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Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus
Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus
Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus
by Rodney Lee

Rodney Lee, a dad and professional musician was frustrated by the lack of groove and soul in most children's music. So he took matters into his own hands and created some of the funkiest versions of classic kid's songs you've ever heard. Wanting to introduce his two year-old son to real musical instruments, he called together a few of his friends who are among the top professional musicians in LA, and the result is quite amazing. The CD's cast of characters includes such songs at the Itsy Bitsy Spider on piano, and Three Blind Mice on drums, guitar, and bass.  A 10-page illustrated booklet features the various characters from the songs playing their own instruments.
Age: 2 Year-olds | Title: Groove Kid Nation: The Wheels on the Bus  |  Artist: Rodney Lee  |  Label: Groove Kid Nation
Rodney Lee, a dad and professional musician was frustrated by the lack of groove and soul in most children's music. So he took matters into his own hands and created some of the funkiest versions of classic kid's songs you've ever heard. Wanting to introduce his two year-old son to real musical instruments, he called together a few of his friends who are among the top professional musicians in LA, and the result is quite amazing. The CD's cast of characters includes such songs at the Itsy Bitsy Spider on piano, and Three Blind Mice on drums, guitar, and bass.  A 10-page illustrated booklet features the various characters from the songs playing their own instruments.

The Wheels on the Bus song begins with a conductor calling, "Aaaaaall aboard! C'mon, get on the bus and groove with us!" and the synthesized beats immediately start a funky sound that will get your little one shaking their tiny groove thing! Traditional children's songs, such as Froggy Went a Courtin', Wheels on the Bus, and The Alphabet Song include new verses set to a jazzy beat; "I read these letters everyday, so I can read and write what I got to say!" Many of the songs introduce each instruments before it plays, so listeners learn to associate the name of the instrument with the sound it makes. For instance, The Three Blind Mice focus on several instruments (bass, drums, and guitar) but each have a solo to show what they can do. The Inch Worm solos on the flute, while Walter the Weasel is placyed on the trumpet.

Other songs, like Bud the Bird, engage listeners through call-and-response. Rodney Lee begins with easy noises and progresses into some fun scat phrases - with the occasionally silly animal noise thrown in (clucking and bawking like a chicken!). You little one will have a blast imitating the gibberish words and sounds. The singer in Soul Clap instructs listeners on how to clap to the beat for each upcoming solo so they can be a part of it. When The Itsy Bitsy Spider comes on most little ones will know the hand gestures that go along with it, but the beat in this version is sure to get their whole body bopping along. Lee encourages listeners to join in, and children are heard in the background cheering excitedly. Itsy the Spider also throws down a jazzy piano solo that the children answer with a round of applause and cheers.

My two year-old friend, Jude, lit up when If You Like Funky Music came on, because it is set to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It. Only the words to this version sing, "If you really feel the groove, and it makes your body move, if you like funky music, clap your hands!" Jude smiled huge and clapped her hands while yelling, "Yaaaay!"
 
--Audra

Groove Kid Nation is the brainchild of veteran record producer and keyboardist Rodney Lee. With over 20 years of experience in the music business as a touring sideman, record producer, and recording artist, Rodney is applying his talents to the realm of children’s music.

"After the birth of my son (now two years-old), I began looking for children's music and was not finding what I wanted to hear. Especially, over and over!" says Lee. "So I decided to record my own versions of these timeless classics - recasting them as funky soul foot-stompers."

Groove Kid Nation strives to expose children to the real sound of musical instruments, and to help achieve this goal, Lee enlisted some of the best musicians in Los Angeles. These are the musicians that keep the music business moving and grooving. Their combined credits include touring/recording work with superstars such as Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Colbie Cailat, Stevie Wonder, Beck, Seal, Joss Stone, Usher, Sting, Patti Labelle, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, and P-Diddy, just to name a few! In addition, some of the musicians are recording artists as well, with solo CDs and performance dates that take them all over the world.

"As I began work on this project, I realized that I had the best test audience in the world - my own son!" Lee explains. "I knew I was on the right track when he would come into the studio and do all of the hand gestures to a song like The Itsy Bitsy Spider - even though it was over a funky James Brown inspired groove."

 

1. Wheels on the Bus - 4:23

2. Froggy Went a Courtin' - 4:33

3. The Itsy Bitsy Spider - 5:04

4. Bud the Bird - 4:43

5. The Alphabet Song - 4:13

6. The Inch Worm - 5:11

7. Three Blind Mice - 5:49

8. Soul Clap - 6:07

9. Walter the Weasel - 3:26

10. If You Like Funky Music - 3:55

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