- Bryon Harris
Kinderjazz - 'Teddy Bear's Picnic'
Kinderjazz is a 12-piece fully acoustic swing orchestra with music that engages and delights young audiences. Featuring some of the best musicians from Australia, Kinderjazz has performed prestigious venues worldwide including: the Manly Jazz Festival, the Sydney Opera House, Daring Harbour, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Parramatta Stadium (to more than 10,000 families), Carols in the Domain 2000 on Channel 7, Stadium Australia and many more major venues.
Parents, Teachers, Childcare Providers, Schools, Churches and Special Events Directors, take note: Kinderjazz is a fantastic and fun way to introduce children to the joy of music while enhancing their listening and learning skills. With their newest album, 'Teddy Bear’s Picnic', kids are sure to have a blast and adults will love it too! Jazz is often thought of as a venue for sophisticated adults, but Kinderjazz proves that jazz music is most definitely for kids too.
The first fun track off this album is “Arabella”. Upbeat and full of energy this track is sure to have your kids laughing and dancing along. Featuring male and female vocals, “Arabella” has exciting harmonies and even a scatting portion that kids will giggle to. With fantastic runs from the horn section and a beat that you can hop and bop to, “Arabella” is a great introduction to Kinderjazz.
Naming the album, the next track is “Teddy Bear’s Picnic”. This smooth track is one for the whole family. The song begins with mellow horns accompanied by quick drum fills followed by a nice walking bass line. About a minute into the song, there is a smooth transition to an up-tempo swing before breaking back into the jazzy groove we heard at the beginning. Although it is completely instrumental, there is no question why this track is the title for this outstanding album. Kinderjazz is like going on a picnic with your best friend - your Teddy Bear - and exploring wonderful surroundings (music) and packing all your favorite things (instruments, singing, story-telling, rhythm and rhyme.)
A later track, and my favorite, “Homework Blues” is sure to be a tune that all kids can relate to. Beginning at a slower tempo, this song features soothing horn solos, really sinking into that feeling of the “homework blues”. It's not long before the song picks up the pace, singing “Pack all the homework away, better go outside and play,”- now if this doesn't give kids a lifelong love of music and jazz - nothing will. From the astonishing solo’s to the attention grabbing lyrics, kids are sure to get a hoot out of “Homework Blues”.
Lastly, I wanted to point out the last track of the album “Signals from Outerspace”. This track is a testimony of the creativeness of the Kinderjazz band. “Signals from Outerspace” combines storytelling with music making for an experience that kids will love. Using a variety of different wacky voices, this story is sure to be a big hit for your little ones!
Teddy Bear's Picnic is an album full a fun, exciting tunes and stories. Kinderjazz will entertain and educate young minds with a variety of instruments - piano, trumpet, trombbone, bass, drum and vocals with a collection of songs that explore many genres like blues, latin, ragtime, jazz, and swing music.
They are currently working on a new album and will be attending the International Music and Entertainment Associations Awards (IMEA Awards).
If interested in purchasing any of Kinderjazz’s music visit iTunes.