Life does not always go as planned. Everyone knows that. At points throughout life, plans that we had seem to take a different path than what we expected. Such is the case for family music entertainer Melanie Dill. Dill, who began her career in music nearly 30 years ago, released what is only her third ever album today in the form of Swingset Serenade. That album, released under the moniker of Mel and Friends, itself has come more than two decades after the release of her sophomore album, Rainbow Lemonade (2002). The span between albums happened because following that album’s release, Dill took a break and went on to earn a graduate degree in education and move into the classroom as a teacher herself. This is according to information provided in a news release announcing the release of Dill’s new album. Her first new music in such a long time, the 10-song record is a presentation that audiences will find a welcome presentation regardless of listeners’ familiarity with her work. That is due in no small part to its featured musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany that musical content also play into that appeal and will be examined a little later. The sequencing of the collective content rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of this record. All things considered they make Swingset Serenade one more enjoyable offering for audiences of all ages.
Swingset Serenade, the long-awaited third album from Melanie Dill, is a presentation that listeners of all ages will find worth hearing. Its appeal comes in part to its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements in question take listeners back in time to the sounds of swing that made the 1930s and 40s so rich, musically speaking. Right from the album’s outset (also its title track), audiences get a musical composition that immediately lends itself to comparison to the timeless hit ‘Jukebox Saturday Night,’ which was made popular by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The song’s vocals were originally performed by Marion Hutton. Dill’s vocal talents are on par with those of Hutton here in her performance. The horns, steady time keeping with the brushes on the snare, and the guitar enriches that picture even more. It is such a catchy, infectious work that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.
While much of the album’s musical content is swing in nature, she does turn things in a decidedly opposite direction at points, such as the Latin samba vibe of ‘Jugo De Naranja’ and the more subdued Latin composition in ‘Me gustan las Estrellas.’ In the case of ‘Jugo de Naranja,’ audiences can so easily envision the streets of Havanna, Cuba on a warm summer night as they hear the familiar Afro-Latin percussion and distinct piano line that serve as its base. In ‘Me gustan las Estrellas (which transfers roughly to ‘I Like The Stars’) audiences get something more subdued, as noted, even in its Latin vibe. Instead of the samba of its predecessor, this song’s arrangement is more in the vein of the bossa nova of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s timeless 1962 hit, ‘The Girl From Impanema.’
On yet another note, a song, such as ‘Make A Garden’ shows the subtle influence of country music even on jazz what with the guitar performance. That light, bouncy arrangement in itself, works alongside the big band composition for a whole that stands on its own merits, too. It continues to show the variety of sounds and styles (even of jazz) that go on display throughout this record. That variety forms a strong foundation for Swingset Serenade.
The foundation set by the album’s musical variety is strengthened even more by the diversity in the album’s lyrical themes. In regard to the themes, Dill touches on science in the pairing of ‘The Speed of Light,’ ‘I Like The Stars’ and on trying new foods (so to speak) in ‘Ruth’s Couscous.’ That is touched on as the children in the song celebrate the joy of a potluck picnic, which features so many different kinds of foods. This is a crucial topic considering how picky children typically are in their developmental years. It is a familiar theme within the realm of family music, but just as welcome here as in so many other songs. On yet another interesting avenue, Dill takes on the emotions that children feel when a balloon accidentally flies way. Interestingly enough, in this song, vocalist Tom Johnson gives the balloon life, making the balloon rather happy while the child is quite the opposite. The opposing moods make for such an interesting contrast; this especially as the child is reminded about what it must be like to be that balloon by her friends. This is a topic, in the bigger picture of dealing with emotions, that is unique in its presentation and in turn welcome by so many listeners. It is one more example of the diversity of lyrical content featured throughout this record. When it and the other themes addressed here are considered alongside the rest of the album’s lyrical themes, the whole therein makes clear the importance of the album’s lyrical material.
As much as the lyrical themes and musical content featured throughout Swingset Serenade do to make the album engaging and entertaining, they are only part of the presentation’s whole. The sequencing of that collective content rounds out its most important elements. From beginning to end, Dill and company constantly change up the sounds and styles of the jazz that makes up that half of its body. From American to Latin jazz, things change just enough, and even within said genres, the styles and sounds change just enough, too. Clearly plenty of time and thought went into ordering the arrangements so as to keep the songs’ energies balanced from one to the next as they change. The lyrical content changes directions just enough, too, never resting too long on one topic. The result is that said sequencing ensures listeners’ engagement and entertainment solidly, too. When this is considered alongside the impact of the album’s overall content, the whole therein makes Swingset Serenade a successful return for Melanie Dill after such a long wait for her new record.
Swingset Serenade, the latest album from Melanie Dill, is a presentation that audiences new and familiar will find a welcome new offering from the family music entertainer and educator. As with so many family music albums out there, its success can be summed up in one word: diversity. The diversity in the album’s musical arrangements and lyrical themes forms a solid foundation for the record. The sequencing thereof brings everything full circle and completes the album’s presentation what with the thought and time that went into keeping things interesting for listeners from beginning to end. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered they make Swingset Serenade another welcome addition to this year’s field of new family music albums.
Swingset Serenade is available now through WeeZuZu. More information on the album is available along with all of Melanie Dill’s latest news at https://swingsetserenade.com.
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