With her third studio album, Tall and Small (2006), set to be released next week, Rebecca Frezza and her band Big Truck make a bid for kids' music stardom. The New Jersey-based singer/songwriter has had videos on Noggin, but this album seems one of those CDs designed to attract even wider attention.

Take, for example, what would be considered the lead single off the album, "It Wasn't Me," about receiving blame (or placing it on somebody else). Frezza and Big Truck take the song, written by Ron Cardazone, and craft it into an insanely catchy tune with a number of musical layers. The secret is taking the "tattletale" song -- you'll know it when you hear it -- and weaving it into the chorus. (And this isn't the confident narrator of Justin Roberts' "My Brother Did It," but a much more uncertain 6-year-old, which may appeal to 6-year-olds for an entirely different reason than Roberts' song appeals to them.) Frezza is no slouch herself in the songwriting department, writing or co-writing 12 of the album's 14 tracks. A couple of the stronger tracks include the title track, which has a melody that climbs and falls repeatedly, nicely echoing the subject of the song, and "Show Me!," which borrows some of the guitar riff from "What I Like About You" to create an energetic song that encourages movement (I'm envisioning a very hyperactive crowd in concert).

The better songs generally were those which used the skills of the 8-member Big Truck band to good effect on the pop-rock tunes -- fiddle and mandolin on the Irish-tinged "Tell Me A Story," or the nifty guitar work on the "Can't Let Go Blues." I tended to prefer the faster songs, finding some of the lyrics on the slow songs worked a bit too hard at establishing the positive message that runs throughout the album. ("Happy" in particularly didn't work for me at all, though I could see how a 4-year-old, after wiggling through Frezza's faster numbers, might be more receptive to the message than I.) The faster songs seemed to convey Frezza's lyrical points with more ease.

The 41-minuste album is laser-targeted at kids ages 4 through 8. You can now hear clips of the album at Frezza's website (click on "Music & Lyrics" at the top, then on the album cover); they're also available at Amazon.

Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck are clearly shooting for the stars with this album, seeking a wider audience. As a whole, Tall and Small is an album deserving of that wider audience that this kid-targeted and adult-friendly CD will bring them. Recommended
zooglobble.com



Music for children too old for preschool tunes and too young for the Top 40 music. Music for 4 through 8 year olds with influences ranging from rock ‘n' roll and jazz to Celtic and bluegrass, with a depth of instrumental color that is unusual in a children's album.
A to Z Kids Stuff



The first thing preschoolers from Baltimore to Big Sur will recognize about Rebecca Frezza is that she's a TV star--when you're 3, a couple of well-placed, body-rockin' contributions to Noggin's "Jack's Big Music Show" translate as a ticket to the big time--but the first thing music-savvy parents are apt to notice is that she sounds a lot like fellow kids' crooner Laurie Berkner. Frezza, like Berkner, sings sweetly, brightly, and clearly, a crucial combo for the 3- to 6-year-olds she's targeting, and her subjects land on little ears with wit and a knowing wink: "It Wasn't Me" comes from the vantage point of a beleaguered big sister, and the "Can't Let Go Blues" chronicle a shy kid's difficulty letting go of her mother's leg. Where Frezza parts paths with Berkner is in her energy level--she's a little less manic and a shade less loopy (characteristics that lend needed substance to more serious-minded songs like "Won't Let the Rain Keep Fallin'" and "Colors"). Musically, though, both artists scratch kids' rock & roll itch with aplomb: before Frezza and her freewheeling Big Truck Band are through here, they throw everything from Ramones-style punk to Blues Traveler-type harmonica riffs kids way. Tall or small, 3 or 35, it's a mash-up that commands a fist-pumping conga line around the toybox.
Tammy La Gorce - Amazon.com



Whether it's the up-tempo pop-country bounce of the title cut, "Tall and Small," the Caribbean-inspired rhythms of "Happy," the closely layered barbershop chords of "Sweet Harmony," the rock-and-roll beat of "I'm a Kid," or the sweetly lyrical "Turning and Turning," this collection of 14 original songs has something for every mood and every moment of the day. Vocalist Rebecca Frezza's pleasantly light voice has plenty of punch for the rowdier cuts and an equal measure of sweetness for the gentler songs. The musicians in the eight-piece band, Big Truck, play a wide variety of instruments—bodhran, ukulele, bongos, mandolin, pennywhistle, and more--ensuring a full measure of live energy. Backup harmonies add depth and texture to the album as a whole. Lyrics such as "Show me how you move your head, move it all around, show me how to move your body" promise to get kids up off the couch. In the Celtic-flavored "Tell Me a Story," Frezza encourages youngsters to ask elders to "tell me a story of when your life was a little like mine." Fine songs, expert musicianship, and family appeal add up to a rare and refreshing combination in an overcrowded field.
Kristi Jemtegaard - Booklist



A NAPPA gold winner, Ms. Frezza is fun and personable. Singing from a kids' POV she is undeniably having a good time. The unique folksy style is accessible, downright happy and a great example of the creative movement in children's music today. Even after several listens, this reviewer still wanted more!
Compiled by Vicki Stewart - Charlotte Parent



Available online at amazon.com, cdbaby.com, barnesandnoble.com, as well as local speciality toy and bookstores, Tall And Small is award-winning independent children's recording artist Rebecca Frezza's third studio CD and is specifically intended to entertain preschool aged children with fourteen brand new songs performed by Rebecca and enhanced by precision backup singers and instrumentalists. Flawlessly recorded, these energetic, entertaining, and thoroughly "kid friendly" tunes include: Happy; Sweet Harmony; I'm A Kid; Can't Let Go Blues; Take A Ride; Show Me!; Tell Me A Story; It Wasn't Me; It Goes...; Daydreamin'; Won't Let The Room Keep Fallin'; Colors; Turning And Turning; and the title piece, Tall And Small. Also very highly recommended for family, daycare, preschool, and community library CD music collections are Rebecca's two earlier collections: Music In My Heart and Road Trip.
Children's Bookwatch



Noggin's latest video superstar melds a classic children's music sound with today's adult friendly kiddie pop. Be sure of it, little feet will be dancing. Many tracks will also inspire parental toe-tapping, and perhaps even some humming long after the stereo has been turned off.
Christopher Healy - Cookie Magazine



Rebecca Frezza's focus is on creating music for a largely forgotten audience - kids who are too old for pre-school tunes, but who aren't yet ready for mainstream adult "pop" music. Says Rebecca, "Once kids start elementary school, they don't have easy access to age-appropriate music. They're not listening to Raffi any more, but they don't have music that's just for them. So I've tried to write music that speaks to the everyday lives of these kids, but is smart, funny and appealing to parents, too." The childlike spontaneity of Rebecca, the composer, is matched only by the emotional range, exquisite phrasing, and virtuosity of her voice.
Familycorner.com



``Tall and Small,'' Rebecca Frezza (Big Truck Music, $15). Frezza's music, which focuses on humor in the everyday lives of elementary-school kids, is well-crafted, varied and highly creative. This CD features Frezza's eight-piece band, Big Truck, and has guest artists who perform on electric violin, trombone and other instruments that provide great texture. The music styles include rock, jazz and bluegrass. Frezza's two previous recordings have won a total of six awards from parenting groups
Kalamazoo Gazette



NAPPA Gold winner Frezza's strong, pure vocals, great harmonies, and assured songs and arrangements make her a bright and welcome presence to children's music and someone to always keep an ear on.
John Wood - Kidzmusic.com



Have you ever followed a recipe perfectly, with the very best ingredients perfectly measured, and had your dish turn out just okay? That is what I think may have happened to Rebecca Frezza and Big Truck with their new release, Tall and Small.

The album showcases great songwriting and arrangements, Frezza's fabulous vocals, superb musicianship by members of Big Truck, and slick production, so what's missing? After listening to Tall and Small many times on our latest family road trip, I couldn't put my finger on why it wasn't more enjoyable to me. My children had fun listening, and several of the songs were fairly catchy to me, but it wasn't what I had hoped for after hearing Frezza's earlier album Road Trip and loving her video of "H2O+O2+Sun" on Noggin.

It finally hit me as I listened to Tall and Small one more time on our nine-hour drive home today that it was a bit too perfectly measured. It was missing that little something - chemistry among the musicians, spontanaeity, soul, whatever you'd like to call it - that makes an album really memorable. To go back to the cooking analogy, sometimes a dish turns out better when you improvise a little and add your own touch to a recipe rather than following every measurement and every step exactly as written.

Tall and Small is, though, a very well made album. Members of Big Truck add interesting touches throughout with creative instrumentation, from flute and clarinet to fiddle and ukulele. Frezza's vocals are clear and bright, and her musical theatre background is evident in the versatility she brings to various styles that are represented - country, calypso, beautiful ballads, and straightforward pop/rock. The themes and lyrics are great for kids, and are positive and nurturing throughout.

If you are a fan of tight songwriting, first-rate musicianship, and slick production, Tall and Small may be a great album for you. If you prefer things a bit looser and more laid-back, you may have the same difficulties I had with it. And yes, my lasagna tastes a little different every time I make it.
thelovelymrsdavis.com



Your kids probably know singer Rebecca Frezza and her band Big Truck better than I do. Frezza's rocking music videos are a staple of television's NOGGIN Channel.

Her third release for families is Tall and Small, and it pleases both ends of that spectrum with outstanding production in a variety of styles. My personal favorite is the Irish-tinged plea (complete with bodhran) from a child to an adult to "Tell Me a Story" (about when you were a kid).

Tall and Small asks you to consider that "everything's relative after all" when figuring out "how tall is tall, how small is small." Shades of jazz, with the feel of old-timey Maria Muldaur, shine through on "Can't Let Go Blues," an upbeat saga of separation anxiety.

The next song, "Take a Ride," mixes an outstanding string section with bongos and an uplifting message about daring to try. Inspired by "What I Like About You," by the Romantics, "Show Me! (how you move your body)" is an invitation to dance that moves feet of all sizes.

Frezza's obvious respect for musical variety, along with a clear understanding of kids' real-life themes, makes Tall and Small a delightful addition to every family's music collection. Find this outstanding album at www.bigtruckmusic.com
Kathy O'Connell - MetroKids, Philadelphia



With the help of guest artists on cajon, bodhran, electric violin, and trombone, singer, dancer, and actress Rebecca Frezza and her eight-piece band, Big Truck, provide children ages 4 to 8 with fourteen new, energetic and entertaining songs characterized by Frezza's vocals. "Tall and Small" is a flawlessly produced CD of music specifically designed for children too old for pre-school music but not yet ready for mainstream "pop" numbers.
Midwest BookReview



Our Kid Critic Picks the Platters That Matter
Meant for those too old for toddler singalongs but too young for MTV, award-winning musician Rebecca Frezza's "Tall and Small" should be a hit among the oft-alienated audience of kids on the lower rungs of the elementary school ladder.

There's a variety of folky, progressive, pop and rock influenced music here, suitable for both daydreaming (the calypso-sounding "Happy") and running around (the toe-tapping "Show Me!"). Frezza and her backing band Big Truck offer an upbeat, enjoyable album.
Charlie Heller - New York Post



"How tall is tall? How small is small? Everything's relative, after all." Rebecca Frezza's feel-good-about-yourself songs celebrate and reassure children who are at that age when they begin trying to make sense of the world beyond their front door. Frezza encourages listeners to set imaginations flying, make "Sweet Harmony" with friends and not to "let the rain keep fallin'" on a happy day.
Lynne Heffley - Parents' Choice



I woke up this morning with a tune from singer-songwriter Rebecca Frezza's new album, Tall and Small, stuck in my head. The song "Happy" has a swingin' island beat. The refrain, "I'm happy to be me" -not the worst sentiment to have echoing throughout your day. Frezza's first two albums, Music In My Heart (2002) and Road Trip (2003), earned the Noggin regular a flurry of awards, and this latest release may just do the same. Once again, Frezza and her eight-piece band, Big Truck, display an admirable musical range, as do the guest artists who play along on various tracks. The performers are at their best on pop- and folk-infused songs like, the ukulele-led, soft-shoeish "Sweet Harmony," and the chipper "It Goes…." and "Won't Let The Rain Keep Fallin'." The joyfully meandering "Take A Ride," the Celtic-inspired "Tell Me A Story" and the multistrand country waltz "Turning and Turning" are also ones to listen for, as is the album's twangy, fiddleriffic title track. Frezza's sweet, crisp voice is less suited to her more rock& roll-inspired songs such as the trite "I'm a Kid" and "It Wasn't Me," and the peculiarly Ramones-esque "Show Me!" But even in its weakest spots, Tall and Small is never anything less than pleasant. And at its best, its truly, almost giddily feel-good music for tall, small and all
Amy Reiter, Time Out NY Kids



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