TDmonthly's Toy Fair 2007 Preview
Category: Music

New Orleans Brass by PUTUMAYO KIDS

Brass wind instruments have played an important role in the music of New Orleans since the Spanish-American War, and were vital tools for the development of jazz during the first half of the 20th century. Putumayo's New Orleans Brass collection taps the contemporary scene for a characteristically pleasurable range of rhythms and moods. The lineup includes the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, James and Troy Andrews, the Yockamo All-Stars, Leroy Jones, and John Boutté. Artists performing in perhaps slightly more old-fashioned styles are Glen Andrews & the Lazy Six, the Preservation Hall Hot 4, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Bob French's Original Tuxedo Band with Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown, and the Dukes of Dixieland, a much hipper-sounding ensemble than the mainstream Dixie pop group of the same name that made million-selling LPs during the 1950s and '60s. Once again, Putumayo offers substantial, accessible music to groove and move to, this time in the form of a good healthy shot of soulful sounds right up off of the streets of New Orleans, Louisiana.
— Jen Fairclough, assistant manager of Magic Box LTD in New Orleans, La., told TDmonthly in a January 2012 survey that they sell six of this CD, which plays in the store, each month. 1/9/2012 (Price: $9.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kohala Soprano Ukulele by HOHNER

This kid sized Ukulele from the Hohner Kids line, all wood ukulele with real tropical sound is 21" long and includes instruction book. The Kohala is a little bit of a step up in quality and materials but essentially the same look and size as the HOH029. 1/3/2012 (Price: $44.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

People Places and Things by IN THE NICK OF TIME MUSIC

People, Places and Things is the second studio album from In The Nick of Time. With a mix of many genres from Punk to Funk, from Country to Blues, People, Places and Things has something for everyone. In the tradition of Sesame Street which borrowed from the best of popular music to teach simple concepts and themes, In The Nick of Time blends the sounds of The Beatles, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, The Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix and Pete Seeger. 11/23/2011 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Coconut Groove by IN THE NICK OF TIME MUSIC

Over the course of his seven-year career as a music educator, Nick Deysher has developed a catalog of music that spans the decades and the globe. Parents will love the classic sounds and influences of such greats as The Beatles, Bob Marley, Sly and the Family Stone, Paul Simon, Dandy Livingstone and Woody Guthrie. Children will love the catchy rhythms, humorous lyrics, and sweet melodies. Educators will love the science math and self-esteem concepts which are conveyed in each song. 11/23/2011 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Learning to Play Piano: for the Very Young by DEBBIE AND FRIENDS

Learning to Play Piano is designed for the parent and child to experience making music together. The pre-primer method book is filled with active participatory activities: writing in note names, tracing hands, writing in finger numbers, clapping, singing and playing melodies. The pull-out Keyboard Tent (included) provides a fun visual reference to associate notes on the page to keys on the piano. Children learn to play familiar melodies with their right hand gain the readiness skills needed to graduate to any commercially available piano method. The full-color book is filled with words of encouragement and praise from the familiar Debbie and Friends cartoon character. 24 pages. 11/23/2011 (Price: $9.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

MED SNGL HAND BONGO W/MALLET by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

All single hand bongos are made of natural color wood with quality skin heads and nylon strap handles. A mallet is included. 10/7/2011 (Price: $13.55) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PLASTIC RIM 6 TAMBOURINE by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

Rugged and built to last. These unique tambourines incorporate an unbreakable, reinforced polystyrene rim with cowhide head. Top quality jingles (with rounded edges) complement these superior quality tambourines and provide superb tone. Cowhide heads. 10/7/2011 (Price: $7.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

21 CHORD CHROMAHARP by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

Versatility is the key to this member of the ChromaHarp® family. The following 21 chord bars enable the player to literally play hundreds of songs. Construction and design feature torsion-tight tuning pins, pre-stressed maple frame, maple top and back. 10/7/2011 (Price: $262.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

8 NOTE GLOCKENSPIEL by RHYTHM BAND INSTRUMENTS LLC

This unique bell set is great for early childhood. The note names are indicated on each of the individually colored bars. Accurately pitched with a diatonic range from c2 to c3, and a pair of mallets are included. All corners are rounded for safety. 10/7/2011 (Price: $12.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

In the Nick Of Time - Making Silly Faces by IN THE NICK OF TIME MUSIC

A celebration of popular music styles from the 1970's to today. Making Silly Faces is a family friendly album made for kids to enjoy with their parents. Launch date: 2011. 9/30/2011 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Baby Lullaby Discovery Kit by BABY EINSTEIN

Baby Lullaby takes baby on a soothing journey with classical lullabies by Bach, Brahms and Mozart. Enjoy relaxing ocean waves, sweet puppet shows and tranquil images. Includes DVD, CD, and picture book. 30 minute run time. Other titles in this series include World of Rhythm and Neptune's Oceans. Launch date: February 22, 2011. 9/26/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chip Taylor and the Grandkids - Golden Kids Rules by SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS

When renowned musician & songwriter Chip Taylor ("Wild Thing" & "Angel of the Morning") became a grandfather, he directed his creative energy to writing new songs with & for his grandkids. Golden Kids Rules melds the husky, time-worn vocals & the musical instincts of a seasoned performer with the charming artistry of his 3 young grandchildren. Taylor's brother, actor Jon Voight, offers an insightful introduction to the artist & the album. 13 tracks, 38 mins, 20+page booklet w/ lyrics. Launch date: October 18, 2011.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, January 2012.
— Why it won: A great CD that tackles topics relevant to kids without being patronizing or sacrificing the quality of the actual music. Lovely tunes that parents and kids can listen to together. 9/26/2011 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Celtic Christmas by PUTUMAYO KIDS

Celtic Christmas follows previous successful Putumayo Christmas releases such as A Jazz & Blues Christmas, New Orleans Christmas and Christmas Around the World, which combined have sold over 1 million copies. Celtic Christmas offers Celtic interpretations of Christmas classics along with an original recording. The collection begins with the joyful singing of The Albion Christmas Band on “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” and moves into Charles T. Cozen’s instrumental version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Dougie MacLean closes out the collection with a soulful Scottish rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” Launch date: 2011. 9/26/2011 (Price: $14.98) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Spanish & English Sing And Learn Vol.II by Ms Blanca by LITTLE XAVIER COMPANY

Spanish & English educational album for children 3 years old and up. With themes like "ABC", "Months", My Name Is", "Ice Cream", "Goodbye Friends" and many more. Includes lyrics and sing along instrumentals. This is a great tool for schools and homeschooling. "All kindergarten teachers from Puerto Rico adopted this album," Blanca Castro, director of Little Xavier, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2011. 9/7/2011 (Price: $18.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Practically Ridiculous by THE JIMMIES

Practically Ridiculous is the latest offering from award-winning kindie rock band The Jimmies! Featuring epic minivan ballads and swinging tea party hits, Practically Ridiculous is a celebration of the silly in signature Jimmies style. Launch date: September 2011. 8/26/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

These Are My Friends by MOOCK MUSIC

This new family music release is the follow-up to Alastair Moock's award-winning debut family album, "A Cow Named Moock." These Are My Friends features many of Moock's old musical collaborators, including Rani Arbo, Lori McKenna, Mark Erelli, Vanessa Trien, Kris Delmhorst, Jennifer Kimball, Anand Nayak, Rose Polenzani, Scott Kessel and Paul Kochanski. Launch date: October 2011. 8/26/2011 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Rocknoceros - Colonel Purple Turtle by GO TEAM! MUSIC

This CD features 19 songs varying in style from jazz, barbershop quartet, acoustic guitar, and more. A concept album for kids, Colonel Purple Turtle follows the band's previous, NAPPA Award-winning album, Pink!. Launch date: September 13, 2011. 8/23/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wild Child by RECESS MUSIC

Recess Music, a company that strives to awaken kids to the magnificence of our planet through albums of earth-friendly music, announces the release of Wild Child, the fourth in its award-winning “Celebrate Earth” series of CDs.  Singing the praises of African fauna, the 14 tracks of Wild Child showcase a variety of musical contributions by a sampling of today’s most gifted kids’ musicians, including Jack Grunsky, Anna Moo, and Danny Adlerman. "Sales of Wild Child will benefit Roots and Shoots, the children's division of the Jane Goodall Institute," Elizabeth Waldman Frazier, publicist at Waldmania PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011. 8/10/2011 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Happily Ever Moey! A Fairy Tale Lark in Central Park by LEMONADE PRODUCTIONS LLC/ MOEY'S MUSIC PARTY

15 fairy tales burst to life as joyful songs and colorful videos in this rocking new Parents' Choice Award Winning CD/DVD, Happily Ever Moey! A Fairy Tale Lark in Central Park. 65 children join Moey, New York City's "Pied Piper in Pink" to turn classic tales into songs and videos with new kid-power endings. "Little Red Riding Hood" rescues herself from the Big Bad Wolf. Snow White and Sleeping Beauty wake themselves up with their own magical kiss. Goldilocks is a parable to protect the environment. The true princess in Princess and The Pea gives her mattresses to the homeless and sleeps on a king-size futon! Entertaining, engaging, inspiring, and empowering, this award-winning DVD gets children and grown ups dancing to the beat.
Awards: 2011 Parents' Choice "Fun Stuff" Award 8/10/2011 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ted Jacobs - Back to the Garden by HOUSE AT THE CORNER MUSIC

Parents' Choice® Award winning musician/composer Ted Jacobs is dedicated to presenting exquisite acoustic musical settings of the world’s most beloved poetry. His third studio CD, Back to the Garden,is a collection of songs based on poems from Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses.  More than ten years in the making, this album is a companion to Jacobs’ award-winning recording, A Child’s Garden of Songs. "Back to the Garden affords a perfect antidote to urgent schedules and electronic fascination, providing time and space for children to reflect, dream, and imagine while they nurture their creativity with music that’s an ideal match for Stevenson’s poems," Elizabeth Waldman Frazier, publicist at Waldmania PR, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2012. 8/10/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Pim French Intro Gift Set by LITTLE PIM CO.

Includes Little Pim French: eating and drinking (Disc 1), French Bop music CD, and an 8” Little Pim plush panda, all packaged in reusable see-through tote. Little Pim French: eating and drinking introduces over 60 words and phrases used at mealtime. French Bop features 15 songs, three by kid’s music star Milkshake. 8/4/2011 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Little Pim Spanish Bop by LITTLE PIM CO.

Little Pim Spanish Bop music CD is a delightful way to enhance children's language abilities. 15 songs, 12 of which are sung in Spanish, can be enjoyed on their own or as part of the award-winning Little Pim DVD series. Each CD contains a 16-page lyrics book that highlights vocabulary taught on the DVDs, and an English translation of all the songs. Spanish Bop features three original songs by Milkshake, a popular band on the kid music circuit, and one song by Grammy award-winner Dan Zanes & Friends. 8/4/2011 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Live in Lexington, Under the Copper Beech by BEN RUDNICK AND FRIENDS

Known as "The Grateful Dead for Kids," this live album features Ben Rudnick & Friends performing their blend of bluegrass, folk, country, and rock at the Town Green in Lexington, Mass. The total running time of the album is 78 minutes. 8/1/2011 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock by APPLE-EYE PRODUCTIONS

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock is the first Gustafer Yellowgold DVD/CD package to have a storyline, unfolding in graphic novel fashion and weaving together ten thought provoking, melodic soft-rock music videos in the inimitable Gustafer Yellowgold style, ranging from sublime alt-pop to gentle acoustic. Launch date: March 2010. 7/12/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever by APPLE-EYE PRODUCTIONS

Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever is the third in the award-winning series of DVD/CD sets released by Apple-Eye Productions.  Each song is accompanied by a series of hand-drawn, minimally animated illustrations set to melodic and catchy tunes ranging from mellow acoustic to crackling-pop.  Mellow Fever features guest-star performances by WILCO’s John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, as well as Lisa Loeb. "Gustafer Yellowgold's DVD/CD set are the only series of musical moving story-books," Brian Pearl, in marketing at Apple Eye Productions, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2009. 7/12/2011 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]