‘Crayon Kids’ Continues To Cement Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band’s Place In The Family Music Community

Courtesy: Rainy Day Dimes Music

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band returns this week with its latest album.  The band is scheduled to release its new album, Crayon Kids Friday through Rainy Day Dimes Music.  The album is composed of only nine songs which span less than half an hour in length total (technically speaking, it runs 28 minutes, 12 seconds).  Even in that small span, the record offers audiences plenty to appreciate, beginning with the record’s musical arrangements.  They will be discussed shortly.  The album’s lyrical content adds its own appeal to the presentation, too.  It will be discussed a little later.  The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements and will be discussed later, too.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation.  All things considered, they make the album another enjoyable offering from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.

Crayon Kids, the 12th album (technically 13^th counting the band’s 2015 hits compilation) from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, is another successful offering from the veteran family music collective.  That is due in no small part to the album’s featured musical arrangements.  The arrangements in question are diverse to say the least.  They present sounds of the past and present from one to the next.  The album’s closer, ‘Better Together (ft. Frances England)’ for instance is a gently flowing work whose guitar line and vocal harmonies easily lends the song in whole to comparison to music from the likes of The Everly Brothers and other similar acts from their era.  Meanwhile, audiences get some great rockabilly in ‘Dinomite (The Martian Mix).’  It conjures thoughts of acts, such as Reverend Horton Heat, Brian Setzer Orchestra, and the Legendary Shack Shakers.  As if that is not enough, ‘Sabado’ — one of the album’s early entries — offers up a touch of ska-infused sound just with some Spanish-language vocals.  That dichotomy of Latin and Caribbean influence makes for its own unique presentation.  It is hardly the last interesting musical presentation featured in this record.  The album’s title track presents a gentle, laid back arrangement that partially lends itself to comparison to works from Country Joe McDonald and also from Lou Reed’s ‘Take A Walk on the Wide Side.’  That comparison comes through an examination of the song’s combined vocal delivery style and instrumentation.  Taking all of these arrangements into account along with all of the others featured throughout the album, the whole makes clear the diversity in the album’s musical presentation.  Presenting so much musical diversity is nothing new for Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, either.  It is a long-running tradition for the band in each of its albums.  At the same time, the band makes sure to not just rehash works from its existing catalog here.  Rather they are still their own original arrangements.  To that end, the importance of the album’s musical content becomes even clearer.  It is just a part of what makes the album worth hearing, too.  The record’s lyrical content adds its own appeal to its presentation.

The lyrical content featured throughout this record is so important to its presentation because it is just as diverse as its musical counterpart.  Case in point is the Spanish-language song ‘Sabado.’  While the song is sung largely in Spanish, the chorus is sung in English.  It is here in which Diaz and company sing of the joys of Saturdays, calling it “fabulous.”  Of course, he and his band mates do not discount the rest of the week.  Each other day has its own positive, according to the band, but Saturday is really the big day according to the band, who calls it “the best day of the week.”  No one can argue with the joy that Saturdays bring.  Saturday is a day to rest and be out with family and friends.  Considering that and the fact that the song is…well…about the joy of Saturday, the lyrical theme here proves quite unique.  That in itself is enough to prove the importance of the album’s lyrical content.  It is hardly the only example of that importance, though.  ‘Hey You!’ is another example of that importance.

‘Hey You!,’ with its bluesy, gospel-tinged arrangement (again showing the diversity in the album’s musical arrangements) comes across as a random, silly song that finds its subject playfully talking to himself/herself, maybe in a mirror.  There are mentions of enjoying sweet and savory treats along the way.  It comes across, again, as just being a fun, silly song that focuses on one of the joys of childhood.  That joy is just being silly.

‘Another Day’ is another example of the importance of the album’s lyrical content.  This gentle, beachy song (whose arrangement – once again displaying the diversity here – lends itself to comparison to works from Jack Johnson) presents a theme of just wanting some personal space.  Whether it be just wanting that space for the sake of wanting it or wanting it so as to cool off after a disagreement with someone else, it lets young listeners that it is okay to want that personal space.  This is such a simple yet important lesson, and this lyrical theme serves as a wonderful way to take on that all too important life lesson.  When this topic is considered along with the rest of the album’s lyrical themes noted and not, the whole leaves no doubt as to the importance of the album’s lyrical themes.  When that content is considered along with the album’s clearly diverse musical content, the overall whole makes the album that much more enjoyable.  Completing the album’s presentation is its sequencing.

A close listen to Crayon Kids reveals a very deliberate approach to its sequencing.  The crests and troughs (so to speak) are clearly placed in specific points throughout the record’s sequencing.  The album starts out in mid-tempo fashion in ‘Generation C’ and picks up even more in ‘Sabado’ before pulling back significantly in the much more laid back ‘Crayon Kids.’  From there, the energy builds again over the course of the next three songs before gradually pulling back again, starting with the distinct disco-esque ‘The Letter C.’ The song is a mid-tempo composition, but in comparison to the clear peak that is ‘Dinomite (The Martian Mix),’ it is slightly less energetic.  ‘Another Day’ pulls the record’s energy back even more before giving way even more to the album’s so relaxed finale, ‘Better Together (ft. Frances Engalnd).’  Looking back through all of this, the noted deliberate sequencing is even clearer.  The sequencing completes the presentation whose content itself does so much to make the album engaging and entertaining.  All three elements combine to make Crayon Kids another example of why Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is one of the most respected acts in the realm of family music.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s latest album, Crayon Kids, is another successful offering from the veteran family music act.  It succeeds in part through its musical arrangements.  The arrangements are of note because of their diversity.  The lyrical themes that are presented throughout the album are just as important to the album’s presentation as its musical arrangements.  That is because they are just as diverse and accessible as the record’s musical content.  The sequencing of that collective content rounds out the most important of the album’s elements.  That it because it balances the energy in the album’s content in mind in ordering the songs, succeeding there, too.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album.  All things considered, they make Crayon Kids one more of this year’s top new family music albums.

Crayon Kids is scheduled for release Friday through Rainy Day Dimes Music. More information on the album is available along with all of the group’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.luckydiazmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luckydiazfamilyjamband

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lucky_Diaz

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Classical Recordings Take Top Honors As 2015’s Top New Children’s Albums

The mainstream and independent music industry have both generated their fair share of impressive records in 2015. This includes both full-length albums and EPs. Of course for all of the success that both realms have shown one would be remiss to ignore the realm of music for the whole family. That realm has seen the release of a number of impressive records, too. Recess Monkey returned again this year with yet another fun new album. And children’s classical label Maestro Classics released a pair of interesting releases, too. New entries from Jazzy Ash, Josh and the Jamtones, and Alex & The Kaleidoscope among others have proven to be just as impressive. Those acts’ albums are all on this year’s list of the year’s best new children’s albums along with five more that have once again gotten honorable mention. Without any further ado here is the Phil’s Picks Best New Children’s Albums.

2015 TOP NEW CHILDREN’S ALBUMS

1. MAESTRO CLASSICS — THE NUTCRACKER
2. MAESTRO CLASSICS — MERRY PRANKS OF MASTER TILL
3. RECESS MONKEY — HOT AIR
4. JOSH AND THE JAMTONES — ROCKSTEADY
5. ROCK ‘N RAINBOW — LET’S BOOGIE
6. CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER — DANCIN’ IN THE KITCHEN: SONGS FOR ALL FAMILIES

7. ALASTAIR MOOK AND FRIENDS — ALL KINDS OF YOU AND ME
8. JAZZY ASH — BON VOYAGE
9. THE BAZILLIONS — ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
10. FUTURE HITS — TODAY IS FOREVER
11. THE POP UPS — GREAT PRETENDERS CLUB
12. ROCKNOCEROS — PLYMOUTH ROCKERS
13. ALEX & THE KALEIDOSCOPE — GET ON BOARD
14. LUCKY DIAZ AND THE FAMILY JAM BAND — ADELANTE
15. MIL’S TRILS — NOW THAT WE’RE FRIENDS

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Moock’s New Album Is All Kinds Of Enjoyable

Courtesy: Moockshake Music

2015 has been quite the fruitful year for the world of children’s music. New releases from veteran acts such as Recess Monkey, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, and Josh and the Jamtones have joined releases from others such as Jazzy Ash, The Bazillions, and fellow veteran performers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer among others to form a field that has offered up quite the selection of music for audiences of all ages. Now another veteran artist by the name of Alastair Moock has added yet another new release to this year’s field, making things even more interesting for those keeping track. The album in question, All Kinds of You And Me, comes only a few months after fellow veteran entertainers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer released a similar album in the form of Dancin’ in the Kitchen: Songs For All Families. While the two acts’ new albums are similar in their lyrical topics, it can be said that Moock’s new album manages to maintain its own identity apart from that of Frink and Marxer’s new album thanks to the fact that it takes the foundation established by Fink and Marxer’s lyrics and builds on it with even more interesting topics. It also builds on the pair’s foundation with its mix of musical styles. That is the second reason that audiences will enjoy this album. Last but hardly least of note of this album is its run time. The album doesn’t even hit the one-hour mark. Rather it clocks in at forty-five minutes. The album’s longest track, its closer ‘This Land Is Your Land,’ comes in at just over five minutes. And the shortest comes in at just under the three-minute mark. That each of the album’s songs runs at a relatively normal time makes each one all the more apt to keep listeners of all ages locked in from the album’s opener to its end. Moock’s lyrical and musical approach to each number does just as much to keep listeners engaged. All three elements considered together show All Kinds of You and Me to be one of this year’s bravest and most confident children’s records. What’s more that confidence and bravery pay off in spades, proving it to be one more of this year’s best new children’s albums.

Veteran singer/songwriter Alastair Moock’s latest full-length studio recording All Kinds of You and Me is one of this year’s best new children’s albums. The twelve-track, forty-five minute recording is not the first of its kind to be released this year. Fellow veteran performers Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer released an album in Dancin’ in the Kitchen: Songs For All Families only months before this album’s release. While the two albums are similar in regards to their lyrical content, they are also quite different. That is proven first through the fact that Moock doesn’t stick to just the concept of the different kinds of families that make up America’s population. He does cover this topic. That can’t be ignored. However, he doesn’t stop there. Instead he branches out paying tribute to Malala Yousefzai in ‘I Am Malala’ and even to Woody Guthrie in his cover of ‘This Land is Your Land’ and its narrative intro ‘You and Me.’ There’s even a playful little piece about the different holidays in the simply titled ‘Every Day’s A Holiday.’ While those songs each help to make Moock’s new album stand out among this year’s field of new children’s releases, the songs about families and America’s social norms do just as much to help it stand out. Moock tackles the rigid social norms and gender roles that dominate American families in the album’s opener ‘It Takes All Kinds,’ and in the two songs that follow, ‘PEOPLE’ and ‘You Might Be A Girl.’ These songs are brave to say the least. They take a similar track as that taken by Fink and Marxer. But unlike them he takes more of stand against those norms established by American culture in these songs. Every one of the songs noted here shows in its own way to play an important part in what makes All Kinds of You and Me a standout recording. While each of the noted songs plays its own role, that is not to say that the others don’t play a role, too. Quite the opposite actually. Each one of the album’s twelve total tracks plays its own part in the whole of the album’s impact with all twelve showing clearly why the lyrical approach to this album makes it one that every family should take in together. Any family that does will be glad that it did. That is because of the foundation for discussion that each song’s lyrical content forms. It’s just the starting point of what makes this record such an interesting listen. The musical approach taken by Moock throughout the record is just as important to its success and enjoyment.

The lyrical content of Alastair Moock’s latest LP is within itself plenty of reason for audiences of all ages to hear this record. That is because of the number of topics covered by Moock throughout the course of the album’s twelve tracks and forty-five minutes. He tackles the strict gender roles and social norms established within American culture in the album’s first three songs before going a little more playful as the album advanced. He even pays tribute to human rights and women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai and to folk legend Woody Guthrie in the album’s closer among much more content. It is just one portion of what makes this record so enjoyable, though. The album’s musical content makes it just as enjoyable. By and large, Moock presents a folksy, bluegrass style sound throughout the record. Though, he does break off at a few random points. The album’s opener presents a fun, rockabilly sound while ‘PEOPLE’ boasts a lighthearted Dixieland style sound. ‘You Might Be A Girl’ is just as enjoyable in regards to its music as it boasts something of an old school R&B influence. That is of course this critic’s own interpretation. And then there’s the dreamy, dulcet tones of ‘My Life(Is A Lot Like Yours)’ that will conjure thoughts of Allison Kraus and Norah Jones. That is a tribute to vocalist Jennifer Kimball’s extraordinary talents. ‘All In A Day’ also boasts that old school R&B influence. It conjures thoughts of Otis Redding. For all of the interest that the noted songs generates, the most intriguing of the album’s songs (in terms of their musical content) is ‘I Am Malala.’ The song largely boasts a gentle, beachy sound that conjures thoughts of Jimmy Buffett by and large. Though, interestingly enough the song switches things up in its final bars, sounding more like the opening bars of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ than that beachy sound that makes up the rest of its body. All of these examples together paint a rich musical picture that is just as certain to keep listeners engaged as that painted by the album’s lyrical content. The album’s musical and lyrical content taken jointly into consideration, they give listeners of all ages plenty of reason to hear this brave, enjoyable record.

Both the lyrical and musical content presented throughout the course of Alastair Moock’s new album make for plenty of reason for families to hear this record. While both elements are equally important to the whole of the record’s success and enjoyment, there is still one last element that should be examined in the whole of its presentation. That element is the record’s overall run time. The album clocks in at forty-five minutes. That is actually a relatively standard length both in regards to the realm of children’s music and that of music for adults. The album’s longest song is its closer, the cover of Woody Guthrie’s ‘This Land is Your Land.’ It comes in at five minutes and three seconds. The album’s shortest song is its second track ‘PEOPLE.’ That song comes in at two minutes and twenty-two seconds. Some might ask what significance any of this plays in the grand scheme of the album. It significance is that when set against the songs’ musical and lyrical content together, it can help to determine just how long the songs (and the album in whole) are likely to keep listeners engaged. Being that the songs’ musical and lyrical content is not over the heads of its intended audiences and the songs themselves are in fact really standard length, it means a greater chance of keeping audiences’ ears from beginning to end. Sure, five minutes for a song–especially a children’s album–might seem like a lot. But the simple redundancy of the song’s chorus makes it (‘This Land is Your Land’) one that will definitely keep young listeners’ ears for the full length of its run time. That, friends, is the importance of the album’s run time. And on a smaller scale the run time of each of the album’s songs. Those run times, set against the songs’ musical and lyrical content, make one whole record that stands out against its counterparts within the realm of children’s music this year. In turn, the combination of all three elements makes this record one of this year’s best new children’s records.

All Kinds of You and Me is a record that can be said to be all kinds of enjoyable from beginning to end. That is thanks to the album’s mix of musical stylings and lyrical themes. The run times of each of the album’s twelve total songs makes a total run time that together with the album’s musical and lyrical content is sure to keep listeners fully engaged regardless of their ages. All things considered, All Kinds of You and Me proves in the end to be all kinds of enjoyable for listeners of all ages and in turn one of this year’s best new children’s records. It is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct via Alastair Moock’s official website at http://www.moockmusic.com. More information on All Kinds of You and Me is available online now along with all of the latest news from Alastair himself at:

Website: http://www.moockmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alastair-Moock-Music/43677062968

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlastairMoock 

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Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s Latest LP Is A Welcome Return

Courtesy: Rainy Day Dimes

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band has had quite the ride in the last year or so.  Early last year, the band released its most recent album, the full Spanish-language release Aqui Alla.  Not too long after that, the band suffered a huge loss as it had a large amount of its equipment stolen and much of the sets for its children’s TV show either destroyed or stolen.  The massive losses were costly to say the least, leading the band to go to its fans to finance the creation of its new album Adelante.  Needless to say the band’s fans heard its calls and more than stepped up, allowing the band to finish Adelante and release it last month.  While not an entirely Spanish-language record, the majority of the record’s lyrics are sung in Spanish.  That should be noted right now.  Despite this it doesn’t take away from the album’s enjoyment even for those that are anything but fluent in Spanish.  Regardless of whether or not audiences are familiar with the Spanish language, audiences will find plenty to appreciate in this album beginning with the songs themselves.  The language barrier aside, some of the songs are in fact pretty easy to understand even when sung in Spanish.  On another level, the homage paid to certain classics of eras gone by will entertain audiences of all ages.  That will be discussed later.  The album’s sequencing rounds out the ways in which Adelante (which translates roughly to “Go Ahead”) impresses.  The album wastes no time from one song to the next as it progresses.  Because it moves so quickly, its roughly thirty-three minute run time seems to fly by.  Simply put, it feels like the record ends almost as soon as it begins thus leaving listeners wanting more but in the best way possible.  Being that said pacing is partnered with such enjoyable songs, the end result of that combination is an album that is a wonderful return for Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s latest full-length studio recording Adelante is a welcome return for the beloved kindie-rock band.  The album, the band’s sixth, is yet another that despite being largely a Spanish-language still proves itself to be an album that audiences of all languages will enjoy.  Every one of the album’s twelve songs is a fun, upbeat composition that will have listeners of all ages dancing.  Those that do speak at least some Spanish will even find themselves singing along, too.  Speaking of that singing along, both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking listeners alike will find themselves singing along to the likes of ‘Pinata Attack’ with its surf-rock style sound.  The song mixes both English and Spanish-language into its infectious guitar riffs, drumming, and keyboard lines for a song about breaking open a piñata that crosses both language and cultural barriers.  ‘Cantamos Hasta Seis,’ (roughly translated ‘We Have Up To Six’) is another one of those pieces that both English and Spanish-speaking audiences of all ages will enjoy because of its simplicity.  The song comes across more or less as a piece that teaches counting skills (unless this critic has misinterpreted its lyrics).  That can be inferred as the refrain of the song’s chorus sees Diaz and company counting in song both to six and to ten.  The lighthearted, almost playful nature of the song’s musical content adds even more enjoyment for families.  That is especially the case thanks to the use of the kazoo (yes, even a kazoo is used here) as part of the noted content.  Who out there doesn’t find themselves smiling at the sound of a kazoo?  The very name of the instrument itself causes smiles and laughter.  Just say it once and see.  Getting back on track, the examples noted here should make clear exactly why the songs featured as part of Adelante make it such an enjoyable record for both English and Spanish-speaking audiences.  It is of course only a small portion of what makes Adelante a record that audiences will want to “go ahead” and purchase.  The homage paid to certain songs of days gone by make the album even more worth the listen.

The songs that make up the body of Adelante are largely sung in Spanish. Though, there are some compositions included across the record that also feature some lyrics sung in English. This aside, the songs that are featured throughout the record are lyrically simple enough that regardless of whether audiences speak English or Spanish, audiences of both tongues and all ages will enjoy them. In turn, audiences will agree that the album’s songs are, in the bigger picture of the record, reason in themselves to pick up this latest release from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. They are only part of what audiences will enjoy about the album. Audiences that are familiar with their music history will take note that Diaz and company not only educate, but they entertain, too. The band has included at least two songs with this record that pay homage to music’s past. Those two songs are ‘Sol Solecito’ (roughly translated becomes ‘Only Sun’) and ‘Speedy Gonzalez.’ ‘Sol Solecito’ features lyrics sung both in English and Spanish. English-speaking audiences will instantly catch the homage to the timeless classic ‘My Only Sunshine’ in hearing the English lyrics. Its musical content makes it stand out from nearly every version that has ever been recorded, though. That is because as it is presented here, it is far more upbeat than the standard slower, sappy, saccharine-sweet lullaby style versions to which audiences are so familiar. In other words it is actually better than those renditions. ‘Speedy Gonzalez’ might be named after Warner Brothers’ famed rocket-fast rodent. But musically, it pays direct homage to veteran musician Elton John and his classic hit ‘Crocodile Rock’ with its musical content. The two songs are not entirely identical stylistically speaking. But it is obvious in listening to both songs that Diaz and company pay homage to Sir Elton with this composition as well as that famed fast-moving and equally fast-talking mouse. Older audiences that are familiar with the work of Sir Elton will especially enjoy it not just for the near direct throwback but also because it serves as a great way to get younger listeners into John’s music and eventually that of so many other legendary artists and bands. It is yet more proof of why the homage paid to music’s rich history even with only these two songs, makes Adelante a record that every listener should go ahead and add to their own music library.

The music that makes up the body of Adelante and the homage paid to the music industry’s rich history are both clear reasons that every listener should go ahead and add this record to their own personal music library. While both aspects of the album make it well worth the listen (and addition to one’s own music library), there is still one more element of the record worth noting that rounds out the presentation. That element is the album’s sequencing. Most listeners don’t take a record’s sequencing into account in its general effect. However as the sequencing here proves, it is extremely important in examining any record, not just this one. Audiences that pay close attention to the record will note that very little time is wasted between any of the album’s twelve total songs. Being that there is so little down time between the songs, the energy exuded in each song is in turn maintained solidly from beginning to end. It leaves the record feeling as if it is over just as soon as it begins. The end result of this is that audiences are left feeling completely fulfilled yet wanting more in the best way possible. That is the mark of a great album; an album that for Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is a welcome return for a band that has been through so much.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s new album Adelante is a welcome return for the band. Its songs and its homage to music’s rich history both prove that true. The sequencing utilized throughout the record keeps the record’s energy running solidly from start to finish. All three elements together prove it to be a record that audiences of all ages will want to go ahead and add to their own music libraries. It is available now in stores and online. More information on Adelante is available online now along with the latest news from Lucky Diaz and the Family jam Band at:

 

Website: http://www.luckydiazmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Diaz-and-the-Family-Jam-Band/182600891967

 

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Families Here, There, And Everywhere Will Enjoy Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band’s Latest LP

Courtesy: Rainy Day Dimes Music

Last Spring, kindie-rock band Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band released its sixth full-length studio release. That album, Aqui, Alla, is an interesting work. Its title translates roughly to “Here, Over There” in English. Considering the wide swath of topics covered in its new album, Aqui, Alla actually becomes a fitting title. From the band’s own take on the classic children’s song about a certain little spider trying to get up a drain pipe to the album’s upbeat party tune ‘Viva La Pachanga’ (ft. Flaco Jimenez) to the gentle, moving lullabye that is ‘Tu Eres Amor’ Aqui, Alla shows time and again why it is just as enjoyable a recording as the band’s previous recordings, the full Spanish-language approach aside. That isn’t to discount any of the album’s other tracks, either. When taken into consideration with those tracks not noted here, the album in whole shows exactly why Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band remains *ahem* here, there, and everywhere and will remain to do so for as long as the band chooses to keep making music.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s latest full-length effort is a rarity for the band. That is because it is an album recorded wholly in Spanish. On the surface, this could actually be a burden to the band as not every listeners speaks Spanish. This critic is one of those individuals. However, with an English translation of its lyrics, even English-speaking audiences will agree that Aqui, Alla is just as enjoyable a recording as any released previously by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. The addition of the songs’ musical side proves this even more. One example of this lies in the band’s take on the classic children’s song ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider.’ This take on the song stays largely true to the original while giving it something of a new identity both musically and lyrically. Diaz and company give the classic an updated vibe musically speaking. It’s a decidedly pop sound that is sure to have toes tapping even among those that might not be so familiar with Spanish. Even the song’s lyrics are given a little bit of an update with Diaz singing, “The little spider/Climbed up, climbed up, climbed up/Down came the rain/And washed the spider out/Out came the sun/And dried it all up/Out came the sun/And the little spider climbed up.” Again, Diaz and company have stayed largely true to the original tune while giving it a much welcome update at the same time. It’s an update that listeners of all ages will enjoy regardless of their ability to speak Spanish.

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band’s “reboot” of ‘The Itsy-Bitsy Spider’ is a great example in itself of what makes Aqui, Alla a fun listen for audiences of any age. That is thanks to the fact that the band stayed true to the original while giving the song a much-welcome musical update. The band’s equally upbeat original ‘Viva La Pachanga (ft. Flaco Jimenez)’ is another great example of what makes this album such a hit for the whole family. The song’s full-on celebratory sound will have the whole family on its feet, dancing along as Lucky Diaz sings, “Come with me/Let’s go/I want to sing/Come friends to dance/Tonight I want to be with my family and celebrate.” He and his band mates sing in the song’s chorus with just as much gusto, “Long live the party.” It’s a short song lyrically. But musically, it comes in at nearly three and a half minutes. The juxtaposition of the song’s lyrical simplicity and its standard run time makes the song whole in every sense of the word. It shows that a song doesn’t need a lot, lyrically speaking, to be fun. All it really needs is an upbeat musical side that will have everybody dancing along. And that is exactly what this song has, which is again exactly why it is another piece proving why Aqui, Alla is so fun for the whole family regardless of their familiarity with the Spanish language.

Both the band’s update of ‘The Itsy-Bitsy Spider’ and its upbeat original ‘Viva La Pachenga’ are wonderful examples of what makes Aqui, Alla an album that the entire family will enjoy. They prove that every family will enjoy this record regardless of their familiarity with the Spanish language. That is thanks because of both the songs’ lyrical and musical content. Both songs show the band’s continued creativity and originality this far into the band’s life. The band’s heartwarming ballad ‘Tu Eres Amor’ proves this just as much. It is a touching song little tear-jerker that will leave a smile on any listener’s face and even a possible tear in any listener’s eye. That hugely emotional impact is thanks in large part to the combination of the song’s musical and lyrical content just as with the previously noted songs. The song is anchored musically by a pair of gentle keyboard parts played partially on an electronic keyboard and what sounds like a child’s toy bell set. The possible inclusion of that child’s toy as part of the song’s musical side is fitting considering that Diaz’s subject is singing lovingly to his young daughter in this song. He sings to her, “From the very first time I saw you/I haven’t been able to be away from you/If you are far away, I miss you/And I can’t be another day without you.” He goes on to sing in the song’s chorus, “You are love/You are forever my love.” Every parent out there knows the emotion generated in this song. Again, it’s one more way in which Diaz and company reach not just children with this album but the entire family. Diaz’s subject goes on in much the same fashion through the song as he sings to his daughter essentially telling her that the stars will guide the way back to him when he’s away. It’s obviously metaphorical. But it is a touching sentiment. And it adds even more emotional punch to the song. That punch proves why this song is one more top-notch example of what makes Aqui, Alla such a great listen for the whole family regardless of listeners’ familiarity with Spanish. Whether for this song, the others noted or those not noted, Aqui, Alla proves in whole to be a record that every family should hear regardless of availability of English translations.

‘La Pequena Arana,’ ‘Viva La Pachenga (ft. Flaco Jimenez) and ‘Tu Eres Amor’ are all excellent examples of why every family should hear Aqui, Alla. They are just a small handful of examples, too. There are plenty of other songs on this record that are equally enjoyable in their own right. Regardless of whether audiences need English translations for each of the noted songs, every family will agree in hearing this album that Lucky Diaz deserved its recently won Latin Grammy and why it is one of the top names in children’s entertainment today. Aqui, Alla is available now in stores and online and can be ordered direct from the band’s online store at http://luckydiazmusic.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=62777&pc=ZFCD06 along with the band’s previously released albums. Families in Monterrey, Mexico will get to hear some of the songs from this album as well as the band’s previous albums on March 21st, when the band performs there. That date will be followed up by a string of dates in California from April 4th to July 12th. More dates follow that string of performances. Families can keep up with the band’s latest tour dates and news online now at:

Website: http://www.luckydiazmusic.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Diaz-and-the-Family-Jam-Band/182600891967

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band Looking To Its Fans For Its Next LP

Courtesy: Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is looking to fans to help fund its next album.

The band has released six albums, all of which were released independently. It has its own show on PBS called Lishy Lou and Lucky Too. The show in question is produced by the band’s own production company, meaning it puts its own money into the show. It has even won a Latin Grammy for its 2013 album fantastico. That album was the band’s first US release to win a Latin Grammy. As if these accolades aren’t enough, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band has been featured by no less than NPR’s All Things Considered, USA Today, CNN, Sprout TV, American Airlines, Univision, and many more outlets.

For all of the success that Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band has had over the years, it should be noted again that said success has come from the pockets of the band members’ own pockets. Now Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is looking to its fans to help fund its next album Adelante. The band is looking to its fans for help in part because while working on Adelante it suffered a heartbreaking setback. Someone broke into the band’s storage locker, stealing its instruments and destroying the set that it uses for its show on PBS. Sadly the band’s insurance apparently only covers a very minute portion of its damages and losses. So now it is asking its fans to be part of its new bi-lingual record’s creation. The money donated by fans will go toward purchasing new instruments and replace the set for its show. And what’s in it for fans that help make Adelante a reality? Fans can pick up autographed copies of the band’s albums, props from its show, private concerts, skype time with the band and pretty much anything else that fans could probably think up. Donation levels start as cheap as $15 and run as high as $15,000. Here’s how it breaks down:

For $15, fans will get an advance digital download of Adelante and monthly behind-the-scenes video journals. Also at this level, fans will get a digital download code for the album a month ahead of its release as well as monthly behind-the-scenes video journals from the band. Only forty of these offers are left.

At the $25 level, fans can get a physical autographed copy of Adelante from the band as well as a secret download code for the album and monthly behind-the-scenes video journals. Fans that donate at the $25 level will even get their name in the album’s liner notes along with that downloadable copy of the album. Supplies of both rewards at this level are limited.

From the $25, the level jumps to $40. At this level, fans can get a two-fer. Fans at this level can get one personalized copy of Adelante for a family member and a signed copy to give as a gift. The band will send out the gift copy personally with a card letting the recipient know who had it sent to them. Or both copies can be sent to donors for donors to send out themselves. Less than 20 of these are left.

The rewards increase at each donation level from here. Fans can find out what they can get for donating at each level at the band’s indiegogo website at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-album-adelante-lucky-diaz-the-fjb. And for all of the latest news on the album’s progress, fans can follow the band online at:

 

Website: https://www.luckydiazmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Diaz-and-the-Family-Jam-Band/182600891967

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band To Release New Album Next Month

Courtesy: Rainy Day Dimes Music

Family entertainers Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band will release their new album next month.

Aqui Alla will be released nationally on Tuesday, May 5^th via Rainy Day Dimes Music. The band’s new album was recorded by 13-time Grammy award-winning producer Gilbert Velasquez in Los Angeles. It was produced by Al Sgro (Meiko, Fitz and the Tantrums, Sara Bareilles). Diaz and company feature welcome well-known Tejano names Flaco Jiminez, Grammy-nominated Ruben Ramos (Los Super Seven) and Grammy award winner David Lee Garza.

Aqui Alla celebrates the Latino culture as part of the whole American culture. Diaz explained in a recent interview. “This is my family’s story of the American dream. My parents were immigrant farm workers who marched alongside César Chavez in the 1970s. Believing in the farm workers’ motto of “Si Se Puede,” (“Yes, one can” or, roughly, “Yes, it can be done”), my family yearned for freedom, equality and the hope of a better tomorrow. Today, I’m living that dream. I’m really from here and there, and I have found this feeling shared by many other second generation Mexican Americans.”

More information on Aqui Alla and Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is available online at http://www.luckydiazmusic and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Diaz-and-the-Family-Jam-Band/182600891967. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Lucky Diaz & The Family Jam Band’s New Record Is Musical Fun For The Whole Family

Courtesy: BenMar Music/Rainy Day Dimes

Los Angeles, CA’s own Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have made quite the name for itself since the release of its debut record, Oh Lucky Day! (2011). Since the release of that album, the band has received numerous accolades from the likes of USA Today, People Magazine, and the NAPPA Awards just to name a few.  The band has lived up to those accolades since that record’s release.  Now Lucky and company are set to release another record that is certain to make for even more accolades, even for those that don’t speak Spanish.

Fantastico! is an enjoyable record both for kids and adults, and even for those that don’t speak Spanish.  It is the first all-Spanish record from Diaz and company.  For those that have yet to experience the music of Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, this record is anything but what one might expect from a Hispanic language record.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite.  Right from the disc’s first track, ‘La Vibora’ audiences are introduced to a record that will impress not just kids, but parents, too with its up-tempo, poppy vibes.  Whether listeners speak Spanish or not, every audience will enjoy the infectious mix of pop, blues, Dixieland, zydeco, and Hispanic sounds that make up this record.  It’s simply that after having listened to the opening–and the disc’s remaining seven tracks–listeners will find the entire work so enjoyable that they will end up looking up the lyrics so that they can translate them and sing along.

The urge to want to look up the album’s lyrics is actually a double whammy for Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band on this first Spanish language album from the group.  On the surface, it will definitely lead non-Spanish speaking audiences to try to translate the lyrics.  Those audiences with young children can use it as a solid starting point in learning a foreign language.  Given, younger audiences won’t pick but so much.  But perhaps that interest generated in a foreign language through this record could help those same young audiences to become interested in learning to speak foreign languages.  So in essence, this record is impressive both for its infectious grooves and for its ability to serve as an educational tool for listeners of all ages.

The group recently finished off a successful performance at the annual Kindie Fest.  And it has many more dates to come.  Fans of this standout act can get a full list of tour dates on its official website, http://luckydiazmusic.com/  Fans can also go here to get all the latest news from the band, as well as the official Lucky Diaz Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lucky-Diaz-and-the-Family-Jam-Band/182600891967.  The Fantastico! will be available in stores and online Friday, May 3^rd.    It can be downloaded on iTunes via the group’s official website and Facebook page at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/lucky-diaz-family-jam-band/id405894235.    And before the album drops this Friday, parents and kids will have the chance to win an mp3 of the album’s lead single, ‘La Vibora’ when they “Like” the Phil’s Picks Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/philspicks.  Three lucky winners will be named this Friday for an mp3 of the song to enjoy this Sunday on Cinco de Mayo.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.