WeBop: A Family Jazz Party! - Jazz at Lincoln Center (feat. Matt Wilson)

Artist: Jazz at Lincoln Center's WeBop program

Album: WeBop: A Family Jazz Party!

Age Range: 2-7

Description: "My favorite jazz-for-kids album since at least Putumayo's Jazz Playground disk from a couple years ago, and definitely my favorite non-compilation since the great Medeski, Martin & Wood album Let's Go Everywhere... Highly recommended." / Full review

Can't Wait - Grenadilla

Artist: Grenadilla

Album: Can't Wait

Age Range: 3-7

Review: A sunny, danceable album from Debbie Lan and her New York band.  The band plays kwela-inflected music -- for those of you who don't know what "kwela" music is (and, hey, I didn't, either) Wikipedia suggests it's a "happy, often pennywhistle-based, street music from southern Africa with jazzy underpinnings and a distinctive, skiffle-like beat." Based on the sounds on Can't Wait, the band's second album, that's about right.  There aren't lesson songs or slice-of-life stories here -- just odes to being happy, walking around, and playing or singing, all with a smile on one's face.  Gentle and often retro-sounding, yes, but also with a bit of a groove.  Dog on Fleas' Dean Jones produces his former bandmate Lan with his typical organic touch, letting the six voices of the band take center stage.  With a sound unlike just about any other band, Grenadilla targets a niche in the kids music world and hits it.  Recommended. / Listen

Songs for Little Bean - Kori Pop

Artist: Kori Pop 

Album: Songs for Little Bean

Age Range: 0-4

Review: "Get past the sounds of Pop's ethereal voice multi-tracked and used as much as instruments and percussion, and the album still stands as a gentle mix of classic kids' songs, originals, and well-chosen covers... Definitely recommended." / Full review / Listen

A Little Love - Renee & Jeremy

Artist: Renee & Jeremy

Album: A Little Love

Age Range: 0-5

Review: "They're turning... songs into music of our collective childhood.... I'm pretty sure I would buy an album of the duo singing anything, including the happy hour menu at TGI Friday's.  I actually have a lot of love for A Little Love.  Definitely recommended." / Full review / Listen

World of Wonder - Alison Faith Levy

Artist: Alison Faith Levy

Album: World of Wonder

Age Range: 2-6

Review: "Gives her Sippy Cups fans -- and new ones -- a solid collection of songs that will definitely please preschoolers without being too cutesy for those preschoolers' older siblings.  I miss the Sippy Cups, but this will do quite nicely.  Recommended." / Full review / Listen