Monday, May 26, 2008

New Book Coming this Fall!

I am pleased to announce that I have a new picture book coming out this Fall titled My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane published by Pelican Publishing Company. For this book, I am the author and illustrator!

This rhyming picture book offers children a tour of the Louisiana traditions of many beautiful towns and cities of the state. Based on a traditional song adapted by the award-winning Louisiana singer/songwriter Johnette Downing, the book invites children to learn the various cultural nuances of each area. Along with the whimsical song lyrics, interesting facts about Louisiana are included on the word map. Children will learn that the town of Albany was settled by Hungarians and is known for its large, sweet strawberries, and the small Florida parish town of Franklinton is famous for its delicious watermelons. In Ruston, a town in northern Louisiana, peaches are the special fare, and in Thibodaux, it is the filé gumbo. Many more interesting facts are presented in a unique, enjoyable fashion.

Check out the new book on my website at: http://johnettedowning.com/books.html

Sizzling Summer Shows!

Things are heating up as summer begins to sizzle and I hit the road for my summer performance tour in Louisiana, Texas and California. I have created a new show for the Louisiana Summer Reading Program called Planet Rock; a galaxy of songs about the solar system and ways to care for Planet Earth. Check out the new show description at http://johnettedowning.com/music_perf.html.

In Texas and California Libraries, I will be presenting my Boogie Woogie Bugs show to harmonize with their Buggy About Books theme. This summer, you can also catch my shows at Children’s Museums, camps, bookstores and at the grand opening celebration for the Insectarium at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans (see schedule below). So grab your sun hats, shades and sunscreen and join me for some cool summer musical fun!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Tour Dates - June 2008

June 4 at 10:00, West Feliciana Library, St. Francisville, LA
June 5 at 2:00, Morgan City Library, Morgan City, LA
June 6 at 1:30, Ripples Camp, New Orleans, LA
June 9 at 10:00 & 3:00, Evangeline Parish Library, Basile & Chataignier, LA
June 10 at 10:00 & 2:00, Evangeline Parish Library, Turkey Creek & Ville Platte, LA
June 11 at 10:00 & 2:00, Evangeline Parish Library, Pine Prairie & Mamou, LA
June 12 at 10:15 & 2:00, Concordia Parish Library, Vidalia & Ferriday, LA
June 13 at 10:00 & 2:00, La Salle Parish Library, Jena & Olla, LA
June 14, Insectarium Celebration, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, LA
June 15, Insectarium Celebration, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans, LA
June 16 at 9:30, Castletree Camp, New Orleans, LA
June 17 at 10:00 & 2:00, St. James Parish Library, Vacherie & Lutcher, LA
June 18 at 10:00, Plaquemines Parish Library, Port Sulphur, LA
June 19 at 10:00 & 2:00, Jackson Parish Library, Jonesboro, LA
June 20 at 10:00 & 2:00, Webster Parish Library, Minden & Springhill, LA
June 24 at 10:00 & 1:30, Plaquemines Parish Library, Belle Chasse, LA
June 25 at 10:00 & 2:00, Iberville Parish Library, Plaquemines & Grosse Tete/Rosedale, LA
June 26 at 10:00 & 2:00, Iberville Parish Library, White Castle & Iberville, LA
June 27 at 10:00, Iberville Parish Library, Bayou Sorrel, LA
June 30 at 10:00 & 3:00, Ouachita Parish Library, West Ouachita & Ouachita Valley, LA

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Johnette on Tour in Long Island, NY

Hey Fans in New York, I am heading your way next week. I hope to see many of you at my upcoming Boogie Woogie Bug shows. Here is the schedule:

May 16 at 7:00 p.m., Islip Library, Islip, NY
May 17 at 10:30, Sayville Library, Sayville, NY
May 20 at 7:00 p.m., Amityville Public Library, Amityville, NY
May 21 at 4:30, Port Jefferson Free Library, Port Jefferson, NY
May 22 at 7:00, North Shore Library, Shoreham, NY

Can't wait!

Topping the Charts Again in Rhode Island!

Dixieland Jazz for Children CD has topped the charts on WRIU Radio in Rhode Island again for the month of April, 2008.

WRIU Children's Show Top Songs:

"Swaying in the Trees" is listed #7 out of 20!

WRIU Children's Show Top Album:

Dixieland Jazz for Children is listed #9 out of 20!

WRIU Children's Show Top Artists:

Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca's Originial Dixieland Jazz Band is listed #8 out of 20!

Check out the stats at: http://www.wriu.org/charts/kidschart.php

Thanks Rhode Island! We love ya!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Jazz Fest 2nd Weekend Writer's Picks!

Thanks Sheri McKee of Where Y'at Magazine for selecting me as one of the Writer's Picks for Jazz Fest 2nd Weekend on May 3 in the Kids Tent, 12:30 pm.

Here is the review that appeared with the pick!

Johnette Downing, Multiple award-winning New Orleans author and children’s musician,

Johnette Downing, brings her engaging brand of “Louisiana Spice” to the Kids Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Downing plans to celebrate the release of her new CD, Dixieland Jazz for Children, and will be performing the last portion of her show with special guests Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band.Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca updated Dixieland jazz by fusing it with new lyrics and melodies that would appeal to kids and introduce them to the culture and music of New Orleans. Downing has said that as a child growing up in New Orleans, her parents would bring the family to the French Quarter and they would stand in the doorways of jazz clubs listening to the joyful sounds of Dixieland jazz bands. Downing brings that same musical spirit of New Orleans to life on a level that any child, or even a child at heart, can relate to and enjoy. –Sheri McKee

http://www.whereyat.net/757?PHPSESSID=1373f9da8721f7f03e14c4b69236e8a5

Cool Stuff We Dig - NOLA Baby

Here is another wonderful CD review for Dixieland Jazz for Children in the May/June 2008 issue of NOLA Baby in their "Cool Stuff We Dig" column.

Dixieland Jazz for Children

The latest CD by New Orleans’ award winning singer and songwriter Johnette Downing, with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band, is the first Dixieland Jazz CD created just for kids. With titles that include Alligator Snap, Rocking Seashorse and I’ve Got Happy Feet, parents will have a blast sharing the music tradition with their children. $15.99. Available at Mignon
Children’s Shop, Garden District Books, and Maple Street Children’s Book Shop, or
www.borders.com and www.amazon.com.