1 comments about Kwanzaa Music.

1. Close your eyes and you are on an African plain. Cock your ear to the sound of the Islands. Open your heart to an old negro spiritual. This compilation is an adventurous journey for the heart. It is sure to touch your mind and soul.

1 comments about Sounds Of The Holidays.

1. Does holiday music Brazilian-style sound like an oil-and-water combination? Not in the capable, inventive hands of local act Brazil And Beyond, who explore a wide range of material on their multifaceted new release.
   
   Giving B&B a distinctive sound is its frequent use of the cavaquinho, a small soprano member of the guitar family, played by leader Rich K (Kowalewski), who started the band in 1999. Kowalewski is an in-demand studio musician and teaches a bass master class at Oakland University.
   
   Also setting that lilting Latin mood are Ken Braun, who plays the cavaquinho, guitar, and percussion; Frank Marinello on guitars; Rob Emanuel on drums and percussion, and Dennis Sheridan on an array of percussion instruments.
   
   Even the most traditional Christmas tunes are cleverly reimagined, such as "The First Noel," on which Rich K plays the melody on bass, and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and "Carol of the Bells" featuring him on mandolin. Warm renditions of "Winter Wonderland" and "We Three Kings" are sure to make you feel like you're enjoying the holidays on a beach in Rio de Janeiro.
   
   The medleys of "Chanukah Folktune"/"I Have a Little Dreydl" and "Little Drummer Boy"/"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" are nothing short of charming, as is the sunny take of "Happy Happy Kwanzaa"

No comments about Kwanza.

2 comments about Kwanza.

1. This is a reissue of a collection of late sixties tracks. Great stuff indeed except if you already own "The way ahead". Two of the tracks "New Africa" and "Bakai" are the bonus tracks added at the end of 1998 reissue of "The way ahead". Don't waste your money for an expensive reissue of 3 songs (less than 20 minutes of music) unless you are a big fan of Shepp.



2. "Kwanza" offers a nice collection of tracks recorded by Shepp in 1968 and 1969 for Impulse!, where the saxophonist is accompanied by a large assortment of performers. This album is a thematic exploration of Africa, with Shepp expressing his compositional ability with characteristic cultural and artistic feeling. The creative combination of artsy vocal arrangements and instrumental improvisation come together to produce one of Shepp's more theatrical releases, behind only 1972's "Attica Blues".
   
   Trumpeter Woody Shaw helped to breathe brand new life into the old tune "Bakai", and the roll of musicians appearing on these tracks is exhaustive. The standout players seem to be Woody Shaw (t), Cedar Walton (p), Joe Chambers (d) and James Spaulding (as). There are many more, but these are the more notable members of Shepp's big band. A recording that encompasses free improvisation with a bit of infused funk, "Kwanza" will certainly please fans of Shepp's 1966 "Mama Too Tight" and 1972 "Attica Blues".

1 comments about Holiday Times: Songs, Stories, Rhymes & Chants for Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year & St. Patrick's Day.

1. If you want your children to have exposure to other traditions, this CD is for them. Most of this CD (and many other Ella Jenkins) CDs sounds like it was recorded at an awesome library singalong for young children.
   
   There is a maudlin version of "Holiday Times" sung by a male voice. You can enjoy it because it's "so bad it is good," but it seems out of place here. You can always skip it.

3 comments about KWANZAA for Young People (and Everyone else!).

1. As a parent and educator, this album is very refreshing. It is positive, infomative and uplifting. As stated in the introduction it is for young and old alike. Kwanzaa for young people and everyone else , is just that. It crosses all ethnic barriers and focuses on what is important; the gift we not only give to others, but that we give to ourselves. I highly recommend this album to parents, to sit and listen with their children and to explain to them why these attributes are so important. Congratulations, on a job well done to the artists and folks at Charphelia.



2. As a parent and educator, this album is very refreshing. It is positive, infomative and uplifting. As stated in the introduction it is for young and old alike. Kwanzaa for young people and everyone else , is just that. It crosses all ethnic barriers and focuses on what is important; the gift we not only give to others, but that we give to ourselves. I highly recommend this album to parents, to sit and listen with their children and to explain to them why these attributes are so important. Congratulations, on a job well done to the artists and folks at Charphelia.



3. This is a Great COllection of Songs that Celebrate KWANZAA.It's about Giving&Sharing and it's for All People.It Has Great Messages&alot of feeling.Very Well Done.

5 comments about The Kwanzaa Album.

1. What a great collection of music to share with children during Black History Month! (Not to mention during the holiday season.) My elementary students loved listening to the music and learning about Africa. Thanks for selling this album!



2. Women of the Calabash are simply magic. Their harmony and voices are among the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard. It's easy to lose yourself in their music and messages. A must have for any music collection.



3. This album is the premier authentic collection of music inspired by and based upon the ideals, stories and history of Kwanzaa. In addition to a wide range of instrumental pieces, the album features eight specifically chosen vocal performances, ranging from traditional African songs to contemporary composed pieces. A standout for me is "Mya Si Grei", a traditional song which originated in Guyana, sung by enslaved Africans and passed down to their children. The lyrics roughly translate into "Even though we are here in these terrible conditoins, we are still the same proud, noble people we always were." I also enjoyed Jody Gray's a capella arrangement of "Lift Every Voice" performed with the Free Voices of Praise Choir. This is a dynamic, beautiful CD, one I highly recommend to celebrate Black History any time of year.



4. In search of music to use for a Kwanzaa Celebration, I purchased this CD. It is absolutely wonderful and just what I needed to complete my celebration. I love the music, the different instruments and the vocals are excellent. Thank you!



5. These women are trully gifted! Their music is inspiring and uplifting. You can feel such a wonderful energy in each and every song as tho it resonates within you. I very much reccomend!! Cannot wait for the next one!

No comments about Essence of Kwanzaa.

1 comments about Special Days.

1. My students are enjoying the songs on this CD. They are very kid-friendly, catchy tunes and thoughtful lyrics. We are looking forward to having Brian visit our school.

5 comments about Barney's Christmas Star.

1. This is another Barney DVD that has no menu. Once you put it on you must fast forward through the initial advertisements and then you can play the Barney portion. Without a menu it is basically a glorified VHS tape that the best you can do is fast forward to get to a certain spot. There is also no spanish sound track. If you want a VHS-like product that should last longer than a tape you might be interested in this. As far as the story goes I would opt for The Night Before Christmas. That story is more little kid friendly and more entertaining. The Christmas Star didn't hold the interest of my 3.5 or 1.5 y/o children. With The Night Before Christmas they request to see it all the time. The Night Before Christmas DVD also functions like a DVD.



2. This is our first Barney dvd and my 22 month old daughter loves it. I just skip the "commercials" at the beginning by hitting the "chapter" button on my remote. The characters touch on the ways some different cultures celebrate the holidays and sing several songs -- some traditional Christmas songs as well as others like "Just Imagine" which my daughter and I loved. Its cute and fun and well worth the money I spent.



3. What is it about Barney that acts like ether on the toddler set? Just when you thought the big guy couldn't get any more annoying, he reappears with a whole new cast of wide-eyed stage brats entirely consumed with finding the star for the community Christmas tree. Along the way, your senses are numbed by an array of perky holiday songs sung by perky holiday kids, in whose dictionaries the word "overacting" apparently doesn't appear, Barney spewing a constant barrage of pithy, brilliant truths, merry-yet-creepy, nails-on-chalkboard chuckles, and the inevitable appearances of twin-lap-dogs-of-Satan Baby Bop and B.J. Attempt to watch this with your kids and you'll quickly realize you're on a slow trip to nowhere, your hair turning white overnight, inundated with the keep-it-simple-stupid philosophy of Barney's world, but one glimpse of the rapture in their eyes as they're riveted to the set, leaving you a few free moments to clean out the sink before something in there grows legs and runs away, somehow makes the price of this video all worthwhile. Anyone who's ever criticized the use of a television to babysit a kid has obviously owned neither. In spite of Barney being some sort of deity at my house, my dream is still to one day set him on fire. Live with it...



4. My kids love this movie, no matter what time of year it is they still want to watch this one, so I would have to say it is great!



5. I got this movie from a friend and was glad I didn't buy it myself. It is kind of boring and not nearly as good as "Barney's Night Before Christmas". If you are looking for a video that talks about other holidays besides Christmas, keep looking. In this video, Barney and friends sing a Hanakuh song and a Kwanza song and show a festive table for each holiday, but they do not explain anything about those holidays. The songs last 2-3 minutes and then its back to the Christmas celebration. Some of the Christmas/winter songs in the video are well done, but the search for the star in the attic takes too long and has too much dialouge. Although, my 2 1/2 year-old twins do like the nutcracker drummer scene and the ballerina scene.