Music For All Ages

I don’t know how I stumbled upon him, but sometime ago (I think my son was two?) I began a quest for music that my son and I could share. I found some wonderful Woody Guthrie music that he had written after having children. They are very innocent and sweet. We still listen to them often. But the gem of all gems that I found was Dan Zanes. It only took the first CD, Night Time, to get us completely hooked. The album features such amazing talents as Aimee Mann and an unbelievable Lou Reed singing “Wonderful World”. It is fun, inspiring and something that my husband and I enjoy just as much (if not more) than our kids. We followed this album up by buying House Party, a great, upbeat, I-dare-you-not-to-be-in-a-good-mood shot in the arm. Whenever we start the day in a funk, this is the album we put on to immediately change the course of the day. It features lovely old tunes sung by some fantastic folks such as Deborah Harry (Blondie) and some new songs featuring the unmatchable talents of Philip Glass. “Place for Us” is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It is simple enough for my kids to get it and meaningful enough to make my husband and I get teary eyed.

In May he will be releasing a new album called Night Train. If you haven’t heard any Dan Zanes and Friends music, get on board! In an age when kid’s music has become a gluttony of irritating voices, bland instuments and dumbed down lyrics, I can’t tell you how welcomed this style of grown up/child communal enjoyment is. He is one of the brightest lights in family togetherness. He has redefined exactly what “family music” is and we are all so much more fortunate because he has.