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Hot Peas'N Butter, Promoting Child's Play and Equality Through Music. In the spirited new album "Hot Peas 'N Butter, Volume 5, Best of the Bowl," listeners will enjoy a smooth and lilting collection of new and traditional melodies for Latino children.

"Hot Peas 'N Butter," who have been seen on Nick Jr, bring songs that are palpable and non-jarring to little listeners while giving them a music lesson of bomba, plena and traditional Caribbean sounds. Danny Lapidus, lead singer, has a comforting tone appropriate for story telling to small children.

And the music, as a collection, does tell a story. The 11 track album begins with "Round The World" and ends with "Que Bonita Bandera/What A Beautiful Flag" giving listeners a sense that differences among children is good and that all nationalities have their own special qualities.

With veteran cuatro player Yomo Toro, the songs have a precision, similarity and sometimes repetitive quality good for children and that can be overlooked by the consistent musicianship of percussionist Jorge Vazquez, Francisco Cotto on bass and Hector Mercado on acoustic guitar.

The album is divided into traditional music and new tunes. The familiar songs include "Pollito/Chicken," "Sambalale," and "Mi Cuerpo." For children, this is poly-phonic Latin music 101. Unmistakable are the familiar cords, changes and melodies that are the building blocks of Caribbean folkloric music.

In the newer pieces, "Somos Familia," "Baila/Dance," and "Tocando there" an under tow of how everyone may be different but everyone comes from one human family no matter the differences. "Que Llueva" lets it be known that rain falls on everyone and on the traditional piece "Mi Cuerpo," the group is saying anyone can make music, create art.

Really, there are no musical surprises however there is great care and appreciation for their audience. There's nothing jarring or out of place. The music has a familiar school time quality that helps bolster self-esteem with a sense of fun in young children.

And for any budding dancer, what child doesn't just hear music and move to his own natural rhythms, the music invites. This is good clean fun for young kids who can use their bodies and minds to explore. Imaginations provoked by the tunes evoke "The Old Lady and the Spider," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or "Bingo." 

On "Rayos Diferentes," the music takes off and doesn't knock children over their heads with the album's main message. In the song everyone gets on their bikes, rides and takes care not to fall. Percussion, cuatro and song pull different strands from the same string, vibrating with a joyous plena feeling. Then, a children's chorus sings in Spanish, "Lets travel lets all enjoy ourselves."

Again the idea of equality and friendship permeate through the music's lyrics while presenting complex Latino rhythms.

The album celebrates being a child where the party of youth never ends and encourages confidence and respect in others. The album suits itself well for classroom instruction in Kindergarten, the first and second grade classes. The music pumps up fast but not too fast since the musicians have carefully crafted an album that is sensitive to young listeners.  

While specifically Latino music, the musicians go out of their way to include everyone. At a time when President Obama encourages Americans to discuss race, Volume 5 of "Hot Peas 'N Butter" reminds one of that time on the playground when race, gender and national origin were invisible. You were a kid who wanted to play, dance or sing with other children. The music harkens back innocently to a time when the only thing that mattered was having fun without prejudice or ego, like a summer that never seemed to end or universal music including everyone from every where.


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