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":