Summer Charms of Mista Cookie Jar's Three-Song EP

When you're only given three songs, you have to wonder "is the cookie jar half-full or half-empty"? But when the performer is Mista Cookie Jar (otherwise known in civilian life as C.J. Pizarro), you become an eternal optimist.

In addition to becoming the "go-to" rap guest star for other artists (see Joanie Leeds and Jazzy Ash), Mr. Jar has chosen to release a summer EP entitled 3's A CHARM. It's just that – three charming songs that can serve as an entree for newcomers or a time-filler until the next full CD.

"My My My" begins with the plaintive refrain, "My little child won't you stay young forever" and continues in that vein with horns and twinkling keyboards. With the accompanying vocals by 13-year-old Ava Flava, I was reminded immediately of the recorded rapport between Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and his daughter, Saki.

"Be a Little Angel" stays in that groove, asking kids to be happy. "Prairie Boy" is a story-song of a child "all alone on the prairie" but at peace with his life and in harmony with nature.

It's tough to criticize three songs. Perhaps that was Mr. Jar's motive – give the critic just enough to like, but not enough to find anything worth deconstructing. If that was his ulterior goal, than kudos! In the meantime, Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips are worth 10 minutes of your kid's time. Perhaps you'll be charmed as well.

3'S A CHARM is available on July 22 from Mista Cookie Jar's website, CDBABY, iTunes, and Amazon.

Here is a video for Mista Cookie Jar's new song, "My My My":