New Holiday Music
The December holidays are upon us! While I had intended to get this out shortly after Thanksgiving, it’s never too late to discover new sounds of the season. By far my favorite new holiday album of 2022 is Oy Vey! Another Christmas Album from Joanie Leeds and Fyütch. Blending Joanie’s lush jazz-infused vocals with Fyütch’s hip-hop stylings and updating the tempos and arrangements, the duo brings a fresh new vibe to songs such as “Winter Wonderland,” I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Little Drummer Boy.” While you might come for the standards, make sure to stay for the originals including the delightful “Decorating the Christmas Tree” which features Joanie’s daughter Joya and Fyütch’s daughter Aura, and the children’s radio hit “Every Day’s a Holiday.” Take a listen to the EP here.
Looking for more holiday music? Try these offerings.
Another Laurie Berkner Christmas by The Laurie Berkner Band
“Christmas Eve” by Suzanne Jamieson
“Christmas Time is Here” by Tom Weber
“Go to Bed Little Reindeer” by JellyBean Queen
“Great Big Holiday” by BenAnna Band
“Happy Holidays” by Mr. Pete’s Playhouse
“Holiday Lights” by Stacy & Athena
“It Must Be Christmas” by Mr. Jon & Friends
“It’s Almost Christmas Day” by Fabulous Lemon Drops
“La Navidad” by EVT Kids
“Listen for Santa” by You and Us
Sing & Soar is a wonderful introduction to Chicago-based children’s artist Nanny Nikki. This debut EP perfectly showcases Nikki’s gorgeous alto vocals as she sings about subjects that children can easily relate to. Several of the six songs in this collection are slow pop tunes with just a slight dusting of folk undertones, creating music that is upbeat but laid back at the same time. “Almost Made It” is a well-crafted track that with each verse tells of a progressively older child who is trying to accomplish something (potty training, encouraging a friend, making a basket) and remembers mama’s words of encouragement “Don’t give up/Don’t give in” and that she loves them. “Abczzz” is a catchy new take on the alphabet song featuring a guest appearance/rap by SaulPaul while “I Can’t Hear the Moon” is a beautiful lullaby about all of the wondrous things in life (the moon, stars, clouds, love) that exist but make no sound and leaves listeners feeling like they are wrapped in a hug. Also included is a remix of “Playground Day” from the GRAMMY-nominated album All One Tribe. This joyful song is a celebration of the many activities that you can do when outside – climbing, running, sliding, jumping, digging, riding a bike. Nanny Nikki’s first album really does as promised – it sings and it soars!
As a child of the 80s, I grew up having a great appreciation for homemade costumes. My mom was incredibly creative (If you showed her an egg carton, she came up with half a dozen uses for it. Show me an egg carton, I see an egg carton.) – she could knit, crochet, paint ceramics, and most importantly, sew. Whether it was a new blouse or dress, doll clothes, or holiday decor, she could do it all. And when it came to Halloween, my mom’s creativity and skill really got a chance to shine.
So many wonderful collaborations popped up in the past couple of years that blended artists and genres that we never would have previously imagined. I’m so excited today to add a new partnership to that list -Jazzy Ash (Ashli St. Armant) and Red Yarn (Andy Ferguson). I’m not sure what took this duo so long to get together but I’m glad that they did because the combination of Jazzy Ash’s jazz infused style and Red Yarn’s folk/Americana sensibilities perfectly combine to create music that tells stories and entertains all at the same time.
For the last decade, I worked in a community where the majority of families had at least four children, which meant at any given time they were struggling to find music that would appeal to a range of ages and musical tastes. Often the solution to this dilemma was musical or movie soundtracks. Now there’s a new option – 
The world of children’s music experienced a devastating loss recently with the unexpected passing of Morgan Taylor. The creative force behind Gustafer Yellowgold, a little drop of sunshine come to Earth, Morgan’s talent as an artist and a musician led to two GRAMMY-nominations as well as Audible’s award for Best Children’s Audiobook. Over the past few days there has been an outpouring of love from those who were friends with Morgan and those whose lives had been brightened by his music. Even though I never had the privilege of meeting Morgan, I was fortunate enough to see him perform in 2018 at the Children’s GRAMMY-nominee concert in New York City. When he first appeared on stage, you weren’t sure what to expect from this unassuming guy carrying a guitar, then the magic began and Morgan put on a truly delightful performance that was a treat for the ears and the eyes. The world may be a little darker place without Morgan Taylor in it, but through the legacy of