I recently had a chance to receive a review download of Dan Zanes and Friends Lead Belly, Baby! I had never heard of Lead Belly before, but apparently Dan Zanes did as a youngster, and decided to release his music with a fresh vision for a new generation.
I really appreciate it whenever artists are able to take our musical heritage and make it relevant again, which is what he's trying to do. This was a fun album to use in my school music classes, because it incorporates so many folk instruments to use as listening samples: banjo, fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, and more (plus instruments not typically considered folk). The songs are kid-friendly but not too childish, and done very well along with his talented co-artists. There are a variety of feels on this song, from the more contemplative "Relax Your Mind" to a more dance-inspiring "Skip to My Lou."
If you're a fan of American folk music, check out the album!
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