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Before Words

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A new cd featuring baby vocalist  Margaret McGuire

Before Words CD
"If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will!"

A couple of months ago in September, superstar Carlos Santana gave a web interview with fans. As quoted by S. F. Examinar writer Jane Ganahl, Santana gives this advice to aspiring 'rock gods', "There is nothing more sensual than coming from a place of purity and innocence."  And what could be more more pure and  innocent than the voice of an infant?
Liner Notes:
First, I offer some quick definitions. 
Baby: Extremely young child, infant 
Scat: Jazz singing with nonsense syllables 

The concept of 'Baby Scat' immediately brings some ideas to mind. Can a baby actually sing? Baby Scat is nonverbal, but is it communication? It is definitely expression, but what is being expressed? This unique CD may not answer these questions but it just might change the way you think about babies. Or maybe you already know a baby that sings! 

Before Words is also before ego (as we usually define it), before desire for fame, before peergroup pressure. It is innocent expression. It is the genuine article, in a world of hype and illusion. 
 
Baby Magi
This recording is a kind of 'audio verité' (think cinema verité). The idea being that there is _NO_ overdubbing or fancy pitch-changing being done here, just turn on the recorder and you get what you get. Baby will sing into the mike only when she wants to (visited by muse?) , certainly not on command. These are all live home recordings; unrehearsed and not done with commercial intent.  Magi and Father
This album started one day last February when Magi (pronounced Maggie) was standing at the edge of the playpen we had setup in the music room and was happily making sounds to our music playing. Almost without thinking, I pulled a boom/mike down to her level. With a mike in front of her face, she first tried to bite it making noise, but immediately noticed her voice amplified through the sound system. And, well, one ah, just led to another! 

Margaret Catherine McGuire was born July 8, 1999. All recordings on this CD were recorded live between Feb. 17 and June 14, 2000.
Track Info:
1- Intro

2- It's so Easy To Fall in Love With Magi, and who wouldn't? You just can't beat a great vocal and a baby face!

3- Luz Do Magi is a Latin ballad. Baby sings the vocal parts with grace and great timing. Bert Monroe accompanies on flute.

4- Baby With Pans shows you the creative variety of 'Magi sounds'. Very Mellow. 

5- BabyScat Samba is my favorite Magi song with a brilliant sustained opening verse, perfect midsong part and charming finish.

6- In Latina Bebé, baby sings with gusto and personality. Her on-the-beat phasing and choice of sounds is remarkable. 

7- Pueblo Magia starts off with Magi doing  her trademark "Kha Kha Kha" sound in an Ah Capella crescendo of baby virtuosity. After a start note, baby stays in the background during the rest of the song.

8-14 Next is a series of interesting short takes chronicling the first months of 'Magi sounds'. Bla BlahBla is a one minute take of Magi getting the feel as daddy warms up. In Short Warm Up, Magi makes a variety of sounds but doesn't seem to be paying attention to the synthesizer, but then suddenly perfectly mimics the violin section. In Magi's Squeal we get the Kha Kha Kha sound, more variety sounds, and her chirpy baby tones. Ra Ra Ra shows baby learning tempo and mike technique. These snippets were recorded around April 1, 2000, which makes her 8 months 3 weeks at the time. A few months later, Magi seems to have her part down pat in Ah Ah Ah. In Dai Da Blues, Magi goes through a variety of classic baby angst/blues sounds, sort of half crys, then ends with an inspired 'da dai da' vocal and rattle part. MagiLove shows the softer side of Magi's voice.

15- Baby From Ipanema; it took a baby vocal to give a new perspective to this classic Jobim song. Bert also plays flute on this piece.

16- In One Note Magi, baby is mellow and does the one note with grace and charm. Yaya Maldonado is guest drummer on this cut.

17- In Lullaby of Babyland, Magi plays vocal games with daddy during a (musical) break.

18- Spooky Baby will, uh, speak for itself. Magi is sitting on daddy's lap at the keyboard and is both singing and hitting keyboard notes. Patrick skillfully fills in behind her. A Masterpiece.

19- And lastly, a closing ditty, to wish you G'Night Everyone.
Track Samples:

Audio samples are at CD Baby
Contact:
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