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Like
a finely written children’s book, a Jake CD is crafted
with children in mind, but it is the whole family that listens
and enjoys, over and over again.
That’s
because award-winning musician Jake Differ believes that
music should never underestimate children. His lyrics make
children laugh or dream, but they’re never simplistic.
His rhythms make little feet dance, but they’re rich
and varied, and borrow from many different musical styles.
You can sing along with his melodies, but they’re
fresh and new.
Jake’s
latest album ZIGGY ZAGGY ROAD, featuring 15 brand new songs,
is no exception. Opening with the irresistible sing-along
“A Friend Like You”, the album winds by oceans
(“Sailing Man”, “Georgia Strait”),
zooms into deepest “Space”, explores the quiet
wonder of “My Garden”, joins a raucous animal
party “On the Bayou”, before making one last
stop in a special place with the uplifting “Peace
Waits For Us There”.
The
album touches with joy and sensitivity on the many things
that children love and grown-ups cherish: home, friends,
animals, tales of adventure – in fact, everything
wonderful about life on this planet.
Richly
produced, ZIGGY ZAGGY ROAD features two-time Juno Nominee
Cadence (adding hilarious vocal a capella inserts to “The
Three-Eggs Busy-Legs Social Band”), CCMA Award winning
string player Chris Krienke, Juno Nominee and Canadian Grand
Masters Fiddle Champion Pierre Schryer, the Peterborough
Children’s Chorus, and many other talented musicians
throughout.
Even
four-time Olympian Silken Laumann makes an appearance, with
a spoken word interlude on bonus track “Child’s
Play”, which Jake wrote as the theme song for Laumann’s
best-selling book of the same name.
Jake’s
CDs are much acclaimed in the children’s music world.
His last CD HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME earned a 2006 Juno Nominee
for “Children’s Album of the Year”and
his debut CD TAKE A LITTLE RIDE WITH ME won the prestigious
Parents’ Choice Gold Award in 2004, as one of the
Top 10 audio CDs for children in North America.
Jake’s
unforgettable live performance has become a popular favourite
at festivals and events across Canada from Vancouver to
Halifax, including the Toronto Street Festival, the Burlington
Children’s Festival, the Sound of Music Festival,
and 100,000 people at the annual “Day Out With Thomas”
events. His “hilarious, lively and engaging”
solo set continues to enthrall children in libraries, schools,
and private functions.
Jake
has been a professional bass player, guitar player and singer
for most of his adult years, and began writing and recording
children’s music several years ago. He lived for two
years in the inspiring natural beauty of Pender Island,
BC, and now makes his home in Peterborough, Ontario. His
music is included on Casablanca Kids compilations with Fred
Penner, Jack Grunsky, Sharon Lois & Bram and more, being
distributed throughout North America, is regularly featured
on California Library Association podcasts, and receive
constant radio airplay across the United States. His book
“The I-Thought-I-Saw Zoo”, co-written with Grade
One children, now resides in a Toronto school library.
Jake’s
CDs are available at fine children’s book and toy
stores across Canada through national distributor FIRE THE
IMAGINATION (1-888-780-0864) or online at www.musicbyjake.com.For
more information about Jake’s live performances, or
to book Jake (solo or with band) for a family-oriented event,
contact Jake at info@musicbyjake.com.
11/07
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