Parent's Choice Award Winner!
On this exciting collection of stories (and a song or two!) award winning storyteller and musician Keith Munslow presents "Marfa the Barfa", the captivating tale of Martha Maloney's quest to overcome her sea-sickness, and save her Dad. Also featured is "No Token, No Milk", a story of survival in the school cafeteria. Plus, this disc contains two brand new tunes! Produced by Grammy Award winner, Bill Harley, "Dressed Up For The Party" is both mischievous and genuine, capturing the spirit of childhood in vivid, hilarious detail! Order now!
–Sara Oremland, of School Library Journal (www.schoollibraryjournal.com) says:
"With his engaging storytelling style and unique perspectives, Keith Munslow’s fourth album includes a nice variety of stories and songs. “Five Second Rule,” a song about Munslow’s conundrum about whether or not to eat a meatball that has fallen on the floor, has an infectious, bouncy jazz feel. The title track, “Dressed Up for the Party,” about a child who complains about getting all dressed up, also has a jazzy tempo. In “No Token, No Milk,” Munslow relates the story of his trials and tribulations in primary school on a day when his packed lunch consisted of very dry food, and a trampoline incident in gym class led to the loss of a precious milk token. The story is humorous and nicely accompanied by snare-drum interludes. “Marfa the Barfa” is a tale about a seasick-plagued girl named Martha whose dream is to accompany her fisherman father on a seafaring trip. The story is both unconventional and classically constructed: it contains barfing sound effects as well as the magical elements of a folk tale (a talking fish gives Martha advice in her dreams on three successive nights). The album could be used in classrooms to illustrate good storytelling and give youngsters a chance to laugh and sing, and it would be a hit on a family car trip."
Stefan Shepherd of Zooglobble (www.zooglobble.com) says:
"Dressed Up For the Party is a solid album of storytelling with some sweet musical accompaniment. In pajamas at home, or in school clothes in the car, your kids will enjoy the disk and you will, too. Recommended."
(You can read the full review here: http://www.zooglobble.com/archives/2007/11/review_dressed_up_for_the_party_kei.html)
Bill Childs, music critic for "Little Rock Families" says:
"Rhode-Island-based Keith Munslow is (take a deep breath) a singer, illustrator, storyteller, jazz piano player, percussionist and probably two or three other things. He's strongest in a live setting, where he combines all of those talents and more, but his CDs (including his brand-new one, Dressed Up for the Party) combine a slightly askew perspective with clever word play and impeccable story-telling rhythm to entertain every listener." (read the article here:http://littlerockfamily.com/story.asp?sID=746)
Jim Vickers, Editor, Motif Magazine says:
"Bar none, Keith Munslow is one of the most talented artists in our, or any, community. I repeat, bar none.
... He has timing, an uncanny intuition for punch lines, sings and draws well, and demonstrates major chops on the keyboard. Major.
...His latest CD, Dressed Up for the Party, brings all of Keith’s talents together into an engaging volume of stories that humorously teaches life lessons to children, and unsuspecting adults. Backed by the guitar work of Grammy winner Bill Harley, drums of Johnny Cote, and bass of Marty Ballou, “Five Second Rule” stands out as the funniest of the four tracks.
Playfully running through the underlying psychology of the ‘Five Second Rule’ about how your mom would disapprove and that your little brother will grab something you drop just because its yours, and so on, Keith articulates a few unspoken rules as well. Clearly, if buttered toast falls butter down, the rule does not apply. Butter up, game on. Ice cream..rule does not apply. Cookies, game on.
Rich in detail, “Five Second Rule” taps into the little embarrassments we would endure in our heads over imprudent habits. Keith taps into that offbeat side we prefer to keep on the down low, the QT.
Educationally speaking, “No Token, No Milk” offers an excellent life lesson. A school boy loses his milk token and, naturally, his lunch has the driest possible selections imaginable. Oh, and, of course, the bubbler doesn’t work. Drowning in anxiety at potentially not being able to finish his lunch, he seeks mercy and human kindness, only to get shut down. A Stalinist lunch lady won’t cut him a break on the tasty beverage, and valuable recess time swirls down the drain while he tries to choke down the contents of his brown bag. The two characters converse and von lunch lady confesses the ‘No Token, No Milk’ rule to be unfair. And in her experience, many rules in life are unfair.
Keith Munslow puts vividly entertaining stories to music and effects in Dressed Up for the Party that children and adults will chuckle at and reflect on."
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