Cat Doorman Songbook

PreS-Gr 3—Drummer Julianna Bright leads the Cat Doorman band in 14 songs, 12 of which she wrote. Featuring lots of beautiful harmonies and an enthusiastic children's chorus, these songs come in a variety of musical styles, such as jazz, folk, folk rock, ragtime, funk, and Hawaiian folk. Bright's pure, clear vocals are accompanied by beautiful instrumental arrangements and terrific performances on guitar, bass, violin, viola, ukulele, piano, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, marimba, pump organ, glockenspiel, and drums. The lyrics, aspiring to be literary in quality, can be somewhat obscure. Focusing on the uniqueness, potential, and power of children, the songs include "Peaceful," "All the Birds," "So Many Words" (an alphabet song), "Madame Claire" (in which a princess and a matchmaker face off), "Inspiration," "Yeah!" (a funky dance tune), "Let's Get Dressed Up," "Lonely Girl" (a shy, imaginative girl), "Little Red Wagon" (traditional tune with Bright's lyrics), and "Whistling Song," among others. Bright also covers Syd Barrett's (of Pink Floyd fame) "Effervescing Elephant," in which an elephant warns other animals of a tiger, only to end up as the animal's prey. A satisfying listening experience.—Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX