Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys – ‘Wonderful YOU’ CD (All Ages)

Vanessa Trien and her band The Jumping Monkeys showcase their special brand of acoustic folk-pop with a world flavor on Wonderful YOU, a new album for kids and families set for release on October 14!

It’s always fun for me to follow a musician’s career and I first reviewed Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys back in 2012 when they dropped their album “Bubble Ride“. It was their third album, but I was fairly new to the kindie music scene, so it was the first album I had heard from this group. I loved their 1970’s iconic anthem cover of “Free to Be You and Me” and the beautifully done vocalization of the musicians and slight bluegrass mixed with a folk-ish feel that made this CD worthwhile for my family. This album is pretty chill, but also has some cool beats thrown into the mix like the Yo-Yo Song and Deep in the Jungle. When I heard they were releasing a new album this October, I was all over it!

By now, Vanessa and her Jumping Monkeys have received four Parents Choice® Awards and has numerous families of fans nationwide. That is very impressive for an independent children’s musician! Her new album brings back her special brand of acoustic folk-pop with a world flavor on Wonderful YOU, and this time the tracks are sprinkled with kindie music icons like Alastair Moock, Rani Arbo, Barbara Brousal, and Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer)! Wow! This album has a theme about ‘community’, where the listener (aka “YOU”) gets to celebrate your family, friends, and community through song and dance. My absolute favorite track on this album is entitled “One Foot in Front Of The Other”, since it’s a common saying I use in my everyday life. When I learned that the reason behind the song was that it was influenced by Alastair’s family’s health challenge and how they all supported each other through those hard times. What a beautiful message. Brooke is partial to the song, “Chi Chi Bom Bom”, which is a swinging upbeat song about a Pippi Longstocking-esque character which she LOVES. On another track, Rani Arbo and Mister G join Vanessa Trien on her terrific version of the 1958 Bo Diddley-style Johnny Otis tune, “Willie and the Hand Jive,” imagining a town falling for a new dance craze. Other highlights include a cover of the Beatles’ “All Together Now,” with Barbara Brousal in a cameo role, while Vanessa Trien’s kids and their friends add their voices to the chorus; “Feeling Thankful,” a sweet country waltz sung in harmony by Vanessa Trien, Barbara Brousal, and Rani Arbo (with Rani Arbo on fiddle); and the celebratory anthem, “Fireworks,” which envisions people coming together from all over to sing on the Brooklyn Bridge, as fireworks explode gloriously overhead. Press Play, Get Up, and Dance because you are a Wonderful You!

Track Listing:

One Foot In Front Of The Other
Shine
Wonderful You
Fireworks
Magic Wand
Monkey Jump
Round & Round
Chi Chi Bom Bom
Willie And The Hand Jive
Feeling Thankful
All Together Now
Circle Of Friends

Fun! FREE Coloring Pages Courtesy of Vanessa here!

Check it out! Check out the track samples here!

About Vanessa Trien: Vanessa went to Harvard University and has a master’s degree in education and used it to teach music at a local Montessori school. I loved her before I even heard her music! She currently teaches courses to bring families and music together (appropriately entitled “Music Together”) in Brookline and Boston, Massachusetts when she isn’t performing with the Jumping Monkeys. Check out the Jumping Monkeys upcoming concert schedule here.