Little Miss Ann, Lucy Kalantari Welcome Spring

April showers are promising a bucketful of children's music releases. Leading the torrent is WELCOME SPRING, the uplifting new EP from Chicago's Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba) through 8 Lb Gorilla Records. Buoyed by the spirit of collaboration, Ann has released six tracks featuring a savvy arsenal of similar-minded performers, guided by kids music über producer Dean Jones. 

Artwork by Pirata y Luna

If there's a common thread to the songs on WELCOME SPRING, it's a child's awakening to the outside world and their own abilities. The peppy title track showcases vocals by Brooklyn's Suzi Shelton and highlights the trumpet playing of Anna Jacobson. "So Many Ways," a duet with Uncle Jumbo, describes many things that make people stand out as individuals. "I Like Rice" covers similar ground with different types of food (showcasing fellow singer Flor Bromley). Second-generation drummer Michael Napolitano (of Michael and the Rockness Monsters) adds 1960s drums to "Koo Roo Koo Roo Koo Koo." Shelton and Ann's daughter Olivia accentuate "Parts Are Greater Than the Whole," which emphasizes that some people seem to have bigger hearts.

Little Miss Ann is pumped that the winter (and possibly the worst of the pandemic) are behind us. WELCOME SPRING and all the promise of warm weather and kindness of friends and family.

WELCOME SPRING is available April 1 from Little Miss Ann's website, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for Little Miss Ann's song, "Welcome Spring":

Anyone who's ever gazed down at their newborn and thought "I made this" will appreciate "Art," the new video from Grammy winner Lucy Kalantari. The tune, from WHAT KIND OF WORLD?, the 2021 collection by Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats, is a meta musing about the artistic process and how our development influences the world around us. The literal artwork was provided by 7-year-old Hannah Mayers, set to animation by director Matt Mayers. View the video here:

Lucy Kalantari Jazzed For A New Kids' World

Well, our troops are home from Afghanistan after 20 years. So much for an attempt at nation building in somebody else's country. Speaking of nation building, that's the focus of Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats' new EP, WHAT KIND OF WORLD (from 8 Pound Gorilla Records).

After winning two (yes, two) Grammy awards, Kalantari is flexing her lyrical muscle. There's no filler among the five tracks on WHAT KIND OF WORLD and plenty of guest stars to move the band's messages. The first track, "Friendship Party," features Jazzy Ash and Joelle Lurie (JoJo and the Pinecones) and touts the pre- and post-pandemic fun in seeing (and being with) friends. COVID has affected all of us and the Jazz Cats were not exempted. Trombone player Ron Wilkins suffered the virus, but required a tracheotomy and spent a month in a coma. "Round and Round" celebrates the flexibility and courage it takes for get through a crisis, individually and collectively.

The title track, “What Kind of World?” is a  power ballad about – wait for it – international building. SaulPaul guests on vocals with a kindie choir including Little Miss Ann, Flor Bromley, Joanie Leeds, Julie Be, Snooknuk, Sonia de los Santos, and Lachi, an electronic music star and disability advocate. Wait, there's more – a string section composed of Elena Moon Park, son Darius, Erich Schoen Rene, Charisa the ViolinDiva, and Paul Laraia:

What kind of world do you wanna see?

What kind of world do you want it to be?

Ask yourself these questions from time to time.

Check in and see what you find.

Kalantari is in the forefront of the evolution of children's music, as the kindie movement of the past two years has reached maturity. Some artists are satisfied to produce lullabies, holiday songs, and other comfortable material. But there are societal customs to confront and stereotypes to challenge. On the EP closer, "Art," the Jazz Cats acknowledge that human life if fleeting but the art we leave behind can affect generations of listeners. Kalantari is utilizing her music to help children envision a better world. That's something we can all get jazzed about.

WHAT KIND OF WORLD? is available from Lucy Kalantari's website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here is the video for the band's song, "Friendship Party," featuring Jazzy Ash and Joelle Lurie:

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":

Quick Hits: Twinkle Takes NYC; Lincoln Center Jazz for Kids

The kindie version of Lady Gaga might very well be Twinkle Time (Alitzah Wiener-Dallas). Now the West Coast performer is packing her sparkly bags and bringing her stage show to New York's Lincoln Center on Monday, December 2 for the 20th annual Winter's Eve festival from 5:30-9:00 PM.

Twinkle has spent the past decade building a following from the ground up – including a YouTube channel where she spent a good chunk of the year teaching young viewers to "Learn That Letter" from A to Z. It now showcases her torchy version of "New York, New York" (first popularized by Frank Sinatra) in tribute of her upcoming visit to the Big Apple. You can stream the song at Spotify and watch the video here:



While I'm in the neighborhood, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Blue Engine Records has released JAZZ FOR KIDS, featuring Wynton Marsalis and an orchestra doing souped-up syncopated favorites such as "Old Macdonald," "Mah Na Mah MNa," and "Pop Goes the Weasel."

I've written previously that there's been an explosion of children's jazz recordings – from Jazzy Ash to Lucy Kalantari (2019 Grammy winner) to Diana Panton to Lori Henriques and many more. But none has the pedigree and longevity that Wynton Marsalis and his orchestra bring to the table. That's not an insult – that's recorded, undeniable fact. With JAZZ FOR KIDS as their testimony and evidence.

This collection is the real deal – fully imagined tunes that sometimes have little to do with the original concept past the title. "Wheels on the Bus," narrated by Today show host Hota Kotb, goes on for 10 minutes of inspired, polished improv. Not exactly for everybody's tastes – but this is a CD to help your kids cultivate that special taste bud.

You can get JAZZ FOR KIDS at Amazon and Apple Music.

You can hear "Baa Baa Black Sheep" here: