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Josh Levine For Kids (Available for purchase at CD Baby)
Click a song name to hear it in lo-fi MP3.
TRACKLISTING
1. Tiburon
2. The Alphabet Song
3. Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica
4. Jump Jim Joe
5. The Hokey Pokey
6. If You're Happy and You Know It
7. The Wheels on the Bus
8. I've Been Workin' on the Railroad
9. I Am A Pumpkin
10. A Place in the Choir
11. Cumpleanos Feliz
12. This Land is Your Land
13. A Real Bouquet
14. I've Got Music in My Soul
Josh Levine for Kids is a collection of songs in Spanish and English that I have sung with thousands of children in the New York City area in schools, parks, community gatherings and parties. I hope you enjoy it!
Here is a review by Warren Truitt, Director of the Donnell Central Children's Room, New York City Public Library:
http://www.kidsmusicthatrocks.blogspot.com
Let's see, what are the odds of coming across a kids' performer who just happens to work regularly with a legendary Cuban musician? Pretty good, actually, if you're in Manhattan! Professional bassist Josh Levine has combined the varied influences from his rich musical background to create what might be the kids' album most likely to induce spontaneous salsa dancing.
For his debut children's CD, Josh Levine for Kids, Levine put together a collection of traditional tunes, originals, and incredibly interesting cover songs. Double-tracked vocals, thick harmonies, generous use of a Venezuelan cuatro, and, of course, a booming acoustic bass, all recorded in Levine's apartment (let's hear it for indie rock!), make for a hugely entertaining album.
You get a great idea of what to expect for the rest of the album when Florentino Ruiz Carmona's "Tiburon" bursts from the speakers. Levine also covers Bill Staines' classic kids' song "A Place in the Choir", and Gil Raldiris' perfect preschool singalong activity tune "Mi Cuerpo Hace Musica". Again, an album full of traditional songs could go horribly boring, but wow, Levine really puts a spicy twist on oldies like "Jump Jim Joe", "The Hokey Pokey", "This Land is Your Land", "If You're Happy and You Know It", and even "Cumpleanos Feliz".
Levine contributes an impressive handful of originals, including the jack-o-lantern autobiography "I Am a Pumpkin"; the world-as-global-community message of "A Real Bouquet", cowritten with Edith Segal; and the joyous "I've Got Music in My Soul". Of course as a professional bass player, Levine made sure the low end was pushed to the forefront, and rightfully so. Every song sounds stronger for it, and seems to make the album even more of a hip shaking, hand clapping experience.
In the grownup music world, Levine performs with Son Amigos, a trio that includes legendary guitarist Jose Luis Martinez, who was an early member of the groundbreaking Cuban band Los Van Van, and can also be heard throughout the New York City area performing with the quartet Los Acustilocos, with songwriter/musician Angus Martin, and with vocalist Francine Morin ... busy, busy guy!
Full of short, intimate performances (four songs come in under the one-minute mark!) Josh Levine for Kids is a great, great resource for toddler and preschool programming, as well as a flat-out fun album to listen to loudly at home. Warn your downstairs neighbors, though: uncontrolled dancing is guaranteed!
OTHER CDS FEATURING JOSH LEVINE
Los Acustilocos
(Available at CD Baby)
Original acoustic compositions with a Latin and world beat, beautiful melodies and vocal harmonies. Songs in Spanish, French, Italian and English. This group of friends creates warm music for dancing and listening.
José Luís & Son Amigos - Frutas Del Caney
(Available at CD Baby)
Authentic Latin sounds of Cuban son, cha cha cha, guaracha and bolero played by the Cuban maestro José Luís Martínez & Son Amigos.
Angus Martin - Presqu'ile
(Available at CD Baby)
Universal Diaspora Pop, Post-Apocalyptic Muzak, World Music for the Otherworldly; European nostalgia and Christianarchism meet Afro-Caribbean & Brazilian rhythms...
BOOKING
Josh is available to perform for children's events- birthday parties, school assemblies, community gatherings- solo or with other musicians, and he's available to teach kids individually or in small groups. For adults- corporate parties, weddings, birthdays and more- Josh and his group are available to perform jazz, Latin, and R&B. ( Contact Email )
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