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"Finding her voice in children's song." For Robbi K, there's nothing more rewarding than performing for kids... BY AILEEN JACOBSON, Newsday CBS Morning News segment Eclectic Musical Styles on an Upbeat CD On Music Makes Me Happy, Robbi K (Robbi Hall Kumalo) blends pop, R & B,jazz, hip-hop, blues, and more into a sunshiny gem of a children's CD. Robbi, an accomplished singer, has backed up Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, Harry Belafonte, and others. But with such tunes as the doo-wop-flavored "I Love My Teacher" and the effervescent Caribbean romp "Summer's Here," she cements her status as a unique voice in children's music." "Our Favorite Things" FAMILY FUN MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2007 "Several new CDs for children span a variety of musical genres. Robbi K's soulful album of worldwide musical styles, Music Makes Me Happy, offers diverse tracks of "post-Barney and pre-Britney" music for 7-to-12-year-olds. Blending music from jazz to various cultural traditions, Music Makes Me Happy also incorporates children's voices." Laurel Fishman, GRAMMY.com Newsday July 2007 “A pure potpourri of feel-good tunes excellently arranged and performed by top-flight musicians. Robbi K & Friends will have you smiling and dancing from the first downbeat.” John Wood, Kidzmusic.com What's Hot For Tots Big Apple Parent MidWest Book Review The Opinionated Parent Toy Directory Monthly Cool Tunes For Kids
“Best Bet” – New York Times "The following facts about Robbi K’s musical collaborators give listeners some insider info about her third solo album, Music Makes Me Happy: her South African bassist husband Bakithi Kumalo, performs with Paul Simon; blues singer Guy Davis is the son of legendary actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis; and singer Brady Rymer is a highly accomplished, folk-leaning kids’ performer. The fusion of these styles with Robbi K’s soulful sound makes for a refreshingly pan-cultural kids’ album that stylistically ranges the globe, from the deep-voiced harmonies of Africa to the lilt of American folk (there’s also a sweet cover of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”). Robbi has sung backup for artists ranging from Jewel to Aretha Franklin, and she deserves praise for the cultural aspects and delightful depth of her performances. The overall effort is so rewarding and well performed that parents should just groove out." – Time Out NY Kids "A special program... the show celebrated the diversity of our nation through music.” – WABC-TV Eyewitness News “SET IT FREE combines world grooves, childhood favorites, and original compositions to celebrate the similarities of people through diversity. A multi-cultural fiesta of beats.” – CDbaby.com “Pick of the week" – NY1-TV “Robbi K's live concerts are joyous, exhilarating world music sing-alongs” – Berks Jazz Festival “Not a single unhappy child was present!” – Three Village Herald “First Saturday is a family oriented event and the entire audience, old and young, was enthralled by the energy and vivacity of Robbi's Band. The children laughed in delight at watching us as we, the older participants, tried to imitate what they accomplished with ease.” – Nilaga Stengle, Brooklyn Museum of Art “Keep The Beat - a 2003 Award Winner" – Parents' Choice Foundation “For over a decade, Robbi has continued to bring joy and great music to the Museum. Robbi K's performances are fun for the kids but intelligent enough for even the most skeptical adults.” – Roz Smith, Brooklyn Children's Museum “A fun-filled evening. 4 year old Luke Ruggiere from Port Jefferson Station moved to the beat while Robbi raised the crowd’s enthusiasm” – Village Beacon-Record "An outstanding album features rap, calypso, rock, jazz, blues, classical, and Cajun musical styles. Her sultry alto voice is joined by virtuoso performances by guest artists.... A must purchase for all libraries." — School Library Journal “A unique voice in children’s music.” — Disney’s FamilyFun Magazine “Robbi has sung backup for artists ranging from Jewel to Aretha Franklin ... The overall effort is so rewarding and well performed that parents should just groove out." — Time Out NY Kids — “Songs That Rock, and Are Kid Friendly, Too”
Reviewed By: Erin Brereton MUSIC MAKES ME HAPPY's upbeat tempo seems to make Robbi K and Friends' voices happy, too. And in case there's any confusion over her mood, listen to track 9, titled: "Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy." This is Robbi's third CD, featuring guests like Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers and Jon "Bowzer" Bauman of Sha Na Na. The CD's lyrics are simple enough for toddlers to sing along to -- with lines like "Sometimes, my friends make me mad!" -- but are modern enough to draw them in ("it's my bling, bling"). The vocals aren't polished (especially on "I Love My Teacher"), but that's part of their charm; they range from kids singing to Robbi K's strong, clear voice. The album also brings in many musical styles, from island vibes on "Summer's Here" to torch song touches on "Got Me Laughing Blues," which if you didn't listen to the lyrics about taking a bath in the sink, could easily be performed in an adult jazz club. "The Peace Song" -- which starts with a spoken word and morphs into a beautiful vocal and string arrangement -- ends the album on a strong note. Overall, this album is an optimistic one. Robbi says in one of her songs, "a positive attitude, baby, will do you a world of good," and after these 11 tracks, it will be a world listeners will want to live in.
Storyteller Robbi Kumalo delightfully tells a story of how the turtle got its shell at Dutchess Community College on Saturday. Much like the drum beat that runs through the music of all cultures, all people, regardless of their background, share the same beat in their hearts. Story-teller Robbi Kumalo used drums to touch the hearts of children and adults during a performance Saturday at Dutchess Community College's Dutchess Hall Theater. ''Even though we all look different on the outside, we all have something in common, the heartbeat,'' said Kumalo, who performs under the name Robbi K. The event was part of the college's Black History Month celebration and a continuation of DCC's Family Festival Series. Funded through the school's student government association, the series is geared toward the children of adult students, but most events are open to the public. Kumalo had the audience dancing, clapping and making animal noises to assist her in telling the West African folk tale of how the turtle got a shell on its back. Six-year-old Tyler Maresca said he liked the turtle story and the dancing. He was there with his brothers, Christopher, 6, and Matthew, 3, their father and grandmother. ''They enjoyed it,'' said Clinton Corners resident Pat Maresca, the boys' father. ''It had a lot of energy.'' Poughkeepsie residents Curtis and Brenda Hoskins brought their grandchildren Jeffrey Cohen, 9, and Philicia Cohen, 6, to the performance. The grandparents were more enthusiastic after the show than the children were. ''She put life into the story,'' Curtis Hoskins said. ''She knows how to talk to the kids and adults.'' In the story, the sky god calls on all the animals to get the biggest and best drum in the land from the leopard. After unsuccessful attempts, a small, soft-shell turtle succeeds in retrieving the drum and is rewarded with a hard shell. ''This story always reminds us it doesn't matter if you're small in size,'' Kumalo said. ''You can still do great things.'' Matthew Hanlon, assistant director of student activities at DCC, said reaction to the Family Festival events has been positive. ''They always love what we have going on,'' Hanlon said. ''It's a good time.''