Mil's Trills
Breakfast – Ratboy Jr.
Stop Your Sobbing – Stacey Peasley
Red Piano Rag – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Jam on Rye – Randy Kaplan
No, No, No – The Little Rockers Band

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Sing To Me – Walter Martin
Now Let's Dance – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Slow – Trout Fishing In America
Bigga Bagga – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
Robots From The 4th Dimension – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Up In Cat's Room – David Heatley
Bananas (Plum Crazy) – Tangerine Tambourine
Only Girl (In The World) – Rihanna
Marsupial  – Danny Weinkauf
A Who? (feat. Joanie Leeds) – Father Goose
Twirl! Twirl! Twirl! – Mr. Leebot

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Changes – David Bowie
Life Is Better With You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Looking For Trains – Justin Roberts
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Let 'em Know – Milkshake
Real Real Gone – Van Morrison
Give Me Back My Hat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Louder – Lea Michele
Sing To Me – Walter Martin
Stop at a Mom N' Pop – Uncle Rock