• 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".
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Little Rocker Report
Rocking mom helps kids rock
In her folk-rock music CDs, Little Miss Ann promotes big messages for your little ones about loving others and being true to yourself. Her most recent recording, Clap for Love, was voted one of the top 10 CDs of 2008 by About.com Children’s Music Guide. Offstage, the performer is Ann Torralba, a 39-year-old mom and instructor in Chicago’s Old Town School of Music’s Wiggleworms program where she sings and plays acoustic guitar to teach babies and toddlers. Her Wiggleworms co-workers suggested she record her first CD in 2006 and she’s been rocking out her tunes to Chicago-area kids ever since.
Why she decided to perform and record children’s music: “Most of the music that I heard was more silly,” Torralba says about other children’s CDs. “I wanted to have fun music, but I didn’t want it all to be silly.” Torralba opted for positive, meaningful songs when she set out to make her mark in a male-dominated music category.
Her inspiration: “Just making the CD is all because of having a child,” says Torralba whose daughter, Olivia, is now 7. “It brought back up my own creativity just seeing from the perspective of a child.” Torralba credits her knowledge of kids’ concerns to Olivia and other children she’s played music with over the years.
Her favorite songs to perform from her CDs: “Over in the Meadow,” a cover song on Clap for Love, and “Pirate Ship” from Music for Tots (2006).
Her advice on getting kids into rock music: “Let your kids have fun with an instrument,” says Torralba. “Don’t harp on making them practice.” Torralba also advises parents to sing with their kids and dance. “There needs to be a place for kids to let it all hang out,” Torralba says. She’s happy to see kids “let loose” at her concerts.
Taneisha Robinson, Chicago Parent
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Kids music that rocks
***Little Miss Ann***
Thursday, October 9, 2008
On what may be the kids' album with the grooviest title of the year, Chicago's Ann Torralba uses a mix of world, folk, and rock influences to create one of the best children's CDs of 2008. On her first CD for kids as Little Miss Ann, 2006's Music for Tots, Torralba featured a more folk rock sound. Well, the reverse is true on Clap for Love: rock is definitely emphasized over folk, as Ann and her full band flesh out originals and traditional tunes.
The easy going welcome song, "Good Morning," sweetly kicks off Clap for Love. Then, wow! the powerful "Stand Up" jumps out of the speakers, proclaiming lines line "Stand up all you children / For things that are in your heart." A swirling organ and fist-pumping chorus deliver a message of the importance of empowerment and social conscience.
The quieter "Mockingbird" is all about individuality, followed by an absolutely rockin' version of the traditional "Over in the Meadow." The loping title tune features a banjo ukulele and demands audience participation ... for love! And dig the very Ring Starr-like drum rolls in the instrumental bridge.
"This Little Heart of Mine" is a great pop reworking of the old spiritual, and the rowdy "Wheels on the Bike" is another audience participation song. The sounds of a drum circle surround the South African hymn "Siyahamba," sung in both Zulu and English. Hints of Bruce Cockburn's world music style flavor the traditional "All Around the Kitchen," and the purely sing-along tune "Count by Fives" includes an enthusiastic performance by a First Grade class from Burley Elementary.
A key to the album's success is Jon Williams' production: great drum sounds and warm, organic instrumentation throughout, very reminisient of the whole mid-'70s L.A. crowd like James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, etc. Clap for Love is for an older audience than Music for Tots; in fact, the same fans of Little Miss Ann's first CD will now dig her second, kinda like fans of A Hard Day's Night turning on to Rubber Soul.
This is a beautiful album to be coming out in these times of increasing loss of uniqueness and personal conviction. It's very cool that a kids' artist will make a call-to-arms to the under-10 crowd, while entertaining them all the while ... have fun, but get involved. Groovy!
Chicago Tribune
Lou Carlozo from The Chicago Tribune wrote:
Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba)
The lowdown: A folk rocker with tasty influences:
Rickie Lee Jones, Joanna Newsom, Pink Floyd ("early
Pink Floyd," she stresses) and The Beatles.
Not kidding: As mom to 5-year-old Olivia, Little Miss
Ann has truesidewalk-chalk cred. She started singing
to Olivia's play group four years ago; prior, she
played Empty Bottle and Schubas in the quirk-folk
outfit Jank. Her former day gig? Working with autistic
public school kids.
Why we like her: On her CD "Music for Tots," Torralba
brings tender invention to chestnuts such as "Pirate
Ship"; the original "Moon Jelly" oozes toy xylophone
zing. She uses Olivia on backup vocals and husband
Patrick Milani on drums. Plus, she hopes to be a role
model for female
and Philippine-American artists.
Grade: B+. By picking up a guitar and playing
children's music, Little Miss Ann redefines
"supermom."
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Kids music that rocks
***Little Miss Ann***
Sunday, January 14, 2007
OK, we all know the superpop kids' album thing can be done, and done well (see Morgan Taylor's Gustafer Yellowgold, Doug Snyder's the Jellydots, Lee Feldman's STARBOY, etc.). So, after hearing several amazing records geared toward, say, six- to ten-year-olds, it's refreshing to find a nice little CD like this. Little Miss Ann's Music for Tots is exactly that: tunes your littlest music fans can recite, sing with and dance along to.
Ann Torralba is an alumnus of Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, home of the Wiggleworms children's music programs and creator of three CDs chock full of traditional folk songs. Torralba and her husband have recorded an album of songs that are really ... well, for lack of a better term, groovy, but I mean that in the best way possible. The production is very warm and intimate, and there are lots of killer harmonies. Think Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention with less elaborate instrumentation and simpler vocal arrangements.
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The Lovely Mrs. Davis
The Lovely Mrs. Davis says that Music for Tots by
Little Miss Ann (Ann Torralba) is a fabulous album by
a teacher from Chicago's Old Town School of Folk
Music. With a mix of traditional songs and Torralba
originals, the album has a folk-rock feel with rich
vocals and a beautiful mix of simple instrumentation
(guitar, pan flute, tin whistle, percussion, bass).
Torralba's cover of "You Are My Sunshine" is one of
the album's high points, but all 10 tracks are
enjoyable.
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School Library Journal May 2009 issue
Clap for Love.
PreS-Gr 2–Chicago-based singer/songwriter “Little Miss Ann” Torralba returns with a follow-up to her first CD, Music for Tots (AV Café, 2006). She covers territory for preschoolers this time around, showcasing her wide vocal range from rich, edgy alto to light, airy soprano. These 10 tunes were either composed by or are traditional tunes arranged by Torralba. Several songs carry messages such as “Good Morning” (a ballad about love growing), “Stand Up” (an upbeat song encouraging youngsters to stand up for themselves), and “Mockingbird” (a soft-rock tune celebrating everyone’s individuality). Traditional songs include “Over in the Meadow” (an upbeat toe-tapper) and “This Little Light of Mine” (a ballad). There are activity songs in the mix (“Clap for Love” and “Siyahamba”) to get listeners up and moving. The backup band helps fill out the sound, contributing to a very enjoyable listening experience.
–Stephanie Bange,
Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH
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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!
