Rootsy Rock with a Hint of Blues - LA's Jambo - "Hootenanny"

Rootsy Rock with a Hint of Blues - LA's Jambo - "Hootenanny" 

Real American Roots Music for Kids

Los Angeles-based, Parents' Choice award winning independent musician Steve Pierson and his powerhouse band Jambo are on a mission to bring real American roots music to kids. Jambo looks forward with pride to the February 12 release of their second, roots-based studio CD, Hootenanny. (Got the Blues Music, $14.95, run time 42 minutes, for ages 4 - 9).


One part Mississippi Delta, one part New Orleans street corner, and one part Chicago juke joint, Jambo is known for its funky, feel-good grooves, outstanding musicianship, and dynamic, kid-friendly, positive songs.

Co-produced by Jambo's creator (and former Blues Head front man) Steve Pierson and Grammy nominee Tor Hyams, Hootenanny features fourteen Steve Pierson originals. Notes Steve, "One of my primary goals has been to give kids, at a very early age, a taste of the 'good stuff' -- the kind of organic, rootsy music that I love. I wrote two kinds of songs for Hootenanny: full blown band tracks and what I call 'back porch' tracks. I really wanted to mix up styles and give listeners a sampling of different instruments and different kinds of songs."

Guitar virtuoso and soulful blues singer Steve Pierson has spent most of his adult life in Los Angeles. His music career centered on the local blues band scene in and around LA before he made the move to join Grammy winner and former Wings guitar virtuoso Laurence Juber in forming their own blues-rock band, Blues Head. Steve put in ten years playing festivals and clubs around the country with Blues Head until the birth of his daughter, Lucy, in 2002. Upon Lucy's arrival, Steve came off the road and began to focus on writing music for film and television. He has since become a successful and prolific composer/producer of music for television, commercials, and independent films.

Musical adventures with Lucy provided Steve Pierson with the inspiration to write rootsy, bluesy music for kids. What started as a fun family project quickly gained a momentum all its own, and Jambo was born. Steve's wife, actress Melinda McGraw (Mad Men, Men of a Certain Age, The Dark Knight, and more), joined Jambo as a vocalist, and Steve linked up with Tor Hyams to produce the first Jambo CD, Lucy's Parade, in 2008. Lucy's Parade was a hit with families and critics alike, receiving both a Parents' Choice Recommended Award and a Los Angeles Music Award.


Jambo strikes a high profile on the Los Angeles family music scene, performing regularly throughout the region at such venues as the Skirball Center for the Arts, The Grammy Museum, and The Geffen Playhouse. The band also tours nationally, with recent appearances at the Austin City Limits Festival and the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. I was given info and streaming links at no charge from the PR Firm / Company. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers.