Many of you here will be familiar with the name, Arnie Naiman, who is a wonderful banjo player (he and Chris Coole recently released their newest CD at the Flying Cloud Folk Club in Toronto).

Arnie's wife, Kathy Reid-Naiman, spends much of her musical life teaching and promoting early childhood music. I know Kathy as dulcimer player , guitar player, banjo player, singer, dance caller, and friend. It is marvellous to have someone with her gifts in the world of folk music make such a valuable contribution to the world of early childhood music, which is otherwise largely inhabited by pop or classical artists. I love her work, and am so pleased that she involved other very talented artists on her recordings, including, for instance, Arnie Naiman, Dennis Pendrith, Anne Lederman, Chris and Ken Whiteley, Helder Pereira, and her children Jesse and Hannah. The instrumentation on the album includes everything from dulcimer, fiddle and banjo, to chicken-shake and red-backed boinger! Kathy's newest CD, entitled 'Say Hello to the Morning', is now available, and has received the following enthusiastic review in "Today's Parent", a nationally distributed Canadian magazine: .......................................................

TODAY'S PARENT MAGAZINE MAY 2000

Say Hello To The Morning , Kathy Reid-Naiman, Merriweather Records (independent)

I'll try to restrain myself, but it won't be easy. This is the best children 's recording I've heard in ages. It takes children's music back to where it started - simple songs that little kids can sing with their parents. Kathy Reid-Naiman is no newcomer. She's been toiling away in southern Ontario for years, performing in schools, daycares and folk festivals. I feel like a fool because I didn't know about her recordings until now. Say Hello to the Morning, her third, features a wonderful blend of fingerplays, rhymes and tickles (some of which are simply spoken), along with singing games and songs both traditional and original (her own songs are excellent ). She has a lovely voice and is backed by an able stable of musicians, including her husband and children. Another highlight is the golden touch of Ken Whiteley, producer of Raffi's early recordings, who plays more than 2 dozen instruments. This recording has a wealth of new material for preschool teachers and parents looking to get beyond "Twinkle, Twinkle" and "I Love You, You Love Me." Ages 4 and under. -John Hoffman

You can get ordering information it online at : http://www.interlog.com/~ragged/index.html
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Congratulations, Kathy!