Many Hands CD Debuts Tomorrow!

I was privileged to listen to Many Hands before tomorrow’s release date, and all I can say is wow. It is a superstar album put together by legends of the kindie music scene, Dean Jones and Bill Childs. Not only have they assembled the finest artists in the business, they do it all for charity. All of the money raised will be going to a charity that is working to rebuild Haiti.

The record features the following artists:

Dan Zanes
Pete Seeger
Elizabeth Mitchell
They Might be Giants
Gustafer Yellowgold
Caspar Babypants
Frances England
Dog on Fleas
Lunch Money
Baby Gramps
Recess Monkey
The Deedle Deedle Dees
Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem
Bonga and the Vodou Drums of Haiti
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Jonathan Coulton
Uncle Rock
Grenadilla
Dean Jones
Emily Curtis
Randy Kaplan
Jerrice Baptiste

This is from Dean Jones:

My fascination with Haiti began years ago when I heard a CD called “Caribbean Revels:  Haitian Raras and Dominican Gagas”, recorded by my friend Verna Gillis in the late 70s.  Listening to that CD made me feel that Rara music was the most amazing and vibrant sound on the planet!!   The energy and rhythms of the metal trumpets and percussion made me ecstatic.  Bonga’s track (track 3) will give you a tiny taste.  Haiti’s history is full of beauty, poverty and political struggles. Its long and often painful history was recently compounded by the 2009 earthquake that destroyed much of the capital city Port-au-Prince.  Images of the devastation we have seen on the news will haunt us.  For people with a personal connection to Haiti and its culture, there is a strong desire to restore the core of this very special culture.  It will be a long road to recovery.

While the recent destruction in Haiti is fresh in my mind, it’s the warmth, beauty and generosity of the Haitian people that I have met that is the inspiration for this CD.  The idea came to me in a flash in the middle of the night.  And the very next day eight of the artists on this CD offered, with no hesitation, to record tracks!  Everyone involved in this project gladly donated their time and efforts, with many of the musicians writing and recording brand new songs just for Many Hands.  I could not have created this CD without the generosity and talent of these amazing musicians and artists.  Also, a big thanks to Bill Childs for creating a record company to bring this CD to life!  Lastly, thank you for buying Many Hands.  I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to a CD that is part of rebuilding Haiti.

If you wish to do more, please consider donating to the Haitian People’s Support Project.

– Dean Jones, Producer