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Lisa Yves: Jazz for Kids - Everybody's Boppin'
What we have here is a mixture of original tunes by Yves and jazz classics. Yves has revised some of the lyrics of the latter to make them more appropriate for the younger set. Listen, for example to the clever rendition of "(Hey) Daddy" where Alexa Madeloff and Hayley Katz ask Daddy (and Mommy, too) not only for diamond rings but things which are more important to them at their age, like letting them go to the mall with their friends. Yves excellent singing is heard on many cuts but she by no means hogs the show. She lets the kids, who range from six to fourteen years old , show off their significant vocal skills. Leah Fine does a duet with herself on "In a Mellotone" and Sarah Konowitz is just that on Neal Hefti's "Cute". And these youngsters can scat with the best of them as they ably demonstrate on Jon Hendricks' "Everybody's Boppin'". Vocalese and bop are visited on the Charles Mingus/Joni Mitchell "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines". But the highlight of an album filled with good stuff is the rendition of the Wardell Gray/Annie Ross bop anthem "Twisted" where Yves engages in be-boppin' give and take with the "Kids" jazz chorus. Other young soloists comport themselves equally as well. There is also excellent support by crack Boston area jazz musicians. Special mention should be made of Mike Monaghan who sax work is brightens almost every track making a significant contribution to the feeling of jazz that permeates this session. Brad Hatfield's piano, Marshall Wood on bass and Jim Gwin's tasteful drumming create a musical envelope into which the singing snugly fits.
Albums like these are often dismissed as novelties which lose their appeal after a couple of hearings. Not this one. Yves' imaginative arrangements and lyrics, the presence of first rank instrumentalists all mixed intelligently with the singing of very talented youngsters will encourage frequent rehearings of this recommended CD. "And they all lived happily ever after." Visit Lisa at her web site at http://www.jazzforkids.net where you can find where to buy the CD.
Track Listing
Sing, Sing, Sing; Bird and Diz; Be-Bop Lives; Everybody's Boppin'; Alphabet Scat; In a Mellow Tone; (Hey) Daddy; The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines; I'm Beboppin' Too; Colors of the Blues; Straighten up and Fly Right; Counting to Ten; A Night with Bach in Tunisia; Cute; Twisted; Roy G. Biv; Jazzabye; Clap Your Hands
Personnel
Lisa Yves - Vocals/Arrangements; Brad Hatfield - Piano/Arrangements; Marshall Wood - Bass; Jim Gwin - Drums; Mike Monaghan - Tenor & Alto Saxophone/Flute; Ken Cervenka - Trumpet; Featured Kid Vocalists - Sarah Konowitz, Alexa Madeloff, Lindsay Opper, Amy Kaplan, Hayley Katz, Emily Snidman, Leah Fine; Additional Kids Vocals (background singers): Abby Kobrin, Rachel Konowitz, Zoey Schwartz, Alex Worgaftik, Jill Breitner, Ashley Tabroff, Chelsea Vantine-Kelley
Album information
Title: Jazz for Kids - Everybody's Boppin' | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: DCC