Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra’s New Family Music Album “Directs” The Way In This Year’s Top Family Music Albums List

Courtesy: Blue Engine Records/Jazz AT Lincoln Center

Family Music, otherwise known to most audiences as children’s music, is one of the most underrated genres in the musical universe.  The genre often-times gets a very bad reputation due to stereotypes created by audiences who are less educated than others about said genre.  Those who are more educated know that the world of Family Music offers perhaps more variety and originality than any mainstream genre.  The variety of albums released in this year’s field of Family Music albums clearly supports that statement.  From the Lincoln Center Orchestra performing its own surprisingly enjoyable takes on classic children’s songs, to the distinct presentation of Paul Winter Consort to even a Backstreet Boy’s own unique Family Music debut, this year’s field of new Family Music records has proven once again that said genre deserves far more respect than it gets.  That is why Phil’s Picks does its best each year to delve into that genre.

The Lincoln Center Orchestra tops this year’s list of new Family Music albums with its new recording Jazz For Kids.  It is just one of the interesting releases this year that the whole family will enjoy.  The Paul Winter Consort’s latest album can be considered not only Family Music, but possibly even World Music in its own right.  Former Backstreet Boy Howie D. offered one more of the year’s biggest surprises with his debut Family Music album, making it worthy in its own right on addition to this year’s list of top new Family Music albums.  It is joined by many others.  In fact, the list features the 10 top new Family Music albums along with five honorable mentions for a total of 15 titles.  noting again the variety of content featured across the Family Music genre, it made arranging this list anything but easy, but the final list here is that final choice.  Without any further ado here is this year’s Phil’s Picks Top 10 Family Music Albums.

 

PHIL’ PICKS 2019 TOP 10 FAMILY MUSIC ALBUMS

1. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis — Jazz For Kids
2. Thank You, Mr. Rogers — Music & Memories
3. Diana Panton — A Cheerful Little Earful
4. Paul Winter Consort & Friends — Everybody Under The Sun: Voices of Solstice — Volume 1
5. The Shazzbots — Light Speed
6. Howie D. — Which One Am I?
7. Dog on Fleas — I’m An Optimist
8. Johnette Downing with Scott Billington — Swamp Romp
9. Moozika! — Moove to the Mouzika
10. Sharon & Bram: Sharon & Bram and Friends
11. Parker & Alexander — All Of Us: Bible Songs For Everyone
12. Jesse Jukebox — Awesome
13. The Laurie Berkner Band — Waiting for the Elevator
14. Camille Harris — Baby on the Subway
15. Again Again — Listen Love Repeat

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Jazzy Ash “Swings” Her Way To The Top Of Phil’s Picks’ 2017 top New Family Music Albums List

Courtesy: Leaping Lizards Music

Children’s music, this critic has noted time and time again, is one of the most underrated genres of the vast musical universe.  To this day, so many people still have the belief that children’s music is cutesy pre-school level material that will only appeal to its young target audiences.  The reality of children’s music is that while some of that music does appeal mainly to younger listeners, just as much of it will appeal to older audiences, too.  The bluegrass sounds of the Okee Dokee Brothers, the hip-hop vibes of Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, and even the light jazz arrangements of Diana Panton prove that there is just as much music out there that will appeal just as much to adults as it will to children.  That being the case, this critic is hereby proposing that the music industry eliminate the term “Children’s Music” from here on out and replace it with the term “Family Music.”  Now with that in mind, this critic has been focusing quietly a handful of Family Music albums yet again this year, and this year’s list has some interesting new additions that will indeed appeal to the whole family including the list’s topper, Swing Set, from veteran Family Music entertainer Jazzy Ash.

Also included in this year’s list of new Family Music offerings is the soundtrack to the Junie B. Jones stage play, Dolly Parton’s (yes, Dolly Parton) I Believe In You, Danny Weinkauf & The Red Pants Band’s Totally Osome! and so many other offerings.  As always, this critic’s list includes the top 10 New albums plus five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 records.  Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks 2017 Top 10 New Family Music Albums.

PHIL’S PICKS 2017 TOP 10 NEW FAMILY MUSIC ALBUMS

1. Jazzy Ash — Swing Set
2. Ladysmith Black Mambazo — Songs of Peace & Love for Parents & Kids Around The World
3. Putumayo Presents — Cuban Playground
4. Putomayo Presents — Italian Playground
5. Junie B. Jones: The Cast Album
6. Mr. Dave — Feeling Good
7. Mister G. — Green World
8. Danny Weinkauff & The Red Pants Band — Totally Osome!
9. Paper Canoe Co. — Beanstalk Jack
10. Dolly Parton — I Believe In You
11. Twinkle — Just Dance
12. Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights — Brooklyn Baby!
13. Hullabaloo — The Best of Hullabaloo
14. Laurie Berkner — The Dance Remixes
15. Dana Cohenour — Dana’s Best Jump & Jam Tunes

That’s it for this list, but not it for Phil’s Picks year-ender lists.  With this list out of the way, there are still lists of the year’s top new Jazz & Blues albums, rock, hard rock & metal albums, live recordings, albums of the year, and plenty of DVD/BD lists.  Since time is short in the year, Phil’s Picks will offer multiple lists each day in an effort to make it to the year’s end.  So stay tuned for all of that.

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Danny Weinkauf Announces Release Date For Solo Family Debut

Courtesy: Idewild Records/Red Distribution

They Might Be Giants bassist Danny Weinkauf will release his debut solo family album this Spring.

No School Today will be released Tuesday, April 29^th via Idewild Records.  The sixteen-song album includes songs that cover a number of topics.  From topics as simple as spelling bees and the four food groups to more in-depth topics such as voting rights and a song about fellow musician Ben Folds, this album runs the gamut.  Weinkauf even follows up his hit song ‘I Am A Paleontologist’ (from They Might Be Giants Grammy-nominated album Here Comes Science) with a new song simply titled ‘Archaeology.’  Says Weinkauf of the song’s birth, “Several times after a Giants show, people would come up and tell me how much they liked my “Archaeology” song.They were confusing the title of ‘Paleontologist,’ but I decided to honor them by writing another song.”

Just as interesting an addition to Weinkauf’s new solo family album is a bonus track titled ‘The Kidney That Lived in Four People.’  The song is based on a true story.  It was written and recorded with guest Hank Green of the Vlog Brothers.

Green is just one of a handful of guests on No School Today.  He also included his own son Kai, daughter Lena, wife Michelle, and fellow family music star Laurie Berkner.  She joins Weinkauff on the song ‘Our Love Fits.’

No School Today was an entirely fan-funded album.  Weinkauff funded production of his album via Kickstarter.  There was such support for No School Today that Weinkauf had reached his support goal in only five days.  He ended the campaign with the album being 160% funded.  The albums’ release will be preceded with the release of a video for the song ‘Marsupial’ in early April.  More videos will be released around the album’s release date.

More information on No School Today is available online now at http://www.dannyweinkauf.com.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.