Album Notes

Acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Javier Arau has been teaching music to children and adults for over 12 years. He has received awards from such professional and educational institutions as Down Beat Magazine, ASCAP, MENC, MTNA, and IAJE, among others. Also active as a clinician, performer, arranger and author, Javier has published in the Jazz Educators Journal and was inducted into Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club Hall of Fame." Born and raised in northern California, Javier currently resides in New York City with his wife Kelley and their cat Isabella.

Javier's Jelly and Jam Session includes inspired, interactive songs that teach both music and language. Listeners are sure to have a great time learning about all the different musical instruments, how to scat-sing bebop solos, how to play and sing different rhythms, how to remember the names of the notes on a musical staff, how to say the alphabet backwards faster than a cheetah, and more.


RECENTLY REVIEWED IN KIDSDAY (Copyright Newsday Inc., 2003):
The whimsical songs on the new CD Javier's Jelly and Jam Session capture the imagination of young children. Javier Arau, a music teacher, just released this album, which tries to keep kids learning while having fun at the same time. His voice sounds like "Bear in the Big Blue House" to me - this probably will encourage younger kids to like his music. All the diverse songs that combine styles from jazz, blues, folk, R&B, island and classical were written and sung by Javier, with help from a few 6-year-olds. The silly songs are about concepts like onomatopoeia, the backward alphabet, animals, instruments, notes and compound words. Javier says he gets his ideas from observing life around him. Javier hopes kids will be educated and inspired by his music. I would recommend this CD to kids ages 2 to 7. Check out Javier's Web site: www.JavierArau.com. --Elanna White, KIDSDAY REPORTER, AGE 11, ASTORIA