

Jump in the Puddles
Fall 2018 MusicSome pretty fine American roots rock-style music fuels this effervescent collection of original songs that invite kids to groove to the beat. Childhood pleasures, empathy, and awareness of time passing and a larger world provide the themes as singer-songwriter-guitarist Steve Elci and friends (other talented musicians and adult and child vocalists) celebrate fun with the infectious title song ("After the rain, I'm gonna jump in the puddles 'til the moon comes out to play"), "Balloons," and "Trampoline." A sampling of other tracks: Elci keeps close the indelible memories of being outside at the beach and in the park in "Shine On." He suggests crossing language barriers with a greeting and a smile (the "Hello Song"), and in "Bumblebee," Elci imagines being a bumblebee, a crocodile, and a kangaroo to convey the message that "we're not so different or far apart/ when a friend … comes from the heart."