THE CRAZY ZOO--Joe Ross and Friends- Kathryn LaMar
Zephyr Records ZR-0428
1030 W. Harvard Ave., PMB 5094, Roseburg, OR 97470, TEL. 541-673-9759, EMAIL rossjoe@hotmail.com http://www.cdbaby.com/jross Playing Time - 58:32

Joe put this haiku at the end of the text of his liner notes, which sums up quite well the feelings engendered by this recording from start to finish: "Arise from sleep. Sing!/Cheerful families. Yawn and stretch!/Animals like friends!" Well said. And Joe's donating some of the proceeds from sales go to the Humane Society. May it be a lot!

Most of the songs are traditional or practically traditional children's songs, but two compositions Joe penned himself: the title cut The Crazy Zoo and a not-so kiddie oriented Touch the Earth. There are three surprise instrumentals: two curtailed Radim Zenkl treasures: Twin Peaks and Last Call (full versions of these are available on Radim's 1999 recording Restless Joy) and Bryan Bowers playing of Opera Reel on the mandocello! The other songs (except Goober Peas) capture the relationships that people have with animals, and include The Cat Came Back, Six Little Ducks, The Unicorn, The Sow Took the Measles, Puff the Magic Dragon, Tennessee Stud, Old Rattler, Baby Beluga, Crawdad, Turkey in the Straw, The Fox, The Tale of a Bear, and Joy to the World (the Jeremiah was a bullfrog one).

The musicianship throughout is stellar, and the fun had by the musicians shines through on every note. Contributing to the endeavor were Bryan Bowers on autoharp and mandocello; Linda Danielson on fiddle; Bob Evoniuk on resonator guitar and harmony vocals; Dean Magraw on guitar, rattle, and tambourine; Dan Mazer on banjo; Janet Naylor on Celtic harp; Peter Ostroushko on mandolin; and Radim Zenkl on mandolin, Irish bouzouki, and low
whistle. Joe does the rest himself (guitar, bass, synthesizer, and harmony and lead vocals).

Even if you're not a kid, or don't have any kids with which to share this music, you'll like this recording as a reminder of the emotional reactions to music that led most of us to become avocational (or even professional) musicians. - Kathryn LaMar

(originally published at The Folknik. Thanks to Kathryn and Folknik for permission to republish this review)