See How They Run
Who knew the old nursery song "Three Blind Mice" could sound downright jazzy? New Yorker Josh Greenberg, founder of and saxophonist for the Mother Goose Jazz Band, wants kids to know the difference between a sax and just plain sacks, between a riff and a roof. His critically acclaimed 1995 debut album for kids,Go With the Flow, set well-known children's rhymes to jazz music. The band's follow-up recordingSee How They Runtakes the same tack, showcasing a variety of jazz styles in songs from "This Old Man" (in the style of tenor masterSonny Rollins) to "Fuzzy Wuzzy" (a nod to alto geniusCharlie Parker) to "Alouette." The  impressive lineup includes Chris Brubeck on bass,Manhattan Transferfounder Laurel Massé on vocals, Lee Shaw on piano, Greenberg and Mark Vinci on saxophones, Chuck D'Aloia on guitar, Gene Garone on drums, and a youth chorus, too. Kids 2 and above will love hearing this bunch stretch and reshape familiar favorites into new shapes.--Karin Snelson