Patchwork Planet by Two of a Kind

Jenny has a background in training, education, creative writing, movement and dance. Jenny was a member of the Anna Crusis Women's Choir for four years and sang on the group's recording "Fresh Cut". David and Jenny are active in the Children's Music Network, and Jenny is currently on the board of CMN. Two of a Kind is on the artist roster of the PA Council on the Arts, the NJ State Council for the Arts and the Odyssey Program of the Philadelphia Folksong Society. David and Jenny are members of AFM Local 77 (Philadelphia) and Local 1000 (the North American Traveling Musicians' Union).

Two of a Kind has released six recordings, including five recordings for children: "Patchwork Planet", "Going on an Adventure", "Connections", "Friends" and "Love Makes a Family". "Patchwork Planet" won "Best Educational Recording for Young Children" and "Best Recording for Older Children" in the 2002 Children's Music Web Awards (childrensmusic.org). "Going on an Adventure" and "Connections" both won 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Honors. "Going on an Adventure" also won "Classic Recording for Preschoolers" and "Classic Recording for Younger Children, 5-8", and "Connections" also won "Best Music for Older Children" in the Children's Music Web Awards. David and Jenny have also produced their own "two of a kind": twin sons named Ari and Jason born in January 1995!

Two of a Kind has appeared at festivals, concert venues, schools, libraries, aquariums, zoos, museums, daycare centers, camps, and on radio and television. They have shared the stage with artists such as Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, Trout Fishing in America, John McCutcheon, Kim & Reggie Harris, Sally Rogers, Magpie and Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.

Two of a Kind: Patchwork Planet

Two of a Kind Announces the Release of

5th Children's Album "Patchwork Planet"

Popular Performers Release Recording for Children

Who: Two of a Kind, a nationally touring husband-wife duo specializing in interactive music for children, released "Patchwork Planet", a new album for children, on April 28th. The new album was recorded and mixed at MorningStar Recording Studios in Springhouse, PA, and features musicians who have worked with Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt, Solas, Susan Werner and in Broadway's "Lion King", as well as children's musician Sooz, a horn section and a wonderful children's chorus. The songs celebrate the fabric of community, the richness of diversity and the beauty of the natural world. "Patchwork Planet" won "Best Educational Recording for Young Children" and "Best Recording for Older Children" in the 2002 Children's Music Web Awards (childrensmusic.org).

When: Two of a Kind officially released "Patchwork Planet" on April 28, 2002. Album-Release Concerts in April-June are being held in Philadelphia, Cheltenham, and Bryn Mawr, PA, as well as Ann Arbor, MI.

More: Two of a Kind presents musical programs for children of all ages, including songs, movement, sign language, puppets, and stories - all with an emphasis on interaction and participation. The songs on "Patchwork Planet" celebrate the fabric of community and the beauty of the natural world, weaving together themes of multiculturalism and diversity, animals and the environment, and other topics. The diversity on "Patchwork Planet" extends to the musical styles, which include rock, folk, dixieland, klezmer, Latin rock and choral part-songs. The CD is an "enhanced CD", with extra CD-ROM features including lyrics, sound clips, videos, photo gallery and more. Bill Harley calls Patchwork Planet, "a great album of singable songs about important things." John McCutcheon says, "How wonderful to hear family music that combines great songs, great ideas, and great musicianship...all in one package. Patchwork Planet stitches it all together."

Two of a Kind has four previously released recordings for children, "Connections", "Going On An Adventure", "Friends" and "Love Makes a Family". "Connections" and "Going On An Adventure" both received Parents' Choice Silver Honors, and "Connections" also won a Children's Music Web award.

Reviews of "Patchwork Planet":

"How wonderful to hear family music that combines great songs, great ideas, and great musicianship...all in one package. Patchwork Planet stitches it all together." - John McCutcheon

"A great album of singable songs about important things." - Bill Harley

"David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans perform as Two of a Kind, and their latest effort is Patchwork Planet. I can honestly say that each CD by this duo is better than the last. If you're in the market for environmentally friendly music ("The Double Life of Amphibians") with some life lessons ("That's Not Fair"), a touch of fun ("I'm Not Scared" with some nice Klezmer touches), and terrific production values (including lots of kids' voices), check out Patchwork Planet. These are folks with nice folkie sensibilities who ROCK on this album."

- Kathy O'Connell, host of Peabody-award-winning "Kid's Corner" on WXPN, review in MetroKids

"BRAVO on your Patchwork Planet recording!!! it's just GREAT! SO many great songs and, as always, you did them so very fabulously!" - Joanne Hammil

"Appropriately enough for a recording titled "Patchwork Planet", there's a great diversity of music here - lot's of instruments, styles, rhythms, arrangements, topics - more than enough to keep any child's interest. Music that encourages and uplifts, remaining fun throughout.

Enjoy!" - Laz of "Gemini"

"Jenny and David Heitler-Klevans, who comprise Two of a Kind, wrote nine of the 14 songs on this album. The musical styles of most of the songs are either rock or folk, but there are also a couple of jazz tunes and one Klezmer-style song. Acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, mandolins, keyboards, piano, organ, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, clarinets, trombones, djembe, drums and other percussion make up the instrumental backgrounds in various songs. The themes include environment, nature, and diversity in community. As in their previous albums, their voices blend harmoniously, and a kids' chorus joins in on many of the songs. "All the Rivers Run" celebrates the water cycle and the web of life. Racial diversity and acceptance is the theme of "Colors of Earth," a song by Sarah Pirtle. The patriotic song "Red, White & Blue" asks "What does America mean to you?" "Animal Dads" describes how various male animals help care for their offspring. "Girls Who Rocked the World" before the age of 20 include Bessie Smith, Irene Curie, Wang Yani, and several others. "We Are a Patchwork Quilt" is a metaphor for a combination of diversity and community, sung in a round. "Author, Author" celebrates the characters created by Dr. Seuss, Ezra Jack Keats, Don Freeman, Susan Meddaugh, and Dav Pilkey. "One Family" is a unique South African round called a converging song. Each of the four parts has its own unique melody, rhythm, and lyrics, but all four parts come together on the words "one family." Other songs include "Double Life of Amphibians," "I've Heard About Dinosaurs," "That's Not Fair," "Most Valuable Player," "I'm Not Scared," and "Flying in a Balloon." The enhanced CD, when put into a computer, displays the lyrics, video clips, a photo gallery, and MP3 files of the songs, including an additional song, "Boys Who Rock the World." Jenny and David are an excellent duo, producing albums on a par with other outstanding children's performers such as Raffi." - Audio of the Week review in School Library Journal

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