Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album. CD. 38 min. with DVD (41 min.). RedEye Dist. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.99.
K-Gr 5–Grab your fishing gear and your tent, leave technology behind, and join the award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers (Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander) on a leisurely canoe trip down the Mississippi River. These mostly folk, country, and bluegrass tunes are enhanced by virtuoso performances on banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, accordion, tuba, trombone, piano, organ, udu, balafon, auto-harp, melodica, rhumba box, harmonica, drums, cajon, pots, pans, tomato box, and other percussion instruments. Vocal performances are outstanding, with plenty of lovely harmonies. Songs include “Can You Canoe,” “Haul Away Joe,” “Mr. & Mrs. Sippy,” “The Bullfrog Opera,” “Rosita,” “Campin’ Tent,” “Memphis Town,” “Along for the Ride,” “Muddy River,” “The Boatman’s Dance,” “King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O,” “Thousand Star Hotel” (sleeping under the stars), “Brother,” “Small and Simple” (with Elizabeth Mitchell), and “Roll on River.” The accompanying DVD is a videography of the canoe trip, complete with beautiful scenery, selected songs from the album, and plenty of laughs. This unique, outstanding musical performance should have a place in every library.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX
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