C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
It would be hard to identify a more fitting musical talent whom to honor than Fred Rogers. Chicago-area vocalist Keri Johnsrud joins forces with a piano trio led by pianist Kevin Bales with the rhythm section of bassist and vocalist Billy Thornton and drummerMarlon Patton. The repertoire is all of Fred Rogers, who, for 35 years, hosted the children’s television show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhoodwhere all of these compositions were originally premiered. That said, this is not your parent’s Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood music. Johnsrud and Bales have re-arranged, if not completely re- imagined these pieces, injecting them with some potent contemporary musical thought into the mix.
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