It won’t be released until closer to the end of summer, but exciting details are emerging about Dan Zanes’ forthcoming family album.
After a series of themed, concept albums (Spanish-language, Broadway, Gospel), the Zanes train is going to pull into a familiar station and I expect many a family to climb aboard. According to Zanes, the new album will be “a hodgepodge, “Catch That Train'”-styled one. For those who bailed as he drifted into less-accessible territory over the past few years, you can officially get excited…but sit down because it gets even better.
I spoke with Zanes earlier today at the Philadelphia Zoo’s preview of their new Jim Henson Puppet Experience (Zanes wrote, recorded, and performed the exhibit’s theme song) and scooped some more juicy new album tidbits to tantalize and tease.
A few guests have already been confirmed and they are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G:
- The modern, revivalist Queen of funk & soul Sharon Jones duets on Etta James “In The Basement“.
(Yeah the song is outstanding, but seriously, check out these three dancing):
- Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars join Zanes on The Melodians “Little Nut Tree” – Zanes told me this is the 1st song his daughter heard as a baby.
- Andrew Bird lends his voice, violin and mad whistling skills to a new, original DZ song “I Don’t Need Sunny Skies”
Not bad, right? We’ve still got a long wait to hear these tunes so in the meantime, be sure to check out Zanes’ “Hail the Creatures” with some of the proceeds going to the conservation efforts at America’s 1st Zoo.
