The ideal recipe for fun is "Mix joy and music and create JAM." That was the concept behind Charity Kahn and the JAMband, now the creators of seven albums with the release of CREATURES & CRITTERS. The 17-tune collection expands on Charity's mission to raise children's consciousness and think about the physical world around them. The CD reminds kids (and their guardians) that animals are just as deserving of freedom, health, and well-being in their environments.
Animal populations face dire consequences as communities expand to create new living space for humans. A diverse number of species are suffering as a result of habitat destruction (such as deforestation or dropping nets to catch fish). Charity is well aware that change takes time and minds open to change. CREATURES & CRITTERS gently lays down its message, taking old favorites in new directions. "Old MacDonald Had A Sanctuary Farm" talks about treating animal friends with dignity and kindness. The Irish folk song "Rattlin' Bog" is as lively now as it ever was, teaching kids how to expand and add lines to verses in an inspired, interactive fashion. "Itsy Bitsy Spider" puts every small insect into perspective on a universal scale:
If you ever spy a flash zoom across the nighttime sky
That's the itsy bitsy's spiders gone on by
So make an itsy bitsy wish for you
And a huge, ginormous wish for the Earth that loves you true
New songs such as "The Welcome Song," "We Love Those Itty Bitty Bugs," and "The Water Song," show the full range of the JAMBand, with folk. rock, and mildly psychedelic arrangements. Charity views her music as an extension of her work overcoming and undoing negative imagery and messages perpetuated on children through devices and out-of-their-control issues (think a global pandemic). CREATURES & CRITTERS includes five guided meditations to promote calm and focus (staying on topic with dog, bunny, owl, spider, and cow exercises).
Know thy inner critter and sing its praises. As the Dark Times of 2020 slip into the deep recesses of our minds, Charity and the JAMBand urge us to expand our sensibilities and walk as one world community, man and squirrel alike.
There's a fine line between precocious and precious. Musicians with a Message (that's a capital M) have to tread lightly to avoid turning off kids or alienating parents who suspect an agenda. Portland's Jessa Campbell and the Saplings want to be your conservation-loving friends on their new album, CAN YOU FEEL IT. Like the kid who brings full-size cupcakes and goodie bags for his school birthday party, they just need to try a little less hard.
CAN YOU FEEL IT started as a commissioned project from Oregon's "Wonders of Nature" class at the Village Home learning center, which provides curriculum for homeschooling families. There's definitely an alternative feel to the music, led by the glorious lead vocals and harmonies of the title track. Campbell's career spans Talking Heads tribute bands to opera to theatrical pop. Now she's taking the plunge into the two-foot-tall section of the musical community with these nine tunes.
Nature is all around us, and music as well. On such numbers as "How I Love You Sun" and the doo-wop tinged "Water Worth," you don't hear Campbell breaking a sweat. But the science-themed "Waltz of Trillium and Ant" is a mouthful and you can hear the gears grinding on "Fractals." The band does better on "Shadow Doo Dah," (a reworking of "O Susanna") and the countrified "The Great Happening." A highlight is the steel pedal guitar anthem/lullaby "Goodnight Pacific Northwest," which closes the album and makes smart use of simple, comforting repetition:
Goodnight little one
Goodnight, sleep child
Time to dream, time to sleep
Just like me
I'll be sleeping
CAN YOU FEEL IT brought forth memories of San Francisco's Charity and the JAMBand, who have promoted similar causes and sentiments for more than 15 years. At times they have sidestepped the same obstacles. It's a balancing act but then again, many adults find ourselves caught up in the conflicts between personal freedoms and the stifling policies of the current administration. Jessa Campbell and the Saplings know there's a big world out there; they're hoping your family wants to go play outside.
CAN YOU FEEL IT is available on June 7 from Jessa Campbell and the Saplings' website, Apple Music, and Amazon.
Here is the video for the song, "How I Love You Sun":
To some people, children's music is a natural progression. As they become parents or educators, they seek to share concepts and emotions. Dr. Kate Moran studied for her doctorate in special education while earning "merit badges" along the way in her musical pursuits, with her own ensemble as well as the Rainbow Rock Band for kids. Their new EP, TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE RAINBOW, arrives in time for the fall semester.
Since 2012, the Rainbow Rock Band has entertained audiences in the Washington, DC region, performing as many as 120 shows each year. That's a lot of energy put into captivating youngsters as well as a reciprocal amount of fan devotion. TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE RAINBOW won't teach school-aged kids anything new, but tunes like "Samuel The Zookeeper" give preschoolers the chance to shout out animal sounds. "Sparkle Fairy" gives a mythical weather lesson. "Crazy Cakes" is a combination dancing/counting tutorial.
What the Rainbow Rock Band does is not unique. For instance, Charity and the Jam Band serve the same function in San Francisco and Milkshake keeps the Maryland/Virginia kids in their dancing shoes. But they all deliver a valuable, essential element to children's lives – showing them the awesome potential and bonding experience of live music. On that score, the Rainbow Rock Band earns high-fives and gold stars.
Seven songs in 22 minutes makes an EP. Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies pack 14 spooky tunes into 31 minutes on their new CD, HAPPY HAUNTED HALLOWEEN. The group thoroughly mines the holiday with "How Many Pieces Of Candy?" and the rollicking rockabilly "Ain't Scared Of Nuthin'."
"Grandpa's Ghost" gets suitably morbid, singing about how grandpa's melodies stay alive with his family. It may induce a tactful conversation about whether or not the dead really live in our closets or musical instruments.
"Insane Scientist Victory Blitz" gives the bad guys the opportunity to celebrate. "She Writes Frankenstein" attempts to chronicle 19-year-old Mary Shelley's creation in a mere 95 seconds. "Who U Spoze 2 B?" is a smug rejoinder to adults questioning what exactly kids are dressed as for the holiday. "If I hear another mother asking me, who u spoke to B?"
Mr. Singer (Neil Firstenleit) and his Sharp Cookies (Kerry Firstenleit and Michael Massett) are suitably costumed to resume festivities for this time of year. If you want a trippy, zippy, and spooky little walk on the mild side of Creepytown, the Sharp Cookies offer a lurching roadmap.
HAPPY HAUNTED HALLOWEEN is available October 5 from Mr. Singer and the Sharp Cookies' website, Amazon, iTunes Music, and Spotify.
Here is the video for the band's song, "Extraordinary Kerry Appleberry":
Carry a Tune – Recess Monkey
The Bright Side Of Me – Alastair Moock & Friends
Everything I Didn't Say – 5 Seconds of Summer
Hello Goodbye – Caspar Babypants
I'm Not the Sharpest Tool – Dean Jones
Mama – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
Sing A Summer Song – Charity and the JAMBand
T.L.C. – Alison Faith Levy
Forever Young – Andrew & Polly
Bile Them Cabbage – Red Yarn
Archaeology – Danny Weinkauf
One After 909 – Caspar Babypants
Crazy Mountain Road – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Washington, DC – The Not-Its!
Shine – Charity and the JAMBand
Bad Haircut – The Bazillions
Hello – Adele
Gettin' My Ya Ya's Out – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Best Friend – In The Nick Of Time
Brain Freeze – The Not-Its!
Share Your Love – Charity and the JAMBand
Rainbow Tunnel – Alison Faith Levy
Secret Fox – Gustafer Yellowgold
Don't Fence Me In – Andy Z
Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Jelly Beans! – Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips
Grizzly Bear – Red Yarn
Voodoo Doll – 5 Seconds of Summer
Little One – Charity and the JAMBand
Favorite Book – The Bazillions
Rest Easy Now – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
All Around the Kitchen – Andy Z
Thank You for the Box – Andrew & Polly
Kid Of The Week – The Not-Its!
DJ All Day – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
Keep a Green Tree in Your Heart – Charity and the JAMBand
Tomorrow's People – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Earth Day is Friday, April 22. But in reality, every day should be Earth Day. As long as an environmental crisis grips the planet, people must remain vigilant. Especially in the face of climate change deniers and politicians who fear corporate powers more than the thought of ocean levels a foot higher and a depleted ozone layer.
Charity and the JAMband commemorate the occasion with a brand-new CD, EARTH. "Every day should be Earth Day," she sings on the track with that name. Truth be told, Charity Kahn and company have always been ecologically-conscious and 100 percent bio-kindie-gradeable. From their base in San Francisco, California, their website mantra is "Music - Love - World Peace." So don't dispute the message or hate the messenger. Come for the harmonies and stay for the natural warmth in the lyrics.
While you can't fault Charity for her earnest sincerity, subtitling your CD "Songs for the Earth and All Beings" is going to set off internal alarms in less socially-conscious parents. For instance, "We Speak for the Earth" is immediately followed by "I Am the Earth." Okay, if the Earth can speak for itself, why... oh why even ask the question.
The band does deliver some less-weighty thoughts with "Sing A Summer Song" and "We Love Everybody." The former I can absolutely concur (don't ask me about the latter these days). And "Pebble Meditation Song" would not feel out of place on Kira Willey's latest yoga for kids collection. "But it's a little hippie dippy," you might blurt, finally unable to control yourself. Yeah, but this is 10 songs devoted to the singular concept that the next generation needs a gentle entrance ramp to the world of liberal arts and open-mindedness. Your world may not be perfect but we only have one planet and Charity points out that EARTH is what we all share, no matter what our differences may be.
EARTH is available from Charity's website, Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes. Check the band's Facebook page next week for one free song download per day from the CD!
Here is the video for Charity and the JAMband's song, "Earth Day":
I have a soft spot in my heart for Miss Nina. Her second CD, 2013's SHA DOO BE DOOP, was the first time our son (then 2 1/2 years old) showed an active interest in selecting his own music. He would walk to the cabinet in the living room, carefully open the door, select her CD, turn on the CD/DVD player, put in the disc, and play the first two songs (usually). This month, when I brought home the new CD by Miss Nina and the Jumping Jacks, EVERY DAY'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, even though he is now five, he insisted I play it, despite the presence of two other CDs with more immediate release dates.
Sadly, time marches on and he is aging out of her demographic. Miss Nina records lively, upbeat original tunes (the title track and "DJ in My PJs") and energetic interpretations of "(Silly) Wheels on the Bus" and "Subway" (adapted from the Anastasia Suen/Karen Katz board book). With a three-year-old of her own, Miss Nina has both hands on her target audience, literally and figuratively.
Ably produced by Marc Bazerman (of Baze and His Silly Friends fame), Nina and friends give you a peppy "Freeze Dance," a strummable, hummable "Colors of You," and a motion-activity "Up and Down." On her weekly children's vlog, Nina takes on classics and oftentimes does some re-invention. "Five Little Pumpkins" puts a Halloween spin on the traditional one-at-a-time elimination. "(Silly) Wheels on the Bus" features jumping kangaroos, wiggling spaghetti, and marching soldiers in addition to children, parents, wipers, et al.
When we first heard "Every Hero," my older son thought it was Charity and the Jam Band, who are known for rocking slightly harder for slightly older sprites. But the song that delivered the biggest smile for my youngster was the closing "DJ in My PJs," the logical successor to "My Hula Hoop" from her last CD. It inspired him to jump on his bed and shout "I'm a DJ!" that night at bedtime.
The best thing you can say about any performer is that their passion is contagious. The dictotomy of entertaining the youngest of the young is that they are easy to amuse but you can't alienate the parents by being insufferably cute or infantile. Miss Nina walks that fine line of rousting the fervor of children without rustling the feathers of the elders of their flocks. EVERY DAY'S YOUR BIRTHDAY is a Brady Bunch-esque romp in the playground that the under-6 set will find enchanting and intoxicating. And it's over in a slim, lean 38 minutes before your caramel macchiato gets cold. That should inspire some jumping jacks.
Anytime At All – Caspar Babypants
Bike– Charity And The JAMband
Marfa– Mother Falcon
Cool Watermelon– Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Up In Cat's Room– David Heatley
Out Of The Box– The Bazillions
I'm a Freak (feat. Pitbull)– Enrique Iglesias
Thingamajig– Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
The Plumbing Song– Weird Al Yankovic
Talkin' Bout Love – The Little Rockers
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
When You're Smiling – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Raised by Trolls – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
I Love U – Josh And The Jamtones
Cheese World – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Kids in America – The Muffs
Are We There Yet? – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
Give Me Back My Hat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Take A Little Walk With Me (Featuring Elizabeth Mitchell) – Alastair Moock
You Remind Me Of You – Jack Johnson
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
On My Own – Miley Cyrus
Holidays – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Imagination – Shine and the Moonbeams
The Ground – Underbirds
Little Blimp – The Joy Formidable
Tell Me A Lie – One Direction
Beach Ball – Recess Monkey
Over Again – One Direction
Love Will Remember – Selena Gomez
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
Show Me A Sign – Michael Franti & Spearhead
International Smile – Katy Perry
Everybody Out There – Paul McCartney
Shot Reverse Shot – Jack Johnson
Pardon My Pajamas – Dog On Fleas
Stop at a Mom N' Pop – Uncle Rock
Tambourine Submarine – Recess Monkey
Family Tree (Featuring Jonatha Brooke)– Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
Everybody's a Baby 'bout Something– Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Bike– Charity And The JAMband
Getting A Sunburn– Recess Monkey
Fill It Up– Josh And The Jamtones
Shakin' Shakin'– The Little Rockers Band
I'm A DuckvLloyd H. Miller
Bicycle– Laura Doherty
Taco Taco Tacos– Peelander-Z
Veo Veo– Mariana Iranzi
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
I Got a Great Idea – The Twigs
Imagination – Shine and the Moonbeams
Robots From The 4th Dimension – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
All Together Now – Caspar Babypants
Rainbows and Onions – Sweet Diss & the Comebacks
Thingamajig – Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band
You Got It On – Justin Timberlake
Turned Out – Paul McCartney
Playground – Astrograss
Prehensile Grip – Dean Jones
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
Young Girls – Bruno Mars
My Own Detective – Tom Chapin
National Hiccup Day – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Love Me Do – Caspar Babypants
International Smile – Katy Perry
All People – Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Plumbing Song – Weird Al Yankovic
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
Getting A Sunburn – Recess Monkey
Punkin' Patch – Andy Z
The Flamingo Sun – Wee Bee Jammies
Riverside – Baze And His Silly Friends
Workin' Kid – Milkshake
Full Tilt – The Not-Its
Mothership – Mr. Saxophone
Sell Out – Reel Big Fish
Human Bean – Dean Jones
Give Me Back My Hat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Imagination – Shine and the Moonbeams
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
Cool Watermelon – Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Your Mother Should Know – Caspar Babypants
Robots On the Dance Floor – Rhymezwell
Tell Me A Lie – One Direction
Out Of The Box – The Bazillions
Flat Stanley – Play Date
I Got This! – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Wrecking Ball – Miley Cyrus
End of the Day – Poochamungas
Goolie Get-Together – The Toadies
First Day of School – Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Grumpy Boy – Steve Songs
Kindhearted Babysitter Blues – Randy Kaplan
Bike – Charity And The JAMband
Hide & Seek – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Let's Be Friends – Jambo
Music– Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
Rad– Play Date
Henry (Hi Ya Ya) – Lloyd H. Miller
Five Little Monkeys – Mr. Gabe
