Leslie Bixler: Press

05.22.08
Chad's collaboration with Leslie Bixler



Leslie Bixler at McCabe's: Chugging along

May 15, 2008, Los Angeles Times


CHUGGING ALONG


Leslie Bixler's charming children's songs explore the transcendent power of cadence on her forthcoming CD, "Rhythm Train."

Featuring the talents of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, the lighthearted concept album is based on the ultimate rhythmic vehicle: the train.

"Chad's son loves trains," says Bixler, "which was part of the album's inspiration."

Like an aural locomotive, the songs traverse various musical terrains to give kids a sense of the sheer joy of rhythm and movement.

"It's the most fun I've ever had working with a drummer," says Bixler.

I've known gifted people who were able to think like children. Walt Disney and Fred Rogers come to mind. They seemed to know instinctively what makes kids tick and what they'd like. Leslie Bixler has that kind of antenna. She teaches kids and works with them daily. But Leslie has gone Walt and Fred one better.
As a talented song writer, she ASKED her young students what they'd like to hear songs about and proceeded to write children's songs on those very subjects. I'm now hearing those catchy refrains in the market ,the mall and anyplace kids go. It seems once they hear it,they can't stop singing.
If that's not the criterion for a hit, I don't know what is.

OTHERWORDLY NUTRITION
Spacey stuff, this mysterious matter called "Moonfood". Songer-songwriter Leslie Bixler and the Moonfood Band perform songs about rainbows and mermaids as well as relatively terrestrial fare, such as fat cats. Bixler was once a normal rock singer-she co-wrote Eddie Money"s "shakin" (ed. note, this is incorrent)-but when young boys who had mixed into her all ages crowds began requesting songs about fancifu topics, Bixler caved to the pirate lobby. It's been happy, er, sailing every since. Bixler, a staunch believer in raising the roof, utilizes freeze-dancing, puppets and other madness. Children are urged to bring their grown-ups. 11 am Sat, McCabes Guitar Shop $8.00 310-828-4497;mccabes.com

“Serve up Leslie Bixler’s Moon Food and her delightful songs will
touch both parent and child. My 5-year old is my “boogie meter” and he loves this CD. He sings along joyfully to all the songs, and “Vance the Vacuum Cleaner” gets the meter in the red. As for me, I get a lump in my throat every time I hear Leslie singing about her son growing up in “Tooth Fairy”. One taste and your whole family will order Moon Food over and over.”

-“Leslie Bixler's CD, Moon Food, is infectiously fun and I love to incorporate it into my kids' yoga classes. I love the songs, but much more importantly, so do all my students. The music lends itself so well to creative play and movement. I highly recommend it to anyone who works closely with kids!

"..our family really loves your beautiful songs.. most kids' music is really insulting to the intelligence of parents & kids...but once we popped in your CD, we couldn't stop listening...we never get tired of your songs, as they're educational, fun and complex enough for the adults to enjoy ...and the kids know all the lyrics...and we parents love your music too."

- “I like that Leslie Bixler's 'Moon Food' is a first class production with real performances and feeling intention for children.  It is a full effort intended for kids, which is a real nice thing.  It sounds and feels good to me.”

“..You know something's special to a kid when they constantly ask for it. Most
of the time it's a toy, a doll, or candy. Sweet at first and then it's
gone. When it comes to Moon Food it's a totally different kind of meal.
Something really special. That lasts. I know this because Billy knows all
the words. He's 2. Maddie has been singing the songs for 3 years. She's
5.
They both love listening and singing to the songs because not only are they
have great melodies sung with Joni Mitchell-esque harmony (that Dad likes to
sing along to too!), but they tell great stories full of imaginative ideas
that the kids both love and learn from. Stories that stay with the kids
that make for songs they not only just sing but get involved in. Taste Moon
Food and you'll never turn back. Just ask my kids..”

Parent's Choice Review of:
Moon Food: Songs for Children and Their Grownups
Fall 2006 Music
Ages: 3 - 8 yrs.
Producer: Leslie Bixler
CD Price: $13.99

Review:
Leslie Bixler, who has made jazz CDs under her maiden name of Leslie Letven, here delivers Moon Food, a collection of thirteen original compositions written for children “and their grownups” in styles that include folk, jazz, light reggae and Broadway-style tunes. All very catchy, gentle and refreshingly innocent, they range in subject matter from the sprightly &ldquoI Love My Shadow,” to a Ms. Bixler's moody ode to “Tarzan,” to a playful movement song in &ldquoThe Freeze,” set to a jazz fueled Bo Diddly rhythm. Famed actor (and occasional children's music maker) Dick Van Dyke guests on lead vocals on two songs: “I'm a Pirate” (sure to be a favorite among young Jack Sparrow fans) and the wonderfully over the top “Vance The Vacuum Cleaner.” The well-crafted CD is sure to become a “car ride” favorite.

Lahri Bond ©2006 Parents' Choice
Lahri Bond is a father, a writer and the art director for Dirty Linen: The Magazine of Folk and World Music. His published books include Spinning Tales Weaving Hope (with the Stories For World Change Network) for New Society Press and People of the Earth (coauthored with Ellen Evert Hopman) for Destiny Books.


Available At:
CD Baby
800-448-6369
http://www.cdbaby.com/

With sounds both sweet and sassy, the new children’s CD “Moon Food” by Malibu singer/composer Leslie Bixler is a warm and witty introduction to the world of music for young children. Bixler boasts of a recording career that spans two decades, previously creating light jazz compositions under her maiden name, Leslie Letven. Raised in Malibu, Bixler took a detour to Fresno when she married reed player Bill Bixler. When first together, the couple owned a jazz nightclub inFresno where Bixler often performed. She also was a member of a dance company in the town. But Malibu beckoned,and when Bill Bixler was awarded the orchestra leader position at Malibu High School, they were able to return to the community. Now, Bixler is the mother of a nine-year-old son and has experienced a mus-ical transformation. “I took a break [from composing] when I had my son, then fell head over heels into childhood,” Bixler explained in a recent interview. The songs on “MoonFood” were inspired by Bixler’s involvement withthe local preschool Gardenof Childhood and the musical requests from the young students she met there. The CD debuted at a recent private fundraiser for the school, raising thousands of dollars to support its childhood education programs.
The “Moon Food” song “Fat Cat” was created from the preschool children’s fascination with a tiny, rescued kitten that soon grew into a large, well-fed feline. “Lolli’s Rainbow” was born from one of the pre-school teachers always dressing in the colors ofthe rainbow, one for each day of the week.The songs also have basic moral lessons to teach, such as in “Can You Imagine,” where Bixler asks the children to envision themselves as “being someone, not you, to think about what other kids go through.”
“I was freed up [musically; it’s the real deal working with kids,” Bixler states. “I was able to do what is best for each song, but I made sure that the music doesn’t speak down to the children.”Featured on “MoonFood” is longtime Malibu resident Dick Van Dyke,who has spent recent years working extensively to promote musical projects for Malibu youth. He has been part of past Malibu High School productions of “Les Miserables” and“Beauty and the Beast.”Van Dyke is the gruff but lovable voice on “I’m a Pirate” and on “Vance the Vacuum Cleaner,” intoning the plight of a carpet cleaner who has a dust allergy and succumbs to a serious fit of sneezing.The CD was produced by veteran composer, arranger and producer Ralph Carter and highlights some other well-known Malibu musicians, such as violinist Maria Newman.“Moon Food” can be ordered through the web-site lesliebixler.com, but Bixler is exploring other avenues for distribution.