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By: Paula Slade
How do you say innovation in children’s music? – Banjo to Beatbox, the newest release from the twice GRAMMY-honored duo, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, who are joined by Christylez Bacon, the Washington, D.C. beatbox/hip-hop phenomenon. Together they dish up plentiful servings of innovative foot-tapping, hand-clapping, body-dancing sounds fusing traditional folk with contemporary urban.
An engaging mix of musical styles, Fink and Marxer have done it again, taking children’s music and giving it a new face.
Selections on the recently released album include:
Jubilation, a catchy and easy-to-sing-along opening number where the rhyming words beckon children to finish the phrase.
It’s the Beatbox, introduces Bacon, who explains the “20 different drums” he has tucked away inside his body. Bacon’s riveting rhythmical sounds will keep you asking, “How does he do that with his voice?" You have to hear it to believe it!
The sweet tonal theme and washboard sounds of the Syncopated Washboard Rhythm Song, playfully encourages children to move along with the melody and sound effects.
Next up is Soup, Soup, which will keep you and the kids singing and inventing your own type of soup long after Fink and Marxer have led the way. With everything from elephant and pickle soup to rutabaga and monkey soup – guaranteed to have children giggling out loud with the silliest lyric inventions of their own.
Froggy Went A Courtin’ is a cherished, and favorite children’s tale that introduces familiar animal guests in song.
The Hip-Hop Humpty Dumpty’s call-response employs a good message, engages children to be part of Bacon’s rhythmical delivery. It’s a new spin on an old egg.
Barnyard Dance playfully introduces the vegetables that grow in the garden. The added use of a kazoo will inspire kids to make their own with comb and paper, just so they can play along.
New River Train, a fancy plucking instrumental and song, slightly reminiscent of Orange Blossom Special, but with beatbox effects and a twist with counting numbers.
There is an EP edition of Banjo to Beatbox, which features three bonus Quicktime videos: Cathy & Marcy Jammin with Christylez, Tappers with Attitude, and an amazing break-dancer; plus Christylez performing It's the Beatbox, and Cathy & Marcy in Banjoland.
A new video of the opening song, Jubilation will soon be released too.
All of the songs are available as listening samples and for download from iTunes, Amazon.com and other music services, or direct from Fink and Marxer’s web site.
On the artist’s site, you can even download the album liner notes and lyrics so you can have your own at-home sing-along.
To read all about Fink and Marxer’s journey in creating this new genre, follow this link for some interesting insights.
You can also catch a glimpse of Cathy, Marcy and Christylez in live performance here.
If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read:
GRAMMY winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer set to kick-off Candlelight Concerts Family Series
The GRAMMYS: Celebrating 51 years of children’s musical entertainment
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