Dad of Divas' Reviews: Jazz at Lincoln Center Releases WeBop: A Family Jazz Party

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Jazz at Lincoln Center Releases WeBop: A Family Jazz Party

About the CD
Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) will release WeBop: A Family Jazz Party, a CD featuring kid-tested and approved music on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. The recording brings the very best of JALC’s WeBop classes in NYC home to families worldwide. Critically-acclaimed drummer and music director Matt Wilson leads an intergenerational band of celebrated jazz musicians, including trumpeter Marcus Printup and trombonist Vincent Gardner of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, guitarist Doug Wamble and 90-year-old percussion legend and NEA Jazz Master Candido Camero, to bring a playful approach to classic jazz tunes.

Featuring songs like Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” Bob Thiele’s “What a Wonderful World,” John Coltrane’s “Syeeda’s Song Flute,” and originals from the WeBop classroom, the CD covers the full range of jazz music from New Orleans marches and Delta blues to free jazz. All are welcoming to listeners of every age, inviting families to move, sing, and play together. “On this recording we gathered an amazing cast who maintain a joyous sense of immaturity,” says Wilson, whose own children sing on the CD. “The sessions were like a big play date. We gave them the music and allowed them to create in the sonic sandbox. I believe the results are remarkable—more than a ‘children’s record,’ it’s a family record that parents and kids can enjoy together.”

The CD, which will be available nationwide (and globally as a digital release), includes a booklet with listening tips for parents, supplemental online activities, a short documentary on the making of WeBop and a music video for the classroom favorite, “Shakey Shake Shake.”

"Study after study shows the many wonderful developmental benefits of music education in early childhood," said Todd Stoll, JALC's Director of Education. "As such, WeBop is a major part of our mission at JALC. Jazz is a music that touches everyone. We are excited about the possibility of children, parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents sharing in the good feeling that the WeBop CD creates and we hope to develop a lifelong appreciation of the music."

WeBop complements Jazz at Lincoln Center’s acclaimed early childhood music education program of the same name. Named “best music class in the city” by New York Family, this interactive jazz class for children ages 8 months to 5 years and their caregivers invites families to explore their creativity and musicality through jazz concepts, instruments, and great performers. WeBop classes are held at the Louis Armstrong Classroom at New York City’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.


THE WEBOP FAMILY BAND:
Matt Wilson, drums, music director
Jeff Lederer, tenor and alto saxophones, flute, recorder

Marcus Printup, trumpet

Vincent Gardner, trombone

Martin Wind, bass

Doug Wamble, guitar, vocals
Adam Platt, piano, toy piano

Candido Camero, congas

Patrice Turner, vocals

Miles Griffith, vocals

Tim Sullivan, baritone saxophone, vocals

Xenia Rubinos, vocals

Charenee Wade, vocals

Bob Stewart, Tuba

Max Storcevic-Castro, percussion

Gary Versace, toy piano

And the Webop kids


REPERTOIRE: (Songs with * are WeBop ritual songs)

1. Good Morning Blues * (Ledbetter)
2. Shakey Shake Shake * (Custodero)
3. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Thing) (Ellington)
4. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop (Hampton)
5. Playin’ Together * (Turner)
6. Night Train (Ellington)
7. When the Saints Go Marching In (traditional)
8. Manteca (Gillespie/Pozo)
9. Food That You Like To Eat (Salt Peanuts) (Gillespie)
10. Free Jazz Adventure: Free àItsy Bitsy SpideràInfant Happiness à Bingo (Coleman, Traditional, Cherry, Traditional)
11. Syeeda’s ABCs (Syeeda’s Song Flute) (Coltrane)
12. My Style (Nutty) (Monk)
13. Your Own Blues (Wamble)
14. What a Wonderful World (Thiele)
15. Goodbye My New Friends * (Turner)

Jazz at Lincoln Center is dedicated to inspiring and growing audiences for jazz. With the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a comprehensive array of guest artists, Jazz at Lincoln Center advances a unique vision for the continued development of the art of jazz by producing a year-round schedule of performance, education, and broadcast events for audiences of all ages. These productions include concerts, national and international tours, residencies, weekly national radio programs, television broadcasts, recordings, publications, an annual high school jazz band competition and festival, a band director academy, jazz appreciation curriculum for students, music publishing, children's concerts and classes, lectures, adult education courses, student and educator workshops, and interactive websites. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, Chairman Lisa Schiff, and Executive Director Adrian Ellis, Jazz at Lincoln Center produces thousands of events each season in its home in New York City, Frederick P. Rose Hall, and around the world. For more information, visit jalc.org.

My Take on the CD
As a person who used to play a lot of jazz music back when I was younger and a person who still enjoys listening to jazz music, this CD was great! Full of great music and fun, you can tell through the music that the people in this group of musicians had a blast making the album and you and your family will love to listen and experience this music as well. So introduce your kids today to some great jazz music today and let their imagination soar through the music that will get your and their feet tapping!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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