Disney Classics Box Set

Disclaimer: I am participating in a blog post campaign from One2One Network and Walt Disney Records. All opinions are my own.

Like many people I have a lot of memories wrapped up in Disney movies from my childhood. I remember the favorites that my sisters and I had. There were several movies that I could probably quote from start to finish, including the songs. It's probably the songs that stick with me the most. Maybe that just goes with my musical ability, but I think songs/music play a special part in most people's lives.

The product: Just released yesterday, November 12th, the Disney Classics box set is something that parents, kids, and even grandparents can enjoy together. 

The box set includes 4 discs of 94 original recordings. They are Disney Modern Classics, Disney Theme Park Classics, Disney Timeless Classics, and Disney Television Classics. And there is a special bonus for box set purchasers, a new medley of Disney hits by YouTube a capella sensations. See the video!

Find out more about this and other Disney music at www.disneymusic.com. They are also on Twitter and Facebook.

What we thought: We received a sample CD with a few songs on it. They brought me right back to my childhood. I love this music & it's something that I can sing along with and enjoy with my sons too. Just the other night I had songs popping in my head from Disney movies when I was singing Jonah at bedtime. Nothing like "A Whole New World" to get your baby to sleep.

Where to buy: You can get the Disney Classics box set at Amazon.com. (It is also available at Disney parks for purchase.) It has a suggested retail price of $49.98, but prices can vary depending on the retailer.

Maesto Classics "Carnival of the Animals" CD

Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.

The product: Over 50 National Awards ...

CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
from
MAESTRO CLASSICS™
 

A Stories in Music™ CD for Narrator, Soloists, and Orchestra
Featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Stephen Simon, Conductor
 

"If your little ones are past the age of getting their classical music from Baby Einstein, here is the perfect next step." -- Entertainment Weekly

"You don't have to love classical music to fall under theenchanting spell of Stephen Simon's magical production." --Parents' Choice Awards
 

NEW YORK --  Maestro Classics™, winner of over 50 prestigious awards for its Stories In Music™ CD series, proudly announces therelease of the company's tenth CD for family listening, a sparkling, child-friendly rendition of Camille Saint-Saëns' famous,whimsical masterpiece for narrator, soloists, and orchestra, Carnival of theAnimals. (Maestro Classics, $16.98, for ages 3+ and families, run time 70 minutes).
 
Lions roar, elephants dance, roosters crow at clucking hens, kangaroos leap, fish swim, wild donkeys race, xylophones clatter like fossils, clarinets cuckoo, virtuosic flutes imitate sounds of the aviary, the cello plays its famous swan song, and the tortoise does the world's slowest can-can in Saint-Saëns' musical picture gallery of the animal kingdom that also includes pianists practicing scales and some animals with long ears who are rumored to be music critics.

The Maestro Classics recording of Carnival of the Animals features thedroll verse that Ogden Nash wrote for each of the work's fourteen movements, recited here by Maestro Classics' beloved narrator, Yadu(a.k.a. Dr. Konrad Czynski).
 
With eminent conductor Stephen Simon directing the London Philharmonic Orchestra, stellar contributions by pianists Wendy Chen and Donna Kwong, a lovely interpretation of the French folk song "Au Clair de la Lune" by soprano Rachel Barham, and intriguing observations by Stephen Simon and "elucidator" Bonnie Ward Simon, in addition to a French/English interactive singing project and activities offered in a beautifully illustrated, 24-page program booklet, this recording of Carnival of the Animals will be treasured forever by children and adults alike.

Notes Bonnie Ward Simon, "The story goes that in 1950, America's pioneer pops conductor, André Kostelanetz, noticed that no one in the audience was smiling when he performed Carnival of the Animals.  They thought that all classical music should be serious!  He was so taken aback that he personally commissioned Ogden Nash to write verses to go with the music so that audiences would understand that Saint-Saëns intended the music to be funny.  Generations of children now remember the pianos roaring like lions and couplets like 'Elephants are useful friends, Equipped with handles at both ends,' as part of a wonderful childhood experience with music."

What we thought: Here is another great children's CD from Maestro Classics. My son really enjoys the classical music with their CDs. And it is so neat for them to make fun lyrics and music that children love. My son enjoyed this one, and I think it's perfect for children of all ages.

Where to buy: You can purchase the Carnival of Animals CD on their website or Amazon.

How to connect: Learn more about Maestro Classics at http://maestroclassics.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Johnette Downing "Reading Rocks!" CD

The product:
SINGING STORYTIME WITH A DASH OF LOUISIANA SPICE!

JOHNETTE DOWNING'S

READING ROCKS!

Award-Winning New Orleans Children's Musician & Author
Gets Kids Jazzed About Reading


"With her signature mix of Dixieland jazz, Cajun, Creole, and zydeco rhythms, Downing creates an irresistible musical jubilee."
-- Los Angeles Times

"Bonnie Raitt move over!  There's a new(er) blues belter in town.  And she's easy on the ears.  New Orleans singer-songwriter Johnette Downing has a velvet set of pipes, but instead of using them to sing of men who've done her wrong, she's belting out tunes about penguins and stingrays, crawfish and hermit crabs."
-- Education.com


NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Multi-award-winning New Orleans singer/songwriter, children's musician, and children's book authorJohnette Downing gets kids jazzed about reading with her 10th studio CD, Reading Rocks! (Wiggle Worm Records, $15.00, run time 49 minutes, for ages 2 – 8.)

Two years in the making, Reading Rocks! is Johnette Downing's first album to combine spoken word with music.  The CD interweaves readings from five of Johnette's beloved picture books, including her newest, Why the Possum Has a Large Grin (Pelican Publishing, fall 2012), with eleven lively songs that range in style from bluegrass to rock, as well as finger plays and limericks, all designed to motivate youngsters and reluctant readers to roll into the library and bop into books.

Johnette Downing, who brings a dash of "Louisiana Spice" to her concerts worldwide, has been praised by Gambit Weekly for "her ability to translate Louisiana music into mini=parties for her kid fans. In the great Louisiana tradition, Johnette sees her role not just as a performer, but as a spark to get her audiences up and dancing."   With ReadingRocks!, Johnette hopes to get kids up and reading, too!

Writing and performing music for children has been Johnette Downing's passion since 1990; the first of her ten CDs was recorded in 1992 and the first of her twelve children's books was published in 2006.  In addition to maintaining a full schedule as a performer and author, Johnette Downing is an educator who travels the world teaching parents and other educators how to use music to foster a love of reading. The very first tip she offers in her presentations is, "If you want your child to read, read."  This simple, but true, insight is at the heart of Reading Rocks!

Notes Johnette Downing, "My greatest musical influences come from having the good fortune to have been born and raised in Louisiana, the birthplace of jazz, Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music.  These rich musical influences, along with Afro-Caribbean rhythms, are my muse, and have, in large part, inspired both my songwriting and my children's books."

Johnette Downing has won twenty-one national awards, including honors from Parents' Choice, NAPPA, iParenting Media, Parents' Guide to Children’s Media, Family Choice Awards, and Family Review Center.

Johnette's NAPPA-winning children's book, Today is Monday in Louisiana (Pelican Publishing), was praised for its "lip-smacking appeal" by Publishers Weekly. The Times-Picayune declared, "Readers will be salivating by the final page" and called Johnette's subsequent book, Down in Louisiana, "almost irresistible."  Pelican Publishing will release Johnette's newest book, Why the Possum Has a Large Grin, this fall.  Watch for a new Johnette Downing e-book, Colors of the Sky, coming soon, too!

# # #

READING ROCKS! TRACK LIST:
Reading Rocks!
Open a Book Finger Play
Today is Monday in Kentucky
Why the Oyster Has the Pearl
Oyster Limerick
R*E*A*D
Story Time
The Colors of the Sky
Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud
Reach Every Achievement Desired
There Once Was a Boy Named Cary
Read to Me
Principal's Desk
Why the Possum Has a Large Grin
Readers are Leaders
Today is Monday in New York
Do-do (Sleep) My Child

Check out Johnette's website at http://johnettedowning.com

What we thought: This CD is my son's newest love. I don't know what exactly he likes about it, but there is some big draw for him. Maybe it's the variety of music styles all in one CD. Maybe it's his love for reading being the content of this CD. Either way, he really enjoys it. It's one that we hear him playing in his CD player often. It's a great kid friendly and family friendly CD that will make a great addition to your CD collection.

Where to buy: You can order Reading Rocks CD by Johnette Downing on her website or Amazon.




*Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.*

Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys - 'Bubble Ride' CD

The product:

VANESSA TRIEN AND THE JUMPING MONKEYS

TAKE KIDS ON A MUSICAL 

'BUBBLE RIDE'

“Filled with vivid images, rib-tickling humor, and sunshiny warmth … a tasty mini course in music appreciation.”

– Disney FamilyFun

“The overall effect is eclectic with a sophisticated sound and kid-friendly lyrics."

– UrbanBaby Daily

BOSTON, MA (July 18, 2012) – Honored with FIVE national awards and adored by a legion of families in the greater Boston area, Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys are poised to firmly plant themselves on the national scene with the October 2 release of Vanessa’s third studio CD, Bubble Ride (VeeTree Records, $14.98, run time 47 minutes, for ages 1 – 8).

With heartwarming effervescence, Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys have captured the vibrant energy of the band’s tremendously popular live concerts to showcase a sound honed and refined over the course of the past two years, a sound notable for its energized spontaneity, rich harmonies, and primarily acoustic instrumentation.  The result: a distinctive album, which defines a polished, mindful approach to music for children and families.

Bubble Ride kicks off with “Moomooheehawbaabaaneigh,” a sort of barnyard onomatopoetic Afrobeat song that takes a break in the middle to feature a hilarious rap about animal conversations. A delightful feature of many of the songs on Bubble Ride is the way they “open up” to create the image of a richly textured, large vocal ensemble.  Listening to these singers harmonize makes it clear that they love what they’re doing!  This is especially apparent when Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys revisit on iconic anthem of the early '70s,  "Free to Be You and Me." The round, deep tones of Paul Kochanski’s bass provide a living foundation for the band throughout the CD, while Adam Rothberg’s mandolin playing provides an easygoing Nashville sound to “Spinning Around.”  “Tickle Monster” alternates a droll, klezmer-like slow verse with a fast and silly chorus guaranteed to tickle all listeners of all ages.  With “Yo-Yo Song” the ensemble again demonstrates its strength as a harmony group, with much credit going to the sensitive way that Julie Rama Winslow supports Vanessa Trien’s lead.  Throughout the album, Vanessa Trien displays a command of a multitude of vocal styles that emphasize the humor of songs like "Peacock Walk," the rockabilly energy of "One Fine Day," the husky blues sound of "Train Dance," and the relaxed poise of the title track.

Notes Vanessa Trien,  “Over the past two years, the Jumping Monkeys band has seen a lot of changes as new musicians have come on board, each one contributing fresh ideas and impressive talent. While I remain the primary songwriter, the band has grown into a tight-knit musical family that, together, shapes the songs and creates the sounds we want. We focus mostly on acoustic instruments since many of us come from an acoustic folk background, but we also have roots-rock-bluegrass-funk edges that get families up and dancing. I still enjoy playing solo shows, but I really love playing with the full band because it opens up a whole new world of possibilities as a songwriter and performer.” 

Singer-songwriter Vanessa Trien, who holds a master's degree in education from Harvard University, has  been crisscrossing musical borders for as long as she can remember. While grounded in the acoustic folk genre, Vanessa has assimilated her own style,shifting effortlessly through an eclectic bag of influences: folk, blues, country, rockabilly, jazz standards, Latin, Caribbean, and ‘70s and ‘80s pop. Expanding her horizons to include kid-friendly music came naturally when Vanessa became a parent.  Indeed, her debut kids’ album, Hot Air Balloon (2006), gestated right along with her first child. Both baby Ellis and the CD were deemed first-rate at birth.  School Library Journal dubbed the album “A winner!”  Midwest Book Review wrote, “Enthusiastically recommended … [an] outstanding ‘feel good’ CD.”  Vanessa’s second kids’ CD, Carnival Day (2009), accompanied baby Laila into the world.  BostonChildren’s Music called Carnival Day “a must have for any kids’ music collection.” Vanessa Trien’s first two albums have won two Parents’ Choice® Awards, a NAPPA Award, and two iParenting Media Awards.

What we thought: A variety of fun songs and lyrics. A variety of music types. Fun for kids and families, you will enjoy the Bubble Ride CD with your children. This is a CD your children and whole family will enjoy together. You can sing and dance along to this entertaining CD.

Where to buy: You can find the Bubble Ride CD at CDbaby.com or Amazon.

How to connect: Learn more about Vanessa Trein and the Jumping Monkeys at http://vanessatrien.com/. You can find them on Facebook and Twitter too.




*Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.*

Love is a Superpower CD by Ben Rudnick & Friends

The product:

'LOVE IS A SUPERPOWER' BEN RUDNICK & FRIENDS “The words catchy and irrepressible just begin to describe the string-band music uncorked by a quintet of gifted instrumentalists.” – DownBeat Magazine “Sophisticated melodies, precise instrumentation and witty lyrics that delight the entire family." – The Washington Post "The lyrics are fun, the music catchy, and Rudnick’s vocals are perfectly quirky.” – Los Angeles Daily News “In other words, this is real music.” – The Boston Globe BOSTON, MA (July 10, 2012) -- Propelled by a sonic boom of critical praise crowned by six Parents' Choice Awards, Ben Rudnick & Friends are poised to launch a veritable explosion of creative energy with the October 2 release of their tenth album, Love is a Superpower.  Affectionately nicknamed "the Grateful Dead for kids," Ben Rudnick & Friends create a jam band dynamic that takes their concerts and recordings to a stratospheric level.  The band's instantly identifiable brand of adventurous musicianship soars across a spectrum of bluegrass, western swing, reggae, country, folk, and the many flavors of rock.  Kids' music authority Stefan Shepherd (Zooglobble.com) enthused, "The band just sounds GOOD." Love is a Superpower is Ben Rudnick & Friends at the very top of their game.  The album blends the vivacious spontaneity and ebullient creativity of the band's live shows with the intricately layered textures that are possible in a highly crafted studio recording.  Add stellar contributions from guest artists like Antiguan master bassist M'talewa Thomas (Entrain, Greatful Dread), fiddler Kenny Kosek (James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Willie Nelson), trombonist Jon Garniss (Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, The Four Tops), trumpet player Rick Hammett (Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, The Temptations), and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies) to the mix, and you have one remarkable CD with such sophisticated underpinning that repeat listening becomes an adventure. Ben Rudnick & Friends take pleasure in introducing kids and families to music that reflects the many hues of our cultural fabric.  On Love is a Superpower can be found music inspired by classic performances of '70s soul and funk, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, T. Rex, and The Grateful Dead, paired with an intelligent retrospective of earlier, thoroughly American musical styles that include traditional bluegrass and country and a particularly authentic salute to Bob Wills style western swing.  The result: kids and grownups listening, learning, singing, and dancing together, sharing a sense of community fun.  Notes Ben Rudnick, "It's amazing to realize that families are strengthening their bonds while they enjoy our tunes.  Our new album has a loose theme of 'Love.'  What do I want to express?  I wish people would love each other more, trust a bit more, have more confidence and self worth, be generally happy, take care of the world a bit better, get a little silly, and like western swing.  In my twelfth year of making music for families, I feel incredibly fortunate to get to play as many shows for as many people as I do and to have been able to make recordings galore.  I want to be sure to say the things I want to say while I have the chance.  Love is a superpower!  Love each other!" Ben Rudnick & Friends have been joyfully laying down the sound track of families having fun together since 2000.  The band's previous albums include Live in Lexington: Under the Copper Beech (2011), It's Santa Claus! (2010), A Frog Named Sam (2009), The Challenger Baseball Song and Other Hits (2007), Grace's Bell (2007), Live at the Playground:  WERS 88.9  FM Boston (2005), Blast Off! (2004), Fun and Games (2002), and Emily Songs (2000).   # # # CD Details: Love is a Superpower For all ages. Label: Bartlett Ave. Records SRP: $14.95 Run time: 44 minutes. Track List: A Little Boogie Love is a Superpower Where are the Dragons? Wake Up Happy Ray Chicken Soup Ballad Prime Time Wheels My Horse Swingin' Along Scribbling Here Comes the Sun Jenny Jenkins

What we thought: We like Ben Rudnick & Friends and have reviewed other CDs from them. They make fun kid music that the whole family can enjoy together. This would be a fun little gift to give your children for Valentine's Day this year instead of candy. I'm sure your children will enjoy it as much as mine did.

Where to buy: You can find the Love is a Superpower CD by Ben Rudnick & Friends on their website or other places online.



*Disclaimer: I received this product for review. All opinions are my own.*