We Got the Spirit!

Happy Holidays Chocolate Chips!

In keeping up with our "song-a-month" plan, here's our latest single, a holiday song,  "Got the Spirit." The single premiered Dec 12 on Cooper & Kid. Check out what kind things they said here.

Hope you enjoy and a MERRY MERRY!!!

Mista C.J. & fam

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Back again for the 3rd "song-a-month" installment this merry month of December, Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips have thrown their Santa hats in the ring this time to join the spirit-inducing tradition of holiday music. Inspired by the soulful legends of the era, this funky family band have created a fun, 50's pop party anthem rich with jingle bells, saxophones, rhythm & blues guitar, and humorous full-of-heart lyrics. 

"This year, Santa himself has commissioned a jingly pop song to boost morale everywhere, from the workshop floor to the family minivan. Mista Cookie Jar has answered the jolly old elf's bell, delivering a multicultural 50's pop-soul sideline cheer to keep holiday spirit up well into the new year."

-Jeff Bogle of Cooper & Kid

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And for old time's sake, here's our Xmas Release from a few years back, Robot for Xmas!

"Gratitude" - New Thanksgiving Single Out Now!

Spread the love and count your blessings! It's time to usher in the Thanksgiving season with the new Chocolate Chip single, "Gratitude." Simply enough, it's a bright and sunny ode to thank-yous. The song features Mista Cookie Jar and his kid, Ava Flava, croonin' and rhymin' to a lively Motown rhythm tickled with soulful xylophone melodies and a bright tenor sax. All instruments are played by the in-house one man band, Mista Cookie Jar. Dare to NOT shake your booty with this one. Gratitude is contagious!
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Also available on CD Baby and iTunes! Click HERE for Gratitude lyrics. 

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Much gratitude to Zooglobble for premiering our latest single just in time for the turkiest of holidays. Also big thanks to Mr. Jeff 2000 and Kids Can Groove for Gratitude write ups and shout outs as well! On top of that, the song is on Sirius XM78 Kids Place Live! Feeling grateful!

"Love the bass line, love the saxophone, and of course a message of gratitude is always timely, regardless of season." -Zooglobble

"Who hasn't said "thank you" enough? The song makes sure you remember everyone in the queue..."
-Mr. Jeff 2000

"Naturally, Mista Cookie Jar, Miss Ava Flava and the rest of the Chocolate Chip crew bring heartfelt words with a big bang of soul. On the below track, MCJ gets brassy with the sax, adding some pizazz to the mix (this guy has endless talent!) while reminding us to “give thanks” by spreading our love everywhere because “Gratitude is contagious“! So true!"
-Kids Can Groove

Official Video #13: "Halloween Every Night"

"Halloween Every Night" is the 13th official music video by Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips.

Song by Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips
Directed by Missis & Mista Cookie Jar
Animated by Cookie
A Love Bubble Production

Purchase song on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, & Bandcamp.
http://bit.ly/iTunesHalloweenEveryNight
https://mistacookiejar.bandcamp.com/track/halloween-every-night

Happy Halloween!

New single out today: Halloween Every Night

Peep the new track out today! Download on iTunes, Bandcamp, and CDBaby. Animated music video coming monday, October 13!!! We're in the middle of animating it as we speak =)

"My My My" Music Video and "3's a Charm" EP Premiere!

In the dawning era of selfies, smart phones, Instagram, JPEGs, GIFs, and that urge always there to "Memorex" (I know, it's dated) all the moments of our children's lives-- simply because we can-- my family band and I have taken it upon ourselves to delve through the hard drives, mobile uploads, online albums, and even the dusty "real" ones to curate for all to see this music video, a glimpse into 13-some-odd years of our family life. It's in remembrance of the beauty a photograph could hold in a moment, the rediscovering of those moments, and the desire to reclaim it back from the impending typhoon of too much information. Mostly though, it's in celebration of the growing love in a family unit. Our family unit. The Chocolate Chips.

From our family to yours, we hope you enjoy!

With love,
Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips

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"My My My is the 11th official Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips music video and the first single off the 3-song EP, "3's a Charm." Purchase "My My My" and the rest of the EP (officially out TODAY!), "3's a Charm" here:

Multi-instrumentalist, wordsmith and audio auteur, Mista Cookie Jar, and his rebel-rocking family band, The Chocolate Chips, have created a childhood inspired, 3-song collection for families. In a dreamy blend of classical, roots music, and urban flavors unique to Mista Cookie Jar, these songs seamlessly infuse lyrical menageries of storytelling, hip hop, and folk. "My My My" starts it out in a motown-swing bang, Mista Cookie Jar's personal and nostalgic homage to his step-kids and growing up. "Be a Little Angel" is a harp-laced, 50's pop-tinged, rap-ballad celebrating in a lyrical waltz the tiny treasures found in innocence and youth. In closing is "Prairie Boy," a simple day-in-the-life tale of a boy in nature set to harmonica and Mista Cookie Jar's signature "stars & moon" resonator. In a sweep of saxophones, chimes, strings, banjos, and the rhymes & harmonies of 13 year-old Ava Flava, "3's a Charm" is a collection of meticulously crafted visions that urge the listener to give in to the imagination and stay forever young.

"3's a Charm," a 3-song EP, is the 3rd official collection of songs released by Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips. 

credits

released 22 July 2014

Performed by Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips except banjo on "Prairie Boy" performed by PA Brown.
Words and music by Cesar Jason Carandang Pizarro.
Recorded and mastered by Mista Cookie Jar & Jenna Michelle.
Published by Inner Child Rock Publishing (ASCAP).
A Love Bubble Production.

2014 Coast to Coast Summer Tour!

July 22 - "3's a Charm" 3 Song EP Release & Video Premiere - Online Everywhere

July 25 - Harvard and Highland (18+) - Pittsburgh, PA - 8pm

July 26 - The Children's Museum of The Ohio Valley (w/Josh&Gab) - Wheeling, WV - 4pm

July 29 - Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods - DC Metro - 10:30am

July 30 -  Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods -DC Metro - 10:30am

Aug 2 - "Rox In Sox" Festival - Portland/Lake Oswego, OR - 10am to 4pm

Aug 4 - Live From the Monkey House (w/Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) - SiriusXM78 - 5pm ET

July 22 - Tuesday
"3's a Charm" 3 Song EP Release & Video Premiere 
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Vimeo

"3's a Charm," a 3-song EP, will be the 3rd official collection of songs released by Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips. More info coming soon.

July 25 - Friday

Harvard & Highland (18+)
Pittsburgh, PA - 8pm (Free)

An evening of comedy and music at Harvard & Highland with Gab Bonesso. Mista Cookie Jar will perform a handful of inner child inspired acoustic songs. Gab Bonesso of Josh & Gab will be telling jokes. Free to attend, cocktail and drink specials.
220 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
http://sousapgh.com/harvard-highland/

July 26 - Saturday

The Children's Museum of The Ohio Valley

Wheeling, WV - 4pm

Excited to announce Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips will be performing The Children's Museum of the Ohio Valley. Located in Mista Cookie Jar's hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia, the show will also feature Pittsburgh's Kindie rock 'n' roll/stand up comedy, anti-bullying, superstar duo, Josh & Gab. Located in beautiful downtown Wheeling, The Children's Museum of the Ohio Valley has been a staple for Wheeling families for the past 12 years. 

2112 Market Street, Wheeling, WV 26003

http://www.cmovkids.org/

July 29-30 (Tues-Wed) 

Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods

Vienna, VA (DC Metro) - 10:30 AM:  $10

For families in the DC metro area, Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips will be performing 2 shows at Wolf Trap's Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods July 29 & 30. Located in Vienna, VA, Wolf Trap’s beloved outdoor theatre for children has been a tradition for generations. Down a meadow path, over a bridge, nestled in trees, Theatre-in-the-Woods is full of happy children all summer long. As part of a summer series featuring performers such as Dan Zanes, The Pop Ups, and Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band, Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips are honored to join the Wolf Trap tradition.

Tickets are $10. Shows start at 10:30 AM.  For more info and to purchase tickets click here: 

http://www.wolftrap.org/Find_Performances_and_Events/Performance/14TITW/0729show14.aspx

1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182

http://www.wolftrap.org/

Aug 2 (Sat) 
Rox In Sox

Portland Lake Oswego, OR - 10AM to 4PM: Free

Portland area fans, check out Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips at the one and only Rox In Sox festival August 2nd. Free and open to the public, Rox In Sox will feature some of the most celebrated family music entertainers in the world including Aaron Nigel Smith, Red Yarn, The Not Its, Recess Monkey, School of Rock, & 23, Secret Agent 23 Skiddoo. In celebration of children's music and literature, the festival will be collecting socks, books and shoes for kids who need them. Daylong activities include yoga and other fitness fun, hula hooping, drumming, arts and crafts, face-painting, and at least 20 vendors providing food and activities. Join the fun and bring some lawn chairs!

The West End Building  4101 Kruse Way, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

http://www.roxinsox.com/

Aug 4 (Mon) 
Live From the Monkey House (with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)

Kids Place Live! SiriusXM 78 - 5pm (ET)

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo & Mista Cookie Jar will be dropping by the Monkey House on SiriusXM 78's Kids Place Live!. Tune in 5pm ET with host Jack Forman of Recess Monkey as Skidoo & Cookie talk kid hop, drop rhymes, and freestyle to kid-caller ideas.

Sirius XM 78
http://www.siriusxm.com/kidsplacelive

Rest in peace, Aunt Carol.

So sad to say it, but our dear friend, Aunt Carol, passed away this morning. She was loved by so many and she will surely be missed. Carol was a resident at a hospital I played music for many years ago and we became fast friends. She won herself this "on-the-spot" ditty in a bingo game. But with her chutzpah and persistently joyful enthusiasm, a full production celebrating her contagious spirit commenced soon after. This was our first music video and I'm still quite proud of all it stands for. Rest in peace, Aunt Carol. We love you!

   

Call Me MCJ: 2 More Views to 1k & Thanks for the all the Blogs!

It's been almost a couple months since we dropped, Call Me Mista Cookie Jar, and we're 2 views away from 1K. Hootyhoo! Thanks to all those who blogged about the video, Zooglobble, Out With The Kids, Kids Can Groove, Totally Full of It, The Rock Father, and Best Videos for Kids. In an effort to get a bump past 1k, here are some nice things folks said about the video. And if you haven't seen it, hit play below. Twice would be twice as nice :)

Click the blog to read the full review.

Totally Full of It says, "Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips have released a video that is absolutely mesmerizing. With it’s smooth tempo, delightful melody and lyrics that easily flow from rap to singing, Mista Cookie Jar gives listeners a little insight as in to who Mista Cookie Jar is.  Which is cooler than cool."

Zooglobble says, "It's hard for me to say that anything that reduces the amount of MCJ music in the world is worth the wait, but this video?  Worth the wait. "

Kids Can Groove says, "...hand-drawn illustrations and placement of photographic and retro-style cut-outs make this video so appealing. Their hard work definitely paid off here. In fact, I had to listen to the song a couple of times because I was so focused on all the awesome imagery!"


Out With The Kids says, "The video is a handcrafted, paper mache beaut that took nearly a year to create. That’s reason alone to carve out 5 minutes of your family’s day to watch and listen, because showing and discussing the intense artistic passion of others is potentially inspiring to the next generation of souls who will chose a path of passion over any other well groomed trail."

2 MCJ shows this week, both at piers!

The first, Thursday, April 10th at 10:30 AM, Mista Cookie Jar with his stars & moon steel guitar and Bubbletron bubble machine will be performing an acoustic show at The Cow's End Cafe right near the Venice Pier. The second, Saturday, April 12 at 10 AM, as part of WAKE UP WITH THE WAVES - A Children's Concert Series , Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips will be rocking out on the Santa Monica Pier! 

All hyperlinks above are for Facebook.

Click HERE for Cow's End website.
Click HERE for Wake Up With The Waves website.

SEE YA THERE!

"Call Me Mista Cookie Jar" - The Official Music Video

To each and every Chocolate Chip. To magic and music makers the world around. To all loving parents, especially our own. And to my Mama, happy birthday! My family and I present to you, Call Me Mista Cookie Jar. 

Follow the M.I.S.T.A. (Mystic Innocent Strolling Through Awesomeness) and his Chocolate Chip kids, Ava Flava and Lucas!, on a silent film/stop-motion adventure inspired by a time when photography and moving pictures were young and magic was brought to life by the world's innocence. Animated and conceived from scratch by Missis & Mista Cookie Jar, "Call Me Mista Cookie Jar" brings the viewer on a magical ride frame by frame inside a mysterious old-fashioned mutoscope. "Call Me Mista Cookie Jar" is the 10th official music video by Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips and the 5th video release from their album, "Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution."

February Shows!

If you are in the Los Angeles area, I will be performing 3 shows this week. Click the hyperlinks for details.

Thursday, February 20/ 10:30 to 11am: Cow's End Kids Sing Along [Free!]
Saturday, February 22 / 3:15 to 5 pm: Music In the Garden Concert Series with Sandra Sandia [$5]
Sunday, February 23 / 2pm to 5pm: Zimmerpalooza! [General Admission $25kids/ $50 adults]

Jazzy Ash CD Debut

Just had a wonderful time celebrating Jazzy Ash's CD release party! Ashli and the Leaping Lizards put on a fantastic show with hornists, dancers, a fiddler, an accordian, a standup bassplayer and even an accordian/drummer! And I have to say, I had one of the best times on stage as "the Mista" in the Mardi Gras Themed song, "Throw Me Something Mista"!

 

Above are all the performers of the evening. Lincoln, Jazzy's son on the left, sang the blues and stole the show!

Calling all Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips fans...! We will be releasing our 10th official music video on March 12, 2014 for the Mista Cookie Jar theme song, "Call Me Mista Cookie Jar." The fam & I have been animating this stop motion video frame by frame for nearly a year now and its almost ready to be unveiled. 100% D.I.Y. from the ground up. We made paper from scratch, illustrated our own characters, cut out every piece of cardboard and photograph -- I even made my own Buster Keaton hat. I know its still a ways away, but stay tuned...we're hopeful you'll find it worth the wait!

Throw Me Something Mista!

It's Mardi Gras season...laissez les bons temps rouler! Here's the brand spanking new Jazzy Ash video, Throw Me Something Mista, featuring myself as the Mista. It was a BLAST working on this video/track over the past few months and excited to share it with you all. Mardi Gras was a big part of my childhood growing up in Mobile, AL--the first city in the US to annually celebrate Mardi Gras believe it or not. So as you can imagine, I'm thrilled to be part of this record! (Shout out to my Mobile peeps on FB!) 

Ash's new New Orleans themed album, Home, just drops today too. It's awesome and lush with musical styles. She's got SO much to offer the family music scene. Check it yall and enjoy