This Mom Will Rock Your Socks Off

Okay, I'll admit it. When it comes to children's music artists, I might be partial to moms. The more children's music I hear, the more I realize that the moms in this genre have certain qualities about their music that just aren't as present in the music of other artists. Some of my favorite children's music moms these days are Rebecca Frezza, Lisa Mathews (of Milkshake), and the new mom on the children's music scene Frances England.

But there's another mom making children's music who is new to me - Charity Kahn, whose San Francisco-based group Charity and the JAMBand released its third album, Rock Your Socks Off in February of this year. (For those of you who are wondering, JAM = Joy And Music.)

This is a high-energy, fun-filled bunch of songs that will make families want to get up and groove. Some of the songs, like "Jump into the Middle" and "Towel Tango," have lyrics that very clearly invite the listeners to dance along, and "Partner Dance" is built on a very funky version of "Ring Around the Rosie." Many of the songs have simple, catchy lyrics that make it easy to sing along. My favorites are the beautiful, soulful "Whatcha Gonna Bring," which spotlights Kahn's piano and vocals (ala Tori Amos) and has an 80's quality to it that I can't quite put my finger on, "Cake," and the prayer-chant-like "Peace Dream." Kahn's voice is unique and versatile.

My one complaint about the album is that it lacks some spontanaeity. The songs are creative and fun, but they sound very rehearsed and almost rigid on the CD. It's easy to imagine, though, how amazing this group would be to see and hear in a live performance, and I suspect that is where the spontanaeity flows for them.

More than just a children's music recording artist, Charity Kahn of Charity and the JAMBand is going above and beyond recording to get kids and parents into good music. She teaches JAMClasses, where parents and children can bond through music and movement; she offers other workshops and training opportunities; and she performs solo and with the JAMBand at venues ranging from outdoor festivals to public libraries. In addition to being a classically-trained (and totally rocking) musician, Kahn is a mathemetician with a degree from Stanford and a mom of two children. She has published a book on the connections between music and math. Her approach to children's music is well-developed and intentional, and her passion for bringing a love of music to children and parents is clearly evident. This is one smart mom-musician-visionary.

If you're in the LA area, you can catch Charity in solo performances this week at the Beverly Hills Library and Play Cafe in LA on Thursday (May 18), and Charity with the JAMBand at McCabe's in Santa Monica on Sunday (May 21). If you're in the San Francisco area, you have numerous opportunities to see Charity and the JAMBand. California readers, go and report back!

Rock Your Socks off is available at CDBaby and Amazon, and song samples are available at both sites. Listeners can also download a free mp3 of the previously unreleased song "No Doubt About It (I Love You)" at the band's Website.