Jazz for kids

Description

Manuel Hermia, a regular on the jazz scene who flirts with all kinds of boundaries, presents here a mainly mainstream jazz project aimed at a very specific audience: children under 10 and their families. To do so, he surrounded himself with two highly talented accomplices, Sam Gerstmans and Pascal Mohy (very well known on the Belgian scene, and among others, fellow musicians of Mélane Di Biasio).
The three jazzmen chose to improvise from the only repertoire of “standards” that all children know: nursery rhymes. They explore these treasures and make them their playground, while taking care to respect the melodies and stimulate ears, young and old alike.
For jazz-loving parents, as well as for all those who want to give their children a taste for different musical styles, this album was designed to be listened to as a family. It starts from themes known to all children, but from there, the musicians’ treatment is the same as for any other standard. Listening as a family will offer children and parents the opportunity to discuss ideas such as: what is improvising? As a process, in everyday life, as in speech or in music? The very concept of improvisation is new to little ones. But in this increasingly standardized world, teaching them to sing their favorite song in a personal way, or to take liberties with what is “written,” planned, normal... seems essential.
Jazz for Kids, a gentle madness within a musical poetry that frees the mind and nurtures the soul of the youngest. Generous jazz full of good energy to help children - but also older listeners - understand, and above all appreciate, how jazz transforms, through improvisation, a simple melody into a little musical gem.