Wake Up Clarinet!

PreS-Gr 4—Clarinetist/composer Oran Etkin presents five outstanding modern jazz, be-bop, and New Orleans jazz songs intended to convey sophisticated musical concepts to kids in a fun way that they can understand. Guest musicians chime in on saxophone, drums, piano, bass, and trombone, while Charenee Wade provides the sultry vocals. Etkin and Wade introduce three of the songs with conversation and story. Etkin also converses with his clarinet, which responds in musical notes. "High Low" introduces the concept of pitch. In "Wake Up, Clarinet!," children learn the concept of dynamics (soft to loud). "All I Really Want to Do Is Dance" the clarinet informs Oran. "Little Lamb Jam" is a wonderful jazz version, in a minor key and with extra lyrics, of the traditional "Mary Had a Little Lamb." (This piece was also included on Putumayo's Jazz Playground.) "Eh La Bas" rounds out the selections. his enhanced CD includes video footage (with high quality visual and audio production) of a children's concert, in which Etkin and his fellow musicians perform "High Low," "Big Mama Tuba" (not on the CD), and "All I Want to Do Is Dance" with audience children dancing along. A unique, excellent jazz album for children.—Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX