Artist:     Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Album:     Under The BIG Umbrella

Label:     Bangin' Out A Melody Music

Release Date:     5.17.2019

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BUY DIGITAL

BUY PHYSICAL

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

Inviting and exciting from the title-track opener, this so-called “children’s music” isn’t just silly kids stuff. There’s room for EVERYONE under Brady Rymer’s BIG Umbrella: not just youngsters but ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages are welcome and will be glad that they came.

Multi-instrumentalist Rymer (vox, bass, acoustic/electric guitars, mandolin, ukulele, drum/percussion programming, harmonica!) realizes this tenth studio album “With A Little Help From (His) Friends” (track 8). A whole lot of friends: Brady’s five-member touring band, three guest players, three backing vocalists (including daughter Daisy), two special-guest singers (fellow “family music” makers Sonia Del Los Santos and David Gibb) and the many, varied voices of two different elementary school choirs and their respective directors ALL contributed beautifully, essentially. Recorded “at home” (primarily, laudably!) and co-produced by Brady and wife Bridget, this was truly one BIG happy family affair.

That Fab Four cover is an upbeat, newly-twisted, rock-steady/ska perversion of the Beatles’ classic, as is Rymer’s titillating take on Jimmy Cliff’s “You Can Get It If You Really Want.” Both deliver the same, supportive messages using different, marvelous musical methods! Woody Guthrie’s “Don’t You Push Me Down” is bilingual, country-fried fun and Diana Ross’ declaration-of-independence anthem “I’m Coming Out” is deliciously Chic. Yet Rymer’s originals shine brightest.

Two separate songs share the same “Different Is Beautiful” name but are polar opposites tonally, sonically. The first “(Like A Rainbow)” is an outstanding, observational and reflective, soft, slow, LOVE song. The second “(Yeah Yeah Yeah)” is a rip-roaring, boogie-woogie blues romp with some Chuck Berry on top, a rock-solid bottom (bass and drums shine!) and killer-diller harp blowing by guest Rob Paparozzi throughout. WOW! Both songs “are so money” in different currencies. The upbeat Dixieland jazz of “You Do You” and the in-the-pocket groove of “Stick Up Stand Up” will have you stood up and stuck out on the dance floor invigorated, exhilarated, elated. “Thank You for Being You” (including a psychedelic middle-eight!) is the perfect encore closer to this great and glorious album. No children? No excuse! Get it for your inner child, hit “play” and stay forever young!

—Dennis McDoNoUgh