Product Description

Northern Michigan singer/songwriter Jeff Krebs was drawn to music at an early age, starting at age four on the ukulele and picking up guitar a few years later. By his teens he was writings songs and performing, going on to travel the country and record with various bands. Jeff performed in clubs, busked streets and subway stations, played flea markets, Irish pubs, biker bars and street fairs. He released a few solo albums along the way, and after years of roaming settled back in his home area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula to raise a family. While he and his wife were expecting their first child, Jeff discovered the diverse, engaging world of kids and family music. By the time their first son was born, Jeff was writing kids songs and had plans for a family music album, performing for kids at churches, libraries, daycares and schools, and calling himself Papa Crow. Three years later (and now with another boy in the family), Papa Crow released "Things That Roar", an album of fourteen original kids and family songs. The process was homemade: Jeff recorded himself on the computer, using minimal equipment set up in a spare room of his house. Friends with various talents (percussion, voice, slide guitar, etc.) were invited over late at night when the boys were asleep to add tracks to Jeff's songs. In all, fifteen friends and family members played on the album including Jeff's sons, niece, nephew and brother-in-law. Since it's release, "Things That Roar" has been very well received in the family music world, earning positive reviews and getting airplay on many children's music programs throughout the US. The album was cited as one of the best kids music albums of the year by Time Out New York Magazine, The Fids & Kamily Music Awards, Zooglobble, Out With The Kids, Family Man Online and Spare The Rock. The album also received the prestigious Parents' Choice Silver Award. Papa Crow is looking forward to a vibrant career in family music and hopes to meet you down the road.

Review

So I'm happy to report that the debut CD from Papa Crow (the recording moniker of Michigan-based singer-songwriter Jeff Krebs) belongs right up there with the latest Dan Zanes release. Things That Roar feels like the ideal album to listen to with a toddler or infant though my six-year-old loves it, too! on a sleepy, snowy winter afternoon. It's nothing fancy, just (quietly) one of the year's best kids' CDs. I'm really glad I've had the chance to hear it. --You Know, For Kids (Myles McDonnell)

What we have here is 14 tracks of bucolic, sun-kissed kindie folk, gathered together in a sprightly 32-minute album that rolls along with relaxed, gentle energy. It s full of acoustic guitars, ukulele, and warm, honeyed vocals, plus the odd kazoo, toddler duet, or baby s laugh just the sort of thing you want playing during a driving singalong or impromptu kitchen waltz. It s as beautifully, elegantly simple as this video: (Papa Crow Welcome to the World, youtube). --Dadnabbit (Jeff Giles)

Papa Crow s Jeff Krebs roars softly onto the scene with a majestic collection of hushed, acoustic songs perfectly suited for a lazy weekend morning. The Peek-A-Boo Waltz is bound to become a musical family heirloom. --Time Out New York Best Kids Albums of 2011 (Jeff Bogle)

• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches; 3.33 ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ CD Baby
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2011
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2011
• Label ‏ : ‎ CD Baby
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1