Randy Kaplan - Loquat Rooftop

"One of the most exciting newcomers to kids' music since Dan Zanes." -PARENTING MAGAZINE "He doesn't dumb it down for the kids... He just expects them to come along for the ride. And they do." -TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS Randy's latest album, LOQUAT ROOFTOP, has made children's top ten lists nationwide including NPR's Kathy O'Connell's! In his songs for children and their families Randy Kaplan blends American Roots, Folk, Alternative, and Pop. He intricately finger-picks and strums his way through unpredictable live shows which, in addition to his original compositions, include Tin Pan Alley gems, Broadway numbers, and Delta Blues songs. He is as indebted to I.B. Singer, Maurice Sendak, and Ogden Nash as he is to Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, and Dave Van Ronk. He just never imagined that so many of his groupies would be under the age of nine. Reviews for Loquat Rooftop, as they roll in: 'Roots rocker Randy Kaplan is one of those happy-they-exist people you can't quite tell is playing kids' music. And yet he is... He'll introduce kids to authentic-sounding originals as well as Tin Pan Alley numbers, Broadway showstoppers, and Delta blues.' -New York Magazine 'What's a loquat? It turns out that it's an Asian fruit, but it's also the subject of a song by Randy Kaplan... whose music combines rock, blues and stories.' -The New York Times 'Singer/storyteller Randy Kaplan crafts a brassy, old-timey collection with subjects from 'The Fire Engine' ('It's big, it's red / It's metal with water') to laundry camp ('Clothes Dryer'). 'The Ladybug Without Spots' showcases Kaplan's bluesy storytelling. (Top Ten Children's CDs of 2008)' -National Public Radio (NPR) 'Kaplan returns with more of the half-singing, half-storytelling style that made his first kids' CD, Five Cent Piece, such fun. His musical tales-which follow such interesting characters as a cat named Nothing and a ladybug with no spots-slip into more varied genres this time around, with elements of Spanish guitar and New Orleans-style jazz trumpets added in along the way.' -Christopher Healy / Cookie Magazine 'This has been a banner year for family music, with all kinds of unusual choices, sometimes from already famous artists and often from artists who should be famous. Randy Kaplan is of the latter variety, as his second children's album, Loquat Rooftop attests. A singer-songwriter who bounces between New York and California, Kaplan carries his eclectic interests in roots rock, folk, blues, standards, and theater onto this CD. Listening to this recording feels like hanging out with a guy who's playing what he loves and making it completely his own, especially on classics such as country legend Hank Williams's 'Move It On Over' and Annie's Broadway chesnut, 'Tomorrow.' Although I hesitate to do much comparing, Kaplan shares a subtly subversive playfulness in his original compositions with Peter Himmelman, as evidenced by story-songs of 'The Sour Song' and 'No Nothing.' Then, when you get to the footstomping revelry of 'Boogie Woogie Washer Woman' and the elegantly starry title tune, it's easy to conclude that this is a musician bravely taking kids to a textured world of music history and contemporary inventiveness.' -Gregory Keer / FamilyManOnline.com 'Randy Kaplan is another artist taking elements of folk, blues and rock and delivering an amazing collection of songs. Loquat Rooftop, his second release for children, gets the kids up and ready with the bluesy, twangy 'Good Morning Blues.' 'Clothes Dryer' carries you away to a lazy summer day in the Louisiana bayou, as Kaplan sings the story of how he learned how to wash his clothes. And if you've wondered what it would sound like if someone sang 'Charlie Brown' at the Grand Ole Opry, you can hear it here. There's even a great rendition (with kids singing along) of 'Move It On Over.' Stick around for the end of the disc as he offers up a slow and lovely mandolin and horn version of 'Tomorrow.' Loquat Rooftop wraps up very nicely with the slide guitar- and harmonica-heavy song 'Gotta Get Gone.' Randy Kaplan has a gift of performing songs with lyrics kids will enjoy and music their parents will really dig.' -ChattanoogaParentMagazine.com 'Randy Kaplan is a very clever singer, mostly from Brooklyn though he's recently apparently hit the road and is wandering between Brooklyn, Colorado, and California. His first record, Five Cent Piece, had some very funny songs, most notably the tale of the shark who appeared in Randy's tub, demanding, 'Shampoo Me,' which invariably causes intense giggling in our house. Loquat Rooftop is similarly funny, with 'No Nothing' (about a cat named Nothing and some other oddly-monikered critters) and 'Clothes Dryer' (in which he reminisces about laundry camp), along with some cool covers (Charlie Brown, Move It On Over). The CD has some sweet moments, too, most notably with the title track evoking a summer evening in the city enjoying the Asian fruit called a loquat. The music ranges from fairly straight-up folk to something with a more bluesy vibe, but, even in those familiar genres, nobody really sounds like him.' -LittleRockFamily.com 'I've never thought of the Blues as particularly cheerful until I heard Brooklyn's Randy Kaplan sing Good Morning Blues, the first song on Loquat Rooftop. Amidst the amazingly nimble-fingered guitar work, I heard him ask, Good morning blues....blues How do you do? to which a little voice shouted back, Good...hungry! 'It's that happy-go-lucky feel throughout that had me wishing that Randy was sitting in our living room telling his stories directly to the kids. Songs like the hilariously odd No Nothing has a catchy chorus which makes me croon, I know nothing, you know nothing all day long. And, there is a whole funky orchestra of instruments on this CD, from harmonica to trombone to banjo which crank out music that is so darned good you won't care that this is a kids' CD. The tempo goes from the fast-and-furious Mazal Mazal, the little girl with a 'laugh so loud it bounces off the moon', to the smooth and mellow title song. There are even a few covers which Randy makes into his own, like the bad-boy Charlie Brown, which, interestingly, is my son's favorite. 'With a unique ability to create great songs out of such everyday matter as laundry and ladybugs, I'm hopeful that Randy will be putting out CD's as long as my kids like to hear stories. And then some.' -Christina / CoolMomPicks.com 'This is absolutely one of my top ten favorite new kids albums of the year. So worth a listen.' -Liz / CoolMomPicks.com 'Randy Kaplan's highly acclaimed first children's CD, Five Cent Piece, firmly established him in the kids' music scene with glowing reviews from children, parents, and critics alike. His second (not just for) kids' CD, Loquat Rooftop, is filled with twangy, good-natured songs that blend American roots, folk, alternative and pop. Randy's playful lyrics, skillful composition, and inviting vocals assure us that he's delighted to set the stage for a perfect all-ages listening session.' -PokeyPup.com 'Though family-friendly, Randy Kaplan's music CD album Loquat Rooftop is not just for kids. Featuring vibrant, original blues/folk-rock songs that flirt with whimsical lyrics and toe-tapping rhythms, Loquat Rooftop makes a most delightful holiday gift. The tracks are 'Good Morning Blues', 'Clothes Dryer', 'Mazal Mazal', 'No Nothing', 'Charlie Brown', 'Move It On Over', 'The Fire Engine', 'Sweetie Pie Honeycake', 'The Ladybug Without Spots', 'Boogie Woogie Washer Woman', 'Loquat Rooftop', 'The Sour Song', 'Go Tell Aunt Rhody', '(Don't Say) Anything at All', 'Tomorrow', and 'Gotta Get Gone'. Highly recommended for all ages. -MidwestBookReview.com 'Some of the best music ever composed is often thought of as such because of it's ability to, either with it's rich lyrical content (i.e., 'Bob Dylan') or passionate instrumentation (i.e., Miles Davis), conjure up vivid images in the listener's mind. While a kiddie rock songwr