The Jazz Fly

Rating:
Summary: Cute, but it's more "jazz" than jazz.
Review: This is a fun book. It's a cute story about a drummer-fly who's
trying to find his way to a gig, but gets lost. He gets help from
several animals along the way, and then later incorporates the
animal's sounds into his drum solo at the club.

However, as an introduction to jazz, it's more like an introduction
to "jazz". The musicians on the accompanying cd are very heavy
handed -- as if they are classical musicians who were handed
sheet music titled, "JAZZ!" The rhythm is all off. And the description
of the rhythms in the back of the book tell the whole story: the
author says the emphasized words fall on the 1 and the 3.
Why is it so hard for folks to hear the 2 and the 4? If there are
emphasized beats in jazz, it's those, not the 1 and the 3 -- which
are emphasized in western classical music.

I have a feeling this was not the fault of the musicians, but of some
producer who decided that jazz just isn't "jazzy" enough, and
directed the band to "jazz it up". It's an unfortunate slight to a
rich musical form and heritage.

So buy the book, but ignore the suggested emphasis in the
phrases. Sing, "za-BA-za BOO-za-BA zee-ZA ro-NEE!" That's
slightly better. Alternatively, make up your own scat words for
the fly's dialog -- afterall, jazz is all about improvization.

Rating:
Summary: An introduction to different sounds for children
Review: This is the story of a cool, little Jazz Fly trying to find his way to his show. Although the sounds of the animals he meets along the way (frog, pig, donkey, dog) are familiar to children, the lanuage of the Jazz Fly is both groovy and cool and children will love to repeat outside the normal, sometimes boring, ribbits are barks (although "oink" always strikes kids funny) My daughter was a little grossed out that there were maggots dinning in the jazz club, but when I explained to her maggots are just baby flys she then wanted to know if they were babies then why are they at a club. hm... Well, if you can get past the maggots this is a very fun book and the illustration makes you think of James and the GIant Peach. A very creative book.

Rating:
Summary: It's not just for older kids!
Review: When my daughter's rhythm and drum teacher read this story aloud during class one morning, my daughter became enthralled with the plight of the jazz fly. She sang the scats all afternoon and event taught them to her older sister. "Za-baza-boo-zaba-zee-za-roni" is something I've come to adore. (Especially when "scatted" by a 4 year old!) Hilarious fun for anyone who loves music!!