duggup

Artist: Ellis Paul
Website: www.myspace.com/ellispaul and www.ellispaul.com
AlbumName: The Dragonfly Races
Playback: mp3/flash
Download?: Yes/No

I’ve always been a great fan of the children’s songs of such greats as Donovan. Now there is a new name to think of when you think about songs for kids. Ellis Paul has been recording albums since 1993 or so and with 14 albums thus far to his name.

The softly spoken songwriter is a great story teller and has recently released The Dragonfly Races.

Of the The songs on the album are intended to be sweet and playful yet insightful and thoughtful. Written in true to form Ellis Paul style of compelling and witty story telling; each song will bring both parents and children into a picture that Ellis paints with each lyric. Themes of peace, unity, and a sense of the planet as a whole underlie the album with grace rather than overstatement.

Myspace.com/ellispaul has four tracks from the new album and it hard to choose which is my favourite but direct your attention to The Million Chameleon March. Ellis Paul says of this track : Consider this your kid’s first protest song. Vance Gilbert sings with me on this song about a Million Chameleons Marching on Washington, demanding change.

There are samples aplenty on his website, but check out these YouTube live performances. The first is Wabi Sabi (not the same song as the one on Dragonfly Races, followed by Conversation With a Ghost. Lovely shiver down your spine performance.

He is a guitar player and singer of folk songs in the tradition of Guthrie, Dylan and Joni Mitchell to name but a few of the leading lights. But Ellis Paul is not a wannabe, he has his own style and a large and loyal following both in America and abroad. A version of a song called Bryant Street can be heard at the Ellis Paul Archives which is project devoted to collecting material about and by him.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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