TalkInBroadway.com

Review of Annie Ross's Cool for Kids

In a long career that has included performing in musicals in England (including The Threepenny Opera), having a featured role in a Judy Garland movie (Presenting Lily Mars), her famous years as part of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and many solo gigs up to the present day's extended engagement in New York at Danny's Skylight Room, Annie Ross' legend swings on.  A children's album (sort of) recorded a few years ago is only now in general release.  Annie is joined joyfully by Doug White on sax and some vocals; she's the godmother of his son, the inspiration for a kid-friendly CD (and its cover model). Don't stop reading if children's albums are anathema to you - this is a delightful CD that simply has crossover appeal for young 'uns ... if they are unusually hip (or long to be).

The most tot-connected choice is the opener, a jazzy and jivey update of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" revamped as "Cool MacDonald (Had a Pad)," and it's fast, frolicsome fun. Two truly lovely lullaby-worthy items, "Can You Sew Cushions?" and "Dreams to Sell," are touching and sentimental. Both are traditional Scottish tunes. (Annie's roots are in Scotland, and she was raised by her aunt, Ella Logan, the original star of the classic musical Finian's Rainbow.) Enjoyable, sugar-free renditions of perky tunes like like "Jeepers Creepers" are among the nine vocal tracks, and there's the long saga of "One Meat Ball," an odd oldie whose charms have always escaped me. My favorite is the number Annie wrote herself, the tender "Straight On 'Til Morning," inspired by the Peter Pan story, although it was written for a horror film in which she appeared.

Throughout the album, Annie is captivating and charming, and free of any goo or corn that plague many a children's album. She lives on Swing Street. It helps that she is surrounded by very capable musicians: in addition to White, we have pianist Mike Kanan, guitarist Chris Bergson, drummer Joe Strasser and bass player Neil Miner (who also contributed strongly to an album discussed last week, Nancy Kelly's Born To Swing). These players fill out the album with 15 minutes of capable instrumentals following the half hour of vocals. In addition to leader Doug White's originals, there's a seven-minute version of the old tune, "Moon Song."

This is a feel-good CD and I have found myself playing it every day in the week I've had it. If every kid had a cool godmother (or grandmother) like Annie Ross, the world would be a happier, finger-snappier place.

original review available at www.talkinbroadway.com