Celebrate With Brady Rymer, Sonia de los Santos, and Roger Day

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could love the holiday season. In 2017, they released REVVIN' UP THE REINDEER, an entire album of upbeat family tunes. With the pandemic still in full swing, Brady used technology to produce a four song EP, ANGELS IN THE SNOW (available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer). Brady sings about the agonizing wait to open gifts on Christmas morning ("Why, Daddy, Why?"), penning your gift note to the North Pole ("Writing A Letter to Santa Claus"), a dog-centric version of "My Favorite Things," and the title track, about making snow angels outside in wintry weather. Here's the video for that song:

Sonia de los Santos made a pilgrimage to Mexico earlier this summer. While there, she took the opportunity (with partner Martin Vejarano) to produce a celebratory video for "¡Fiesta, Fiesta!" from her upcoming 2021 CD. The video is the very definition of a "family affair," with her father José manning the camera and other friends and extended family performing on- and off-screen responsibilities. "No matter your age, I invite you to reflect on your personal journey in 2020 as we prepare for the new year," Sonia recently wrote. Here is the video:

Roger Day recently released a holiday special via his YouTube channel. Accompanied by sons Thomas and Jacob, the trio sing original tunes "Ukulele Christmas" and "The Yak Who Saved Christmas," re-imagined classics like "Must Be Santa," and conduct a virtual sing-a-long for young viewers. Roger once told me that his children's music evolved as his own kids grew older, which enabled him to incorporate more science and history themes into his songs. Now the circle has completed and his sons are part of Roger's music-making process. His most recent CD, INVINCIBLE, is available for purchase and streaming through Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and Soundcloud. Here is the special:

Quick Hits: Videos from Father Goose, Bright Siders, and Twinkle

Father Goose keeps busy with his gaggle, including son IEiE Goose. Their new song, "You Silly Goose," furthers his message of fun, family inclusion. The Grammy winning "king of the dance party" will help listeners work off any extra winter weight from sugar cookies, with this (free downloadable) tune. I guarantee that your kids will know most of the lyrics – they're from popular children's nursery rhymes (he does call himself Father Goose, so you know Mother Goose has to be close by). The only kind of house parties are private parties right now, except by Zoom. Goosehut has taken the opportunity to deliver the soundtrack to any (socially distanced) junior rave. Here's the video:

Helping children connect to their emotions is especially important in these times of pandemic. Together, Nashville-based songwriter Kristin Andreassen and Brooklyn-based child psychiatrist Kari Groff have created the Bright Siders expressly to address this difficult situation. The duo have a CD entitled "A Mind Of Your Own," coming in 2021. A video for the track, "The Moon and the Stars and Me," was inspired by a conversation that Andreassen had with Dr. Groff's daughter about being afraid of the dark. Here is the song that evolved from that discussion, featuring Kristin with co-producer Chris Eldridge:

Los Angeles children's personality Twinkle produces daily bilingual musical education videos on her YouTube channel (also available on Instagram, but many parents limit their kids to the 'Tube). Her new power-pop English/Spanish singles are “Mask It Up" and "Mascara," related to (obvious) coronavirus, but also about positive self-image and the fun of kids dressing up. You can download the songs through the clickable links in the titles. And here's a recent episode of her YouTube show. Give your youngster a juice box and some pretzels and it's their version of Oprah, if Oprah channeled Lady Gaga.

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, December 22, 2022

'Cause I'm A Man – Tame Impala
Glue – Francis England
Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Your Love is a Metaphor  – Danny Weinkauf
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.

Ben's Playlist - Monday, December 21, 2020

The Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala
It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Two Towns – David Gibb & Brady Rymer
Lo/Hi – The Black Keys
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Boy with a Hole in his Heart – Danny Weinkauf
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions

Quick Hits: Story Pirates Live to Sleep; Goings is Grateful

It's hard for anyone to get to sleep these days. Kids have fevered imaginations and parents have dreams of 2021 vaccines. But the entire family can agree that a good bedtime story sets the right mood for relaxing slumber. Enter the Story Pirates with their new sketch and music theater experience, SLEEP SQUAD. Aimed at kids from 4 to 12, the production recently launched with a discounted "10-day pass" running through February 21 that gives each family their entry date into a world of inventive play.

The Story Pirates have a history of adapting children's ideas into fully-realized experiences and SLEEP SQUAD continues that work. Tony nominee Lilli Cooper (SpongeBob SquarePants, Tootsie) hosts the production as the Dream Queen, who guides audiences through different scenarios. The 45-minute episode include a visit to a desert island (“Stuck Island”), a dinosaur’s birthday party (“Spinosaurus’ Birthday”), and an intergalactic nightclub (“30 Moons”), and come with an additional 15 minutes of supplemental music. And just when your charges get all amped up, SLEEP SQUAD winds them back down with soothing music to ease them into a sleep zone to produce their own nighttime fantasies.

The Story Pirates continue to adapt material from young contributors and may break the production into three 20-minute episodes in 2021. The show's theme song, "30 Moons," written by nine-year-old Julien, has just been released as a single, featuring singer Ellen Winter.

Performances are available on the date purchased starting at 7 pm ET and can be viewed any number of times for 14 days thereafter. Buy tickets here.

With the holiday season fully underway, it's time to count your blessings and look ahead to better times in the new year. Genevieve Goings, former star of Disney Junior's "Choo Choo Soul," has an EP coming on February 8 and recently debuted the first single, "Grateful."

Choo Choo Soul existed long before Disney Music acquired the property. But those four seasons of original music and exposure opened the door for Genevieve to expand her own imprint as well as carry on the worldwide mantle of Choo Choo Soul.

The lyrics for the funk-rock "Grateful" plainly state what everyone feels when people try to see each other:

It can be a Zoom party or a Facebook feed
As long as we're together it doesn't matter how we meet
We'll be alright,
Even if it's on Skype

The 2021 EP is amusingly titled GREAT INDOORS, which everyone can relate to. "Grateful” is is available to stream and download via Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, December 18, 2020

The Less I Know The Better – Tame Impala
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
Summer's Here – The Bazillions
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart – Bee Gees

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, December 15, 2020

The Moment – Tame Impala
All Star – Andrew & Polly
Wastin' Time – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones
Run to Me – Bee Gees
One – Aaron Nigel Smith

Jazzy Ash Puts Her Good Foot Forward

Making a strong first impression is super important. With a a new generation of listeners coming fast and furious every few years in the field of children's music, Jazzy Ash (Ashli St. Armant) used her pandemic time to build GOOD FOOT, a six-song EP that introduces audiences to her influences – the Black American music sound of the 1950s and 1960s. 

The renaissance of kids' jazz continues unabated, from the 2019 Grammy win of Lucy Kalantari to present day. Ashli has chosen to revisit the classic jump rope song, "Teddy Bear" and uses a soul/funk beat on the mask-friendly "Be Outside" (see the video below). Who knew that walking your dog during coronavirus could inspire such an upbeat number? In fact, the song reached Number 1 on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live's "13 Under 13" over the summer. Ashli delves into the early rock roots of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley on the title track and executes a James Brown rave on "The Sauce." Guest performer Amelia Robinson (Mil's Trills) complement Ashli's vocals on "Seize the Day" and life partner Pam Rocker duets on the '60s harmony echo "Honey."

After spending much of her youth in New Orleans, Ashli decamped in Los Angeles, where she founded Leaping Lizards Music, a music and theater education program for TK-12 students. Her touring band, Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, produced five albums and looks forward to returning to the road in 2021. The band is joined on GOOD FOOT by esteemed musicians Phil Glenn (Show Ponies, Psychic Temple), Danny Frankel (Fiona Apple, Lou Reed, Brian Eno), and Davin Givhan (Lauryn Hill, Psychic Temple). An authentic sound was almost guaranteed, as the EP was recorded at LA's EastWest Studios, which has produced more Grammy Award-winning albums than any other studio in the world, including Frank Sinatra and Marvin Gaye.

The playing field will be leveled for all performers in 2021 once vaccines and science coax us into the open from our sheltering pods. With GOOD FOOT, Jazzy Ash accomplished her task – a shiny first impression, clearing herself a prime landing space in our funky new world.

GOOD FOOT is available from Jazzy Ash's website, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Here is the video for "Be Outside":

Ben's Playlist - Monday, December 7, 2020

Afternoon Walk – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Who, What, When, Where, Why – The Bazillions
Village d'Ãtoile – Dog On Fleas
It's A Wonderful Life – Kepi Ghoulie
El Corazon – The Lucky Band
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Clown Shoes – Ratboy Jr.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, December 4, 2020

Even When....  – Ratboy Jr.
Thank You For Being You  – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
What Kind Of Fruit  – Dean Jones
White Whale  – Kepi Ghoulie
Shine A Little Light  – The Black Keys
Two Towns  – David Gibb & Brady Rymer
Cut the Cheese  – Danny Weinkauf

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Helicopter Leaves – Ants Ants Ants
Almost Saturday Night – John Fogerty
You Are the One – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Perfect Day – Danny Weinkauf
Doppelganger – Dog On Fleas
Buenos Dias – The Lucky Band
It's So Easy – Linda Ronstadt