Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer's Scat Like That: A Musical Word Odyssey presents a lighthearted romp through various styles of music, including jazz (hence the title), Latin rhythms, old-time folk, and more, while the two singer/songwriters imaginatively explore all sorts of themes, from tongue twisters ("Flip Flapjacks) to Pig Latin ("Pig Latin Polka Dance [Igpay Atinlay Olkapay Anceday]"). It's a nice sounding album with many different musical textures, highlighting horns, accordions, fiddles, banjos, and other such instruments, but possibly the most effective, and certainly most endearing, inclusion is that of the University Park Elementary School Ensemble. These students provide many of the backing vocals, especially on call-and-response numbers such as "I Love Pie," which create an affable feel of belonging. Young children will surely find the fun in this album, but Fink & Marxer are accomplished enough to know how to make the music enjoyable for adults too. ~ Gregory McIntosh, All Music Guide