Songs For The Child In All Of Us
Have you ever seen a child just walking , skipping, running , jumping, while seemingly joyful of everything? That is how I feel when the music moves me. When you listen to various sounds from the many instruments afforded to us, be a child again. In other words, move, step out, jump and jiggle. It will become a great experience to be one with the music. You may never be the same again. Peace, joy, laughter, and motion all inspiring you to react in a childlike fashion. What a difference a sound can make to your livelihood. It may stir an elderly soul slumped in his chair; move a slow, just wakeful person; clap your hands and feel alive again.
Imagine there’s no heaven, wonder if you can? Then imagine there’s no music…
Play your favorite cd or record or cassette, and observe how that activity combined with joyful glee can stir you to be better, think faster, enjoy positive thoughts. Let your child rise to the surface. Improve your disposition, let your feet tap to the rhythm, your hands drum to the beat. Be calm, be cool, and feel alive! Scientific studies have shown that even people with dementia are often moved by music. It appears to trigger a part of the memory bank like no other source. Case in point, 96 year-old legendary crooner Tony Bennett . John Lennon once wrote, “Imagine there’s no heaven, wonder if you can?” I often wonder if you could imagine a world without music…Moreover , songwriter Mac Davis added, “Music is love, and love is music, if you know what I mean, People who believe in music are the happiest people I have ever seen…”
Essential Jazz Albums For The Child In All Of Us
- The Playground (Columbia Recs, 1998) – Tony Bennett
- Miss Ella’s Playhouse (Verve 2008) – Ella Fitzgerald
- Dave Digs Disney (Columbia 1962?) – Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Oh, Good Grief (Warner Bros. 1968) – Vince Guaraldi Trio
- Jazz For Kids (Verve 2004) – Various artists including Carmen McRae, Lionel Hampton
- Jazz For Juniors (Arbors 2001) – Randy Sandke with Allan Harris
- Jumpin’ Jazz Kids (2012) – Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws, and Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Cool For Kids (Juniper Recs) – Annie Ross
- The Children’s Suite (Jazzed Media 2009) – Phil Woods (A.A. Milne verses) with Bob Dorough
- The Cool School (Capital 1960?) – June Christy
- The Disney Standards (W. Disney Recs 2006) – Steve Tyrell
- Beauty & The Beast (RCA 1992) – The Jazz Networks with Roy Hargrove
- Someday My Prince Will Come (Venus 2016) – Alexis Cole
- Joe Cool’s Blues (Columb 1995) – Wynton Marsalis
- Jazz Disney (Verve 2016) – Various including Jamie Cullum, Melody Gardot, and Gregory Porter
- Quiet As The Moon (Music Masters 1991) – Dave Brubeck Qt.
- Disney Songs The Satchmo Way (Vista 1968) – Louis Armstrong
- I Believe In Little Things (Canada Factor 2015)
- Jazz For Kids (Big Bang 2002) – David Leonhardt Jazz Group
- Here’s To You Charlie Brown:50 Great Years! (Verve 2000) – David Benoit
- The Wizard Of Oz Suite – Phil Wilson & NDR Big Band
- Mister Rogers Swings – Holly Yarborough
Sesame Street Theme-this song has been covered by Oscar Peterson with The Singers Unlimited; and harmonica legend Jean Toots Thielemans was lured into a recording studio to enhance the original theme for this iconic show for a mere $35.00! Finally, vocalist/pianist/composer Bob Dorough with singer Blossom Dearie wrote several songs for a children’s tv show in the 60’s to help them to learn mathematics and the alphabet.
