Itty-Bitty Review: Rockin' to the Fiddle - Jumping Through Hoops

Jumping Through Hoops is the name for an all-star band of Brooklyn Americana musicians, including Kristin Andreassen, guitarist Chris Eldridge, and the project's creator, child psychologist/stringband fiddler (a phrase I typed just so I could be the first person ever to type that) Dr. Kari Groff. Given Dr. Groff's background and the fact that the next JTH release is designed "to help families with the tough issues kids face growing up," you might think this would be a dry, didactic release.

It's not.

There are parts of this album so joyful it seems to burst forth from the computer or iPod. You need not be a believer to feel moved by the band's take on the spiritual "Open Up the Window Noah." The album opener "Dance All Night" mixes a subtly positive message ("Dance all day and all night long / find your voice and sing along / dance all night 'til the break of day / feet can't stop while the fiddle girl play") with a melody that will encourage many listening to dance along. "The Secret Key" is a gentle original about friendship, and you might think that maybe the overt messaging's kicking in, but that's followed up by the zippiest version of "Shortnin' Bread" you will ever hear. The rest of the album continues to maintain that balance, buoyed by accomplished playing.

There are a handful of songs whose messages are targeted at kids ages 4 through 9, but it'll likely have a broader appeal than that. You can stream the 26-minute album using the widget below. Rockin' to the Fiddle is a fabulous little sliver of bluegrass and Americana for the whole family. Fans of folks like Elizabeth Mitchell, Little Mo McCoury, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, and Dan Zanes -- and just plain good music -- ears up. Definitely recommended.

Please Release Me: January 2012 Edition

It's 2012, and time again for an updated list of new and upcoming releases, many of which were on last month's list. Additions to the list are noted with a "++"; changes to previously-mentioned items are indicated with italics.

As always, if I've listed you on here and gotten something wrong (or something not ready for primetime), let me know and I'll edit or delete it. And if you're not on here and think you should be, drop me a line, too, and I'll get you added for the next iteration.

++ Little Miss Ann: Walk With Me (Jan. 15)
++ Kidz Bop: Kidz Bop 21 (Jan. 17)
++ Two of a Kind: Sing Me Your Story (Jan. 24)
++ Tom's Fun Band: Macaroni and Cheese (Jan. 27)
Princess Katie and Racer Steve: Love, Cake & Monsters (January?)
Central Services Board of Education: Binary [tentative] (January?)
The Good Ms. Padgett: ... Tells The Little Red Hen and Other Stories (January?)
RhymeZwell: Robots on the Dance Floor (January?)
Big Don: Big Don's Brand New Beat (January?)
Riff Rockit: Riff Rockit (CD, DVD, Jan. 24)
Katherine Dines: Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta HITS (Jan. 31)
Ellis Paul: The Hero in You (January)
The Fresh Beat Band: Soundtrack (January)
++ Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of Depeche Mode (Feb. 7)
++ Farmer Jason: Nature Jams (Feb. 7)
The Bari Koral Family Rock Band: Anna And The Cupcakes (Feb. 14)
Putumayo Kids: Instrumental Dreamland (Feb. 28)
Tim and the Space Cadets: Anthems for Adventure (February)
Bill Harley: High Dives and Other Things That Could Have Happened (February)
Doctor Noize: Grammaropolis (March 4)
Recess Music: La Bella Stella (March 27)
Gustafer Yellowgold: Gustafer Yellowgold’s Year in The Day (April 3)
Mo Phillips: Title TBA (April 10)
Caspar Babypants: HOT DOG! (April 17)
++ Sukey Molloy: I Am Happy (April 24)
Orange Sherbet: Delicious (May 1)
Hope Harris: Picasso, That's Who (May 8)
Okee Dokee Brothers: Mississippi River CD/DVD (May)
Randy Kaplan: Mr. Diddie Wah Diddie (spring?)
The Funky Mamas and Friends: Pickin’ In The Garden (spring)
Elena Moon Park: Rabbit Days and Dumplings (spring)
++ The Pop Ups: Radio Jungle (spring)
++ Alison Faith Levy: World of Wonder (spring)
The Dirty Sock Funtime Band: Dirty Socks Come Clean (June 26)
Charity and the JAMband: Family Values (July 3)
++ Recess Music: Someone Else’s Shoes (September 25)
Andy Z: The Grand Scream of Things (Halloween 2012)

Other expected 2012 albums: Ah-Choo, Peter Apel, Ratboy, Jr., Sugar Free Allstars, Renee & Jeremy, The Bramble Jam, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Make Believers), Bobby Susser (Wo), Eric Herman (2 albums: one music, one comedy skits), Keith Munslow (2 albums: one solo, one with Bill Harley), Wayne Potash, Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band, Lori Henriques, Shine and the Moonbeams, Yumza! ++

Monday Morning Smile: MLK, Jr., Readeez-Style

I couldn't say much -- anything, really -- that would improve upon the speech that Readeez creator Michael Rachap chose to give the Readeez treatment. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech on the Washington Mall in 1963 is a classic -- here's the powerful last ninety seconds.

Contest: Win Papa Crow's "Things That Roar" and More!

I liked Papa Crow's 2011 debut Things That Roar quite a bit. So I'm pleased to be able to offer you (courtesy of Papa Crow himself, Jeff Krebs) a copy of that fine album, good at any time of year, and especially here in the hush of winter.

But even if you've already got the album, there's another reason why you might be interested -- the winner of the contest will also get a handmade Papa Crow T-shirt (usually part hand-painted, part stenciled and part hand-stamped, and made by Krebs' wife) in a size of their choosing.

So what do you need to do? Just enter a comment below or in the Facebook post announcing the contest with the animal who makes your favorite animal noise, roar or not. One entry per family, entries due by 11 PM East Coast time Thursday, Jan. 12. I'll pick one winner at random.

And even if you don't win, if you're not familiar with Things That Roar, you can always sign up using the widget to the side to get three free downloads from the album for the price of an e-mail and zip code.

Share: "The Mixing Bowl" - Kira Willey

Five years ago Kira Willey released Dance for the Sun: Yoga Songs for Kids, an album of, well, yoga music for kids. It was, against the expectations I had when first presented with an album of "yoga music for kids," pretty good. It wasn't dorky, it wasn't goopy, and, frankly, you could listen to it even if you and your kids didn't know a downward dog from a hot dog. (And I say that as someone who practices -- albeit without real training -- yoga.) It also proved to be the exception to the rule -- no other similar CD I've heard has come close to its listen-ability. My wife used it to help teach a couple basic yoga sessions for kids, too.

So I was pleased to hear last spring that Willey was working on a follow-up, and now it's finally here. It's called Kings & Queens of the Forest: Yoga Songs for Kids Vol. 2, and I think folks who liked the first go-round won't be disappointed with this new album. And if you're not sure whether it's for you, Willey's offering up a couple of songs off the new album free for the downloading. You can go to Willey's site for a free download of the peppy "Mr. Cricket Hop." And once your kids need a little quieter time, you can download (or stream) "The Mixing Bowl" via the widget below, courtesy of Willey. [Note: There aren't any more downloads via this link, so you can try here.]