May 2008 Tour Schedule

May 3 at 12:30, Kids Tent, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans Fairgrounds, New Orleans, LA
May 3 at 2:00, Book Signing, Book Tent, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
May 4 at 2:45 & 4:45, Children's Stage, Fest for All, Downtown Baton Rouge, LA
May 5-6, Acadiana Arts Council School Tour, Lafayette, LA
May 10 at 9:30, Community Outreach Concert, St. Pauls Episcopal School, New Orleans, LA
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
May 28 at 10:30, Lafayette Public Library, Lafayette, LA

Richmond Parents Monthly Reviews Dixieland Jazz for Children

Check out this great review in the May Issue of Richmond Parents Monthly in Richmond, Virginia.

A couple of weeks ago, my family went to a birthday party on a paddleboat and the live Dixieland band on board had my children swinging and dancing throughout the party. And so, when we got home, “Dixieland Jazz for Children” by Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca went straight into the CD player.Even if you didn’t grow up in the French Quarter, you can appreciate the rich cultural heritage that Downing and LaRocca bring to their music. Downing’s voice is as smooth as roux and contrasts well with LaRocca’s Louis Armstrong-esque voice.Although the lyrics were written with children in mind (“Well, crawfish and possums and skeeters, too, pass a good time in the old bayou”) the music is more than sophisticated enough to keep an adult’s interest. Listening t this CD, you can almost taste the dirty rice and jambalaya.

Thanks for the wonderful review!

DRS Musikwelle, Sendung vom Samstag, 26. April 2008

Dixieland Jazz for Children is being played on Swiss radio today. Here is the line up of songs being aired:

Dixieland Jazz - Johnette Downing & Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Do The Charleston - Johnette Downing & Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band

GRUSS VON JIMMY LAROCCA, NEW ORLEANS, AN DIE HÖRERINNEN UND HÖRER DER DRS MUSIKWELLE

Walking In The Sunshine - Johnette Downing & Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Tiger Rag - Johnette Downing & Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Dixieland Jazz for Children Wins a Parents' Choice Award

Dixieland Jazz for Children CD just won the prestigious Parents’ Choice Award! Yeah! Here is the review and link:

Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca bring the history and fun of Dixieland Jazz to a younger audience. Accompanied by the Original Dixieland Band, Downing and LaRocca play predominantly original compositions in the traditional Dixieland style. LaRocca's voice is wonderfully raspy sounding, while Downing's clear bell of a voice snakes in and out of the rhythm and improvises nicely with the horn section. The CD serves to educate children about Dixieland music, it's songs, instruments and themes, which it does with aplomb. With fun original tunes such as "Alligator Snap, " "Rocking Seahorse," "I've Got Happy Feet" (a standout) and "Throw Me Something Mister," kids will enjoy the good time feeling, while learning a little something about this traditional New Orleans based music.

-Lahri Bond ©2008 Parents' Choice

http://parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=23905&StepNum=1&award=aw

WWL TV Morning Show Appearance on April 28, 2008

On Monday, April 28, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 a.m., I will be the featured musical guest on the WWL TV Morning Show with Sally Ann Roberts and Eric Paulsen. I have invited Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band to join me and we will perform songs from our new CD Dixieland Jazz for Children as well as discuss our upcoming performance together at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 3, 2008 at 12:30 in the Kids Tent!

Please tune in!

Happy Earth Day!

I just wanted to wish all my friends and fans a Happy Earth Day! Plant a tree, start a recycling program, sing her praises and celebrate the day by Going Green!

Midwest Book Review

This awesome review appeared in the April issue of Midwest Book Review:

"You are never too young to appreciate authentic jazz played by musicians whose skills are equaled only by their enthusiasm for America's truly indigenous music. Backed up by Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band, New Orleans singer, songwriter, and children's musician Johnette Downing has recorded nineteen original songs that set snappy, kid-friendly lyrics to the upbeat, polycultural tunes that reflect and resound with the unique and unmistakable rhythms of jazz played superbly in the Dixieland style. Superbly performed and recorded, the individual songs range from Rolling Down the River; to That Dixie Beat; to New Orleans Strut; to Tiger Rag. With a total time of 46:06, "Dixieland Jazz For Children" will make a lively and popular addition to any family, school, or community library CD music collection for children of all ages and cultural backgrounds!"

Thanks Midwest Book Review!

Topping the Charts in Rhode Island!

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

WRIU Children's Show Top Songs:

"Tiger Rag" is listed #5 out of 20!


WRIU Children's Show Top Album:

Dixieland Jazz for Children is listed #8 out of 20!


WRIU Children's Show Top Artists:

Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca's Originial Dixieland Jazz Band is listed #10 out of 20!

Now, that's something to sing about! Check it out at: http://wriu.org/charts/kidschart.php


Thanks WRIU Radio! You made our list of top Radio Shows for Children!

Johnette Downing Brings Her Energy and Family Fun to French Quarter Festival

Here is a great feature written by Maria Montoya, Staff writer, Times-Picayune April 09, 2008 in Lagniappe.

JOHNETTE DOWNING BRINGS HER ENERGY AND FAMILY FUN TO FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL

Johnette Downing will perform her most crowd-pleasing tunes at the French Quarter Festival. Also catch her at Jazzfest to hear songs from her new CD 'Dixie Land Jazz for Children.'
No one watching singer-songwriter Johnette Downing perform for children would ever guess she was a reserved, quiet child. Even Downing, who will perform on Sunday at the 25th annual French Quarter Festival, finds it incredible how far she has come.

"My parents were performers, but I was always a really shy one," said Downing, who was raised in New Orleans and Hammond. "In college, I thought if I studied theater it might bring me out of my shell, and it did. There's nothing I love more than performing for children; who wouldn't love getting to be silly and fun all day long for a living?"

A friend jump-started Downing's career after seeing her sing at the old Penny Post (now the Neutral Ground) coffeehouse, assuring her that her high energy and mellow style would make her a perfect act for children. That energy has led Downing to release her seventh children's album, "Dixie Land Jazz for Children," which paired her with Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Her third book, "My Aunt Came Back from Louisiana," will be released this fall. And, later this month she will make her 19th appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to debut the new songs.

In the course of 20 years of performing, Downing has won 18 national awards for her work, but she said her little fans' enthusiasm keeps her going. "It seems like everything's happened for me so organically," said Downing, who will perform twice on Sunday afternoon at the French Market Stage in Dutch Alley. "I only perform music that I love and I really love children. You can't fake that."

Throughout the year, Downing travels the country sharing Louisiana music with mostly pre-K to third-grade children. At this year's French Quarter Festival, she will perform songs from past CDs including "Wiggle Worms," "Today Is Monday in Louisiana," "Feliciana LeRoux," and "Ants in Your Pants" -- all songs she considers "top requests" no matter where she performs.
"Children are naturally drawn to music," Downing said. "Just watch them on the playground; someone's always singing or humming. If singing is your dreaming, I say sing, sing, sing!


Thanks Maria for the wonderful full-page feature in Lagniappe!

Official CD Release at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

CD RELEASE

Wiggle Worm Records celebrates the official CD release of

DIXIELAND JAZZ FOR CHILDREN

by

Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band

in the Kids Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on
May 3, 2008 at 12:30

Johnette Downing and Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band will debut this historic CD that promises to get children jazzed about jazz. Johnette will perform solo during the first half of the show and then feature Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band during the second half of the show.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event!

To order the CD, visit: http://johnettedowning.com/music.html

For more information, contact:
http://www.johnettedowning.com/

Where Y'at Magazine Knows Where It's At!

Here is an awesome review we received for our Dixieland Jazz for Children CD from Sheri McKee of Where Y'at Magazine:

"Johnette Downing & Jimmy LaRoca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band Dixieland Jazz for Children, Wiggle Worm Records/BMI. The delightful sweet sound of Johnette Downing, a favorite amongst local children, and the musical luster of Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band come together to introduce kids to the historical culture of New Orleans jazz. This delightful journey takes kids through the sounds of Bourbon Street with memories from Johnette and Jimmy, which easily introduces them to the basis of the music and the reasons it’s so important to our heritage and city. This family CD features tunes that any local can recognize and enjoy, including “Tiger Rag,” “That Dixie Beat,” “Rolling Down the River,” “New Orleans Strut,” and many more. With the release of this fabulous children’s CD during festival time, Johnette will be doing her regular performances at Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest, introducing the music of our city to young ones and the young at heart. This CD makes for a great souvenir and a must for any New Orleanian that has kids or knows someone that does." –Sheri McKee

Thanks so much Sheri; you certainly know where it's at!!!

Bookwatch Gives Dixieland Jazz For Children a Superb Review!

The Midwest Book Review gives Dixieland Jazz for Children a "Superb" review in the April 2008 issue of "BookWatch" for The Music Shelf column. Check it out!

"You are never too young to appreciate authentic jazz played by musicians whose skills are equaled only by their enthusiasm for America's truly indigenous music. Backed up by Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band, New Orleans singer, songwriter, and children's musician Johnette Downing has recorded nineteen original songs that set snappy, kid-friendly lyrics to the upbeat, polycultural tunes that reflect and resound with the unique and unmistakable rhythms of jazz played superbly in the Dixieland style. Superbly performed and recorded, the individual songs range from Rolling Down the River; to That Dixie Beat; to New Orleans Strut; to Tiger Rag. With a total time of 46:06, "Dixieland Jazz For Children" will make a lively and popular addition to any family, school, or community library CD music collection for children of all ages and cultural backgrounds!"

Thanks Midwest Book Review! You are superb too!

The Blues

You have to hear this one! Today I performed in a school in Bush, LA. Before the show, I was speaking with some teachers as they were seating their students in the auditorium. One teacher asked me, "One of my Pre-K students wants to know if you are going to play some Rock N Roll?" I smiled, turned to the young boy and asked, "So you like Rock N Roll?" He smiled, strummed the air guitar for a few seconds and said, "Yes." I then asked him, "Do you like the Blues?" He said, "No, I like the reds."

You can't get any better than that.

A to Z Kids Stuff Reviews Dixieland Jazz For Children CD

Here is a nice review we received from A to Z Kids Stuff this week for our Dixieland Jazz for Children CD:

"Original music written for children with Louisiana spice. An upbeat collection of music and dances, such as the Charleston that is fun for all ages. It will have you bouncing and dancing. A wonderful introduction to the sounds of Dixieland Jazz."

http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/cmcd.html

Thanks for the upbeat review A to Z Kids Stuff!