Thank you to the producers for providing our copies of the Jazz for Babies CD’s, to facilitate this post.

We are huge music aficionados around here.  Hubby had to juggle classes to weird times in high school so he could take all of the music/band classes he wanted to take – including Jazz Band.  And he majored in music for a few years of college (until he realized that he was closer to a degree in his minor than his major – just the nature of music major requirements!)  So we were eager to hear the Jazz for Babies CD’s.

Jazz for Babies?  Or for Everyone?

“Jazz for Babies” is a little bit of a misnomer.  These are really “soothing jazz for everyone”!   Where the “for babies” part comes in is that these are arranged intentionally to all be appropriate as lullabies.  I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of putting a baby to sleep, only to have them abruptly awakened by an album’s transition from quieter music to something loud and upbeat!  There are lots of familiar favorites here (originating in a variety of genres) – all instrumental – but nothing is loud and upbeat, so nothing will startle baby awake.

The creator of these is, himself, a daddy.  He’s also a jazz bassist, and when his daughter was born he wanted some excellent-quality music for her to listen to, so he set about creating these.  They fit the bill nicely!  Each album features double bass and grand piano, plus the instrument the album is named for (except the piano album, which is only the bass and piano).  Albums include:

• The Piano Album
• The Trumpet Album
• The Guitar Album
• The Saxophone Album
• The Vibraphone Album

I’d be hard-pressed to choose a favorite, as each instrument has its own unique voice!  (Now if he comes out with a violin album, that might change!)

These really are excellent for soothing babies.  When I put the first CD in to listen to it, my little man was pitching a bit of a fit.  After a few minutes, he looked like this.  (Still not asleep, obviously, but listening calmly.)  They’re great background music for around the house, too!  If you want to encourage a peaceful atmosphere or reduce stress, pop one of these in.

Many of the tunes will be familiar: “Moon River”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Que Sera”, “Someday My Prince Will Come”, “Unforgettable”, “My Favorite Things”, “When You Say Nothing at All”, etc.  (See the variety there in where they come from?)

The albums have already won a number of awards: The Tillywig Music & Audio Awards (fall 2013), Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Audio/Video/DVD (2013), National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Honors Award in the Music category, Parents’ Choice Silver Award (fall 2013 Audio Award),  and Creative Child 2013 CD of the Year!  But, really, that doesn’t matter to me; what matters is that I love the music.  And I do.  I love to listen to these, myself, with or without the babies.

Would you like to listen, too?  You can preview the songs at the Jazz for Babies website.  (You can also learn more there about the origins of the series, the musicians who perform on the albums, and ways that parents listen.  And of course you can buy the music!)

And you can enter below to win some music of your own.  Please give the Rafflecopter time to load completely.

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