ChiIL Mama : Win-A-Disc-Wednesdays: Little Miss Ann CLAP FOR LOVE

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Win-A-Disc-Wednesdays: Little Miss Ann CLAP FOR LOVE

There's a giant in Chicago's children's music scene, despite her diminutive name and stature. Little Miss Ann (AKA: Ann Torralb) may only be 5'2", but this mama belts out folk and rock tunes and plays guitar with the best of 'em. Her music is aimed at the under 10 crowd and skews young, but adults will find themselves humming along and thoroughly enjoying her upbeat originals and folky classics.

Clap for love, her latest release, contains 10 sweet tunes that don't get old. Enter here win one for your family. Enter till midnight on Tuesday. Winners will be picked Wednesday, May 26th.

Little Miss Anne melds rock, folk and world music to create an appealing mix. "Good Morning," is up first, with a mellow, gentle beat. Then, "Stand Up" will have the littles rocking out and assimilating the importance of standing up for what they believe in. "Mockingbird" brings things back to the quieter, gentler folk roots with a cool message about individuality. Then Ann Torralba's rockin' versions of "Over in the Meadow" and "This Little Heart of Mine" take us all back to childhood classics. By the time the title track "Clap for Love" comes on, everyone will be dancing.

Our family favorites are the South African hymn "Siyahamba," sung in both Zulu and English, with excellent drums. "Wheels on the Bike", and "All Around the Kitchen". With it's eclectic, unique mix of instruments and musical styles, Clap for Love will appeal to older kids as well as young. Later in the summer, we'll feature Little Miss Ann's sweet tunes for the tiniest, Music for Tots.

Little Miss Ann has been teaching at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music for years and she brings a different sound and face to kids music. She uses her experience as a first-generation Filipina-American woman, a Chicago Public school teacher, mother, and band front woman to inspire a grand ole time.

Little Miss Ann and her husband enjoyed making Clap For Love together. After putting their then 4-year old daughter down to bed, they would go down into the basement of their home and practice their tunes together.

Fame and Acclaim

• Warren Truitt, writer for kidsmusicthatrocks.com and about.com (Children's Music) picks Little Miss Ann: Music for Tots as "one of the best new music cd's for babies and toddlers".

Radio play:
Little Miss Ann's cd has been played on Spare the
Rock, Spoil the Child, WLUW Kids Play, Saturday
Morning Cereal Bowl, and Gooney Bird Kids!

This Spring and Summer, Miss Ann is one busy Mama, with numerous local shows scheduled, including a Family Cruise! Come on out and enjoy a true Chicago gem.