 |
||
  |
 |
Read a Review of Grenadilla in Roll Magazine! Hilltown Family Variety Show Top 10 of 2010'We first saw the Grenadilla troupe perform on the family stage at the Clearwater Music Festival this summer, and we were hooked! South African born Debbie Lan brought her influence of Kwela music to the Hudson Valley and started Grenadilla, named after the South African passion fruit. Several vocalists joined her and this fabulous new group was born. Their debut self-titled CD is upbeat and happy, filled with beautiful harmonies and accented with percussion and the penny whistle.' Elizabeth Mitchell - Smithsonian Folkways Recording Artist
“Grenadilla is an amazing band with six incredible women singing lovingly and joyfully to you. Led by warm-hearted songwriter Debbie Lan, Grenadilla shines with beautiful melodies, inspiring lyrics and a South African lilt and rhythm to it all. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review from Kidindependent, Indie Style for mums, babies and kids Kids Music Review... Folksy Rock by GrenadillaI love the opportunity to share new music, so today I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce Kwela-based music collective Grenadilla. I've enjoyed several listens to their self-titled CD now and it's been very well received in our household. These guys have a folksy rock feel, with energetic vibrant tracks that are even at times reminiscent of gospel harmonies. So what is Kwela? It's an indigenous South African style of music marked by "joyful, bubbly rhythms and birdlike pennywhistles". Grenadilla describe their music as "layered voices and rhythms flavoured with kwela, textured with Cape Town jive and subtle hints of the blues". I think that's a rather apt description. I particularly like the first song on the album "be yourself". The lyrics are upbeat and catchy, and it gives a positive message that will be embraced by the young ones (before they hit the difficult pre-teen/teen phase). I also like track 7, "Got Light", it's definitely a sing-a-long classic. However, I the biggest hit in the household is Arabella Angelique for it's funky beat and catchy tune. It's got a pop feel to it and reminds me of the schoolyard rhymes that we used to sing in primary school. Even on my first listen I find myself singing along happily, tapping my feet, nodding my head* and yes, okay* I'll admit it, dancing my way down the hallway to make my mid-morning coffee. Admittedly, I was dancing with the dog as I was home alone at the time. Hey, you've gotta keep life fun, right? This is a CD that is fun to play to the kids, and would be a great sing-a-long {and dance-a-long} album for parties or road trips. However, if you're a fan of folksy rock, you might just find yourself popping it in the CD player to enjoy all by yourself. You can listen to a couple of Grenadilla tracks online, download them at iTunes or find their CD at your favourite online CD store. Dean Jones - Producer, Songwriter, Musician Grenadilla is a miracle of a band. How did it happen, getting so many beautiful voices to work together on such joyous and jaunty music? The idea came from South African native Debbie Lan. The music has that South African kwela sound, which is one of the most incredibly exciting sounds ever to have been invented. When I hear the original kwela music, I can't believe humans thought to create this positive, infectious art form. And hearing Grenadilla I think, "why aren't more people making this music?" Probably because it takes a lot of practice and more importantly, sincerity. Grenadilla, with 6 female voices, pennywhistles, piano, bass and drums, makes it just sound fun, not difficult. That's the miracle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wow!! This is a beautiful musical tour de force that you have created. We were all quite taken by the happy feelings that come to the listener. It makes Grenadilla a unique troupe. You cannot get that sound and joy without all that great singing. John Hughes, Dog on Fleas What wonderful songs! The arrangements were really gripping with harmonies and the penny whistles. The lyrics are also very moving. Grenadilla rocks!. Kristin Schroder, 1st grade Teacher I was just totally energized by listening to your wonderful music on WAMC. I am a children's librarian in the small town of Orange MA I want to thank you for the wonderful music this morning. And I'm looking forward to buying your CD for my library. Candace Lee Cross, Children's Librarian You have such a fresh and authentic sound, with words and music blissfully married. Really beautiful songwriting. It is a joy to hear! Jo Salas, Artistic Director Hudson River Playback Theater There are so many songs my kids, ages 6 and 3, love to sing along to. I find myself listening to the album and singing along when I am alone in the car. Beautiful music! I highly recommend Grenadilla. S Ellis, CDBaby review I just wanted to tell you I really like your album as does my wife and child. Your vocals and harmonies are truly magical. John Joyce, Poochamungas I think the vocals, instrumentals and songs themselves are fabulous- I like the sound immensely. The songs are so fun, poignant and catchy - the rhythms are compelling as is their variety. What a gift for families. Barbara Smith Decker | NAPPA Manager I heard your song "To All the World" on kid's corner in Philly. I can't remember the last time I heard a song that I loved so much- I got goosebumps. Chip, Musician,songwriter. I'm enjoying the music very much, really uplifting and positive. I can't wait to share with my neice and nephew! Matt Palin, Artist/Designer I love the grenadilla cd. I'm groovin to the capetown jive and feeling the beat in my feet. I couldn't get out of the car last night until I listened thru the whole album. Bravississima!!!!! I can't wait to share your music with friends and kids at school. Matteo Spitzer, Social Worker just wanted to let you know that I just ran a brisk three miles listening to Grenadilla! I feel inspired and ready to conquer the day! Eva Glettner, Minivanblues.com What a gift you have given us! everyone is lifted by your words, your voice, the music of the collective musicians. thank you. Jessica, Janet, Emma and Sydney Dilascio, Parents and kids How enjoyable and uplifting your music is. You all sounded FABULOUS!!!!.We downloaded the cd as soon as we got home. Keep me posted and tell your group how much we enjoyed the perfromance! Daria Dollard We bought the CD and it has made our lives that much more enjoyable!* My 4 year old loves "Be yourself" and my 10 year old son Elias loves "The Family Song", and* I love it all!* I'm a third grade teacher and my students love it too!* Thanks for making peaceful, feel good music that reaches all ages. Toni Anne Leone, 3rd grade Teacher I won a Grenadilla CD from a music blog (minivanblues.com) and am so in love with the music. My sons (2 and 5) and i are listening to it everyday. I have to admit that i even listen to it when they are not in the car . We are big fans and would love to see grenadilla in LA! Jillian Yost, Parent Amazon.com review 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant songwriting, October 27, 2010 By Valerie Hudson (New York) "Grenadilla" may be intended primarily as an album for young listeners, and it will definitely appeal to them, but it is also pure pleasure for all ages! The sound is utterly fresh, flavored by Debbie Lan's Capetown background and filtered through the sensibility of someone who evidently knows about life and love and family. The melodies and harmonies are deceptively simple and addictively sing-able--deceptive because in fact the songwriting is highly sophisticated and the arrangements are brilliant. *I'd give this recording to any kid I know, with the knowledge that their parents will be playing it repeatedly even when the kids aren't around. I can't believe how much my boys LOVE this music! Great rhythms & cool vibes all around. Highly recommended.
This upcoming weekend of June 20 and 21 marks the 40th anniversary of the famed music and environmental festival Clearwater, The Great Hudson River Revival. On deck will be Grenadilla, a new aggregate of eight local musicians, hailing originally from as close in as Stone Ridge, Kripplebush, High Falls and Walker Valley to as far yonder as the African continent. Grenadilla members are Debbie Lan (vocals, pennywhistle, piano, arrangements), Jodi Palinkas, Leah Glennon, (vocals, pennywhistle) Annmarie Callan, Brittany Sacash, Natasha Williams (all on vocals), Ken McGloin (bass and guitar) and Dean Sharp (drums and percussion). The community will recognize the names of Grenadilla’s singers and instrumentalists from friendships formed at High Meadow School, Bloom Ensemble, Dog on Fleas and professional appearances around the county. Grenadilla is the creation of Debbie Lan, singer and arranger, long time composer/lyricist of captivating songs for all ages, pianist and percussionist. Lan imbues the repertoire with the spice and tang of “kwela,” a music indigenous to Cape Town in South Africa, her homeland. This weekend’s Festival highlights Pete Seeger’s 90th year and the ongoing work of protecting the Hudson River through advocacy and public education. Lan, a veteran Clearwater performer, treasures the festival for its musical diversity and wealth of environmentally friendly information. Grenadilla will bring propulsive “kwela” spirit and scintillation to the Family Stage at 12 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. Festival goers can expect to hear them play such originals as I’d Rather be Singing; Got Light; and Arabella Angelique, a paradoxical portrait in which the performers step, jump and gesture, all the while singing of inertia, lassitude, even malaise. With a nod to the great Belfast song man, the group will also cover Van Morrison’s, “I Shall Sing,” which opens with a soaring vocal trio that pulls audiences in and holds them until the last note drifts away. |
