Sharing Cultures with Ella Jenkins

by Ella Jenkins

Overview

Ella Jenkins does what she does very well, and this record, aimed at kids between the ages of three and eight, is a joy. However, the title is only partly true. It's probably more about language than culture, be it the Spanish of "Ya Se Van los Pastores" or the patois of "Day-O." It's really the songs in English that explore cultures somewhat, from the Irish sensibilities of "I Lived in Ireland" to "North American Tribes" or the African-American areas of "Walking Around in Bronzeville" and a pair of blues numbers. That said, it's a lot of fun (even if the violin version of "Yellow Bird" ends up sounding like the Portsmouth Sinfonia), and for younger children it's something of an adventure. Jenkins is a strong communicator, able to engage young minds (without ever talking down to them) and involving them, even on disc. Her first all-new record in four years, and well worth the wait. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	11/25/2003
Label:	Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
UPC:	0093074505823
Rank:	144561

Tracks

1. Where Is Mary?
2. Ya Se Van los Pastores
3. B¿¿same Mucho
4. Cultivo una Rosa Blanca
5. Que Bonita Bandera
6. Qui¿¿reme Mucho (Cuando Se Quiere de Veras)
7. Day-O
8. Big Ship Sails
9. Dear Sir, I Cannot Go
10. El Gatito
11. Are You Sleeping? (Fr¿¿re Jacques)
12. Song of the Seven Continents
13. Guide Me
14. Hine Ma Tov and Hey Daromah and Tumbalaika
15. I Like Names
16. My Name Is Ella
17. Native American Tribes
18. In Dublin's Fair City
19. I Lived in Ireland
20. I Want to Be Ready
21. I'm on My Way to Canaan Land
22. Usk¿¿dara
23. A Taxi Ride
24. Walking Around in Bronzeville
25. Trouble in Mind
26. Pine Top's Boogie Woogie
27. Rushing Around in Russia
28. Yellow Bird

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ella Jenkins   Primary Artist,Drums,Vocals,Maracas,Ukulele,Harmonica,Percussion,Spoken Word
Jason Barrera   Children's Voices
Pongpak Deepipat   Children's Voices
Eric Coates   Children's Voices
Cathy Hall   Flute,Guitar,Vocals
Juan Dies   Guitar,Vocals
Andrew Hague   Children's Voices
Christian Smith   Violin
Kathy Zhang   Children's Voices
Jaclyn Schwartz   Vocals,Spoken Word,Children's Voices
Lena Vidulich   Violin,Children's Voices
Kennth Andalcio   Children's Voices
Hannah Blackwood   Children's Voices
Ilsa Surbaugh   Children's Voices
Don Dailey   Children's Voices
Shariell Crosby   Vocals,Spoken Word,Children's Voices
George V. Johnson, Jr.   Vocals,Spoken Word
Alyssa Boros   Children's Voices
Erendira Vasquez Parra   Children's Voices
Arianna Fisher   Children's Voices
Joe Brown   Children's Voices
Erwin Helfer   Piano
Mauricio Venegas   Children's Voices

Technical Credits

D.A. Sonneborn   Production Supervisor,Editorial Assistant
Caroline Brownell   Design,Layout Design
Stephanie Smith   Archivist
Ella Jenkins   Arranger,Composer,Annotation
Gonzalo Roig   Composer
William Attaway   Composer
Mary Monseur   Production Coordination
Carla Borden   Editorial Assistant
Bernadelle Richter   Producer
Norman van der Sluys   Assistant Engineer
Azuolas Sinkevicius   Engineer
Traditional   Composer
Irving Burgie   Composer
Charlie Pilzer   Mastering
Pete Reiniger   Mixing,Engineer,Production Coordination
Richard M. Jones   Composer
Ronnie Simpkins   Audio Supervisor
Dan Sheehy   Production Supervisor
Willie Perkins   Composer
Consuelo Velazquez   Composer