Friendship is more powerful than a pandemic. That's never been as true as on "Friendship Party," the new video from Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats' upcoming EP, WHAT KIND OF WORLD? (from kids label Eight Pound Gorilla Records). The Grammy Award-winning band's trombone player Ron Wilkins survived a bout of COVID last year, yet he sounds as fit and feisty as ever on the EP (review to follow in September). "Friendship Party" cuts between black-and-white instrument playing and colorful street scenes. The buoyant lyrics feature 1940s harmonies from Lucy and fellow jazz enthusiasts Jazzy Ash and Joelle Lurie (of JoJo and the Pinecones). For kids who might be confused about what kind of dance moves should accompany this type of American music, the accompanying video (shot in Brooklyn) showcases swing dancers and choreography that they can easily follow and teach to their friends and family. Here is the brand swinging new video from Lucy Kalantari and the Jazz Cats:
Alison Faith Levy is back on the children's music scene after taking a well-deserved hiatus (and I'm not talking the enforced coronavirus isolation break that we all endured). With filmmaker Danny Plotnick, Levy has released a video for the title track of her upcoming CD, YOU ARE MAGIC. The theme of the concept album is how our own individual creative energy and momentum draws from – and is reflective of – the universe that surrounds us. The song nicely tracks how actions can have positive consequences:
Can you care for the earth and things that grow?
Just plant some seeds in nice straight rows
See you did it, there’s nothing to it
You are magic, and you can do it!
YOU ARE MAGIC is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp. In the meantime, you can watch the video for "You Are Magic" from Alison Faith Levy:
Children's comedian/musician (how's that for a specific hyphenate) Billy Kelly returns to Symphony Space this weekend with a whole spanking new show (and no spanking). Join Bill on Sat., December 16 at 11:00 am at Symphony Space’s Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre. Tickets are a mere $14 and $17.
PR maven Stephanie Mayers is promoting an all-ages family showcase on Sunday, January 14 at Manhattan's Rockwood Music Hall. Performing acts from her talent roster include Falu’s Bazaar, JoJo & The Pinecones, Billy Kelly (him again?), Lard Dog & The Band of Shy, KB Whirly, Gustafer Yellowgold, the Bilingual Birdies Band, The Pop Ups, and Michael & The Rockness Monsters. Tickets are available for the low, low price of $10 – per family!
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could have a second Hanukkah video, "Rainbow Candles," that celebrates the holiday. It's direct from their recent CD, REVVIN' UP THE REINDEER. You can get that CD here.
A kid with special needs will occasionally pull a rabbit out a hat. "The last time we were here was in March for Lucky Diaz," Ben told me as we entered the Thalia Theater at Symphony Space this past weekend. "I spoke to Lucky about Billy Joel." That was indeed true, but real life moves at such light speed that it took Ben's verbal Post-It note to bring back a sudden flood of memories.
So it was indeed seven months between concerts at one of our favorite city venues. In the meantime, we've seen plenty of live music, including a Long Island appearance by the act we traveling to see on Saturday – Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights. However this was a difference iteration of the ensemble, gone acoustic and celebratory-themed for the morning, with many children (and adults) in attendance wearing Halloween costumes.
One of the perks of being a kindie community insider (of sorts) is learning about a performance prior to its occurrence. So I knew that Joelle Lurie of JoJo and the Pinecones would be a special guest, joining Joanie for two songs at the end of the set... although I was badly out of position when she finally took to the stage to sing vocal for "Love Is Love" and the a cappella "Stoop." Joelle is one of the new wave of kindie jazz acts to emerge of late, which includes Lucy Kalantari, Jazzy Ash, and Lori Henriques.
Symphony Space's Just Kidding program has been delighting and entertaining youth from around the region for years. We've been going since Ben was less than three years old and he still delights in the talents on display, even if he is the oldest kid in the room. You can hear him answering some of questions posed to the crowd by Joanie in her introductions. The trio (Joanie, Scott Stein, and Jeff Litman) ran through a set list that went back to her first CD (the song "Ice Cream"). While there were a number of hands raised for first-time attendees to a Leeds' concert, a number of people were clearly veterans who knew Joanie's favorite color is green (the song "I Wanna Be Green"). Joelle has strong chops as well, and her voice blended right into the harmonies (as you can hear on the two videos), in addition to belting out verses on "Love Is Love."
The Just Kidding series continues next week with bilingual rock from Future Hits (11/4). Down the road are puppets, more music, and theater events. Click through and check the calendar.
Breakfast For Dinner – Jojo & The Pinecones
Bubbles – The Salamanders
Don_t Let The Boogah Bug You Out – LARD Dog
Ferry Nice – Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Jersey Dinosaurs – Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam
Must Be This Tall – Justin Roberts
California Kids – Weezer
Cow Cow Yippee – The Okee Dokee Brothers
Do You Talk To Yourself – Dean Jones
Hammer – Aaron Nigel Smith
I Can See Clearly Now – Jojo & The Pinecones
Me On The Map – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Thank You for the Box – Andrew & Polly
Chain Reaction – Brady Rymer & The Little Band That Could
Farewell And Goodnight – Jojo & The Pinecones
Here Comes The Sun – Andrew & Polly
Look At Those Clouds – Danny Weinkauf
Mystery – Dean Jones
One – Aaron Nigel Smith
Raise A Ruckus – Hullabaloo
Banana Bread – Caspar Babypants
Dream A Little Dream – Jojo & The Pinecones
Expo Line – Andrew & Polly
Island in the Ocean – Bob and Luc Schneider
Loving & Kind – Aaron Nigel Smith
What Kind Of Fruit – Dean Jones
You Better Believe – Train
12 Just Say Goodbye – Wilco
Breakfast For Dinner – Jojo & The Pinecones
Cloud Skateboard – Mo Phillips
Dancin' In Circles – Lady Gaga
Must Be This Tall – Justin Roberts
Oh My My – OneRepublic
Play That Song – Train
Drink Up – Train
Fly Like A Bird – Dean Jones
Forever Young – Andrew & Polly
I Can See Clearly Now – Jojo & The Pinecones
Step Outside the Box – Stacey Peasley
24K Magic – Bruno Mars
Jazz hands everybody! Or rather, how about a hand for jazz? There seems to be a mini-comeback of the genre inside the venue of children's music. Between Lucy Kalantari, Jazzy Ash, Lori Henriques, and now JoJo and the Pinecones, there's a whole spectrum to educate your kids. I was fortunate enough to see the group perform at Hootenanny earlier this month (with Lucy, Jazzy, as well as Tim Kubart).
Joelle Lurie and musical partner Benjamin Gallina (whose website is a mnemonic for "brangelina") crafted their new CD, NIGHT & DAY, as part of their residency at Lincoln Center Education. The album is a amalgam of new and reinvigorated standards such as the title track and "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'." For anyone who watched Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, the piano break in "Dream A Little Dream of Me" will remind you of the late Johnny Costa.
There are so many recordings of "I Can See Clearly Now" that it's pointless to make comparisons. But JoJo and company strive to make it downbeat and upbeat at the same time. You won't forget it's an album for your kids with such selections as "I Spy" and the cheery "Breakfast for Dinner," which is a rap short of being a Mista Cookie Jar song. Pizza for breakfast? Somebody is gonna give the tots some intriguing ideas.
NIGHT & DAY is designed in two sets, "Night" and "Day," with seven lighter, playful tracks that segue into seven to wind down from the hustle and bustle of school, homework, and chores. JoJo & The Pinecones take their childhood experiences and memories and run them through a tapestry of American Jazz stylings. Just when you think jazz is exclusionary, for a certain class of people, or just too cool for your tastes, along comes the closing track, "Farewell and Goodnight," a Smashing Pumpkins tune transformed from grinding guitars into a bluesy, horn-filled lullaby. Good night indeed. But not farewell.
NIGHT & DAY is available from JoJo & The Pinecones' website, Amazon, and iTunes.
Here is the video for their song, "Breakfast for Dinner":
You're never supposed to have regrets. Live life to the fullest and if you missed something, consider it an opportunity to self-correct in the future.
That's just what I'm going to do next weekend. In January 2016, a group of children's music-loving adults gathered in Brooklyn to talk, network, and sing songs – not necessarily kid's songs. There's a community out there and I dropped the ball. On January 7, 2017, I'm gonna pick up that ball and throw it back into play.
It's a bit of a trek (and not direct) but I'll get down to Jalopy in Red Hook for Hootenanny with a ton of people I've reviewed, met, or interacted with via social media. Spare the Rock's Bill Childs and PR maven Stephanie Mayers spearheaded the gathering, which came from the coffee grinds of Kindiefest.
As for the lineup, oh gosh I'm agog – Jazzy Ash, Billy Kelly (the Billy Kelly) doing standup, Sugar Free Allstars, Lloyd H. Miller, Uncle Rock (perhaps as responsible for my foray into children's music blogging as much as Bill and Elizabeth Waldman), Dean Jones, and oh so many more.
If you're in the area, or from around the area, or a fan of enthusiastic local music, it's a chance to meet like-minded people in the new year. Here's the 411.
Here's a video of Ashley Albert (formerly of the Jimmies) and ex-bandmate (and minted Grammy winner) Tim Kubart singing "Suddenly Seymour" from "Little Shop of Horrors" at last year's gathering:
Speaking of Billy Kelly, he is kicking off a "residency" program at the Peoples Improv Theater on East 24th Street on (the same) Saturday, January 7 at 3 pm (repeating February 4 and March 4). We saw Mr. Kelly do his little act at the Brokerage on Long Island in November and there was much merriment (despite a tough crowd of pre-teens).
January 7 is going to be a big day for kid's music as jazz-themed JoJo and the Pinecones bring in the New Year with a show at Lincoln Center. It's aimed at 2-5 year-olds, so they'll need to bring an adult to supervise. On the other hand, it's a free performance, unlike the other two shows listed above. That's right – get yourself to Lincoln Center for free kids music as part of "Artists at the Atrium." Thus ends this portion of my public service message.
