Something a little different: Barbara Martin takes listeners on a journey through the rhythms of America's musical past, from 1750 to 1950, performing songs that illustrate the roots of folk, blues and jazz, to early country and rock. Some of her selections: "Motherless Child," "Wild Rover," "It Don't Mean a Thing" and "Hound Dog." The integrity of the instrumentals and Martin's warm, clear vocals and brief but informative introductions to each song segment are a graceful blend of education and entertainment. Her historical set piece is the main attraction; Martin also includes a few original message songs. Her "If Smoking's So Cool" isn't a great fit with the rest of the history-spanning, larger-themed tone, but "There's a Rhythm to It All," with tuneful percussion instruments, and the zydeco-flavored "Life Is For Living" are songs to take to heart. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor.
Reviewed by Lynne Heffley, Parents' Choice® 2000
Product Description
Silver Honor Parents Choice Award, 2000 American popular music is a rich and exciting melting pot of many cultures. When I first started doing my program for elementary school age children, "From Ragtime to Rock & Roll", my idea was to introduce kids to some types of music they might not be familiar with: folk, old time, blues and jazz. I also wanted to show kids how the rock & roll and country music they listen to today is rooted in the European melodies and African rhythms of our country's ancestry. This recording covers music common among American people from 1750 to 1950; from the African slave ships and European immigration to the Civil War to the Great Depression to the birth of rock & roll.
