Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween
Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween
A 2023 Family Choice Award winner! Johnette Downing stirs a brew of traditional and original slightly spooky, mostly silly Halloween songs for families. For over three decades, Downing has used these songs while teaching and performing early childhood music. The familiar “Five Little Pumpkins,” “Skin and Bones,” and “Dark Dark Night,” are paired with fan favorites such as her originals “Shake Your Skeleton,” “Bat Song,” and “Jumpin’ Jitters.” Joining vocalist, guitarist and ukulele player Johnette Downing on this spine-tingling and toe-bone-rattling album is a cast of exemplary musicians including harmonica player Scott Billington, fiddler Gina Forsyth, accordionist Nathan Williams, guitarist Jake Eckert, keyboardist/organist C. R. Gruver, mandolinist E. J. Ouellette, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, and drummer Doug Belote. A child chorus from Whole Music School invite children to sing along.
The Songs
Shake Your Skeletons
Mean Old Witch
Little Bat Song
Skin and Bones
Five Little Pumpkins
Dry Bones
Scary Things
Goosebumps
Hocus Pocus
Jack-o’-Lantern
Stirring My Brew
Where Is the Wicked Witch?
Dark Dark Night
Jumpin’ Jitters
The Team
All songs written, or adapted and arranged, by Johnette Downing
Co-produced by Johnette Downing and Scott Billington
Recorded by Steve Reynolds and Jake Eckert at the Rhythm Shack, New Orleans, Louisiana; Naylan Williams at Cha Cha Studios, Lafayette, Louisiana; and E. J. Ouellette at Whole Music Studios, Byfield, Massachusetts
Mixed by Steve Reynolds, Creede, Colorado
Mastered by Jeff Albert, New Orleans, Louisiana
Cut-paper collage cover art by Johnette Downing
Graphic design by Scott Billington and Johnette Downing
This album was generously and partially funded by a grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation.
The Musicians
Johnette Downing - vocals, guitar, ukulele, and percussion
Scott Billington – harmonica and backing vocals
C. R. Gruver – Wurlitzer piano and Hammond B3 organ
Gina Forsyth – violin
Nathan Williams – accordion
Jake Eckert – lead guitar
E. J. Ouellette – mandolin
Lee Allen Zeno – electric bass
Doug Belote – drums and percussion
Whole Music Student Chorus – Marissa O’Connor, John de Bernardo, Colin Porter, and Josie Porter.
Reviews!
"Johnette Downing is a New Orleans treasure, and Jumping Jitters shows why she is so beloved - a super fun, spooky fais-do-do that kids and adults will enjoy! And if you're anything like me, you'll want to listen to it year-round!"
—DJ LizE, The Kid's Show, WTUL New Orleans 91.5fm
Johnette Downing: Jumpin’ Jitters It’s Halloween (Wiggle Worm Records)
Offbeat Magazine, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 by: DAVID KUNIAN
Right in time for October 31, Johnette Downing has a Halloween record out that will entertain both kids and adults. An energetic stage act and prolific songwriter, Downing uses her years of experience performing for kids to focus her work on haunted and scary themes. There are songs about bats and pumpkins and witches which will thrill children as they sing along. Downing even rewrites standards such as the “Hokey Pokey” and “Frere Jacques” to have Halloween themes. She is so good at her craft that, unlike many recordings geared for kids, parents will not be driven freaking mad by having to listen to it over and over. Given the history and popularity of novelty songs from South Louisiana (Although not written as kids’ songs, hits such as “My Toot-Toot” and much of the songs of Huey Piano Smith and the Clowns make great songs for children), these songs fit right in as songs for both kids and adults. In addition, Johnette Downing’s band makes sure that these songs are tight and great for dancing. But you would expect nothing less from zydeco legends Nathan Williams and Lee Allen Zeno on accordion and bass, respectively, and late-night music stalwarts C.R. Gruver and Jake Eckert on keyboard and guitar. In my travels in the music world, I have seen all of these musicians either playing for kids or bringing their kids out to hear music, so their real-world experience informs and strengthens this record. And there is nobody better to make sure such a record hits in all the right place than producer Scott Billington who has helmed more good records from this part of the world than I can count, and he lays down some great harmonica too.
This album was generously and partially funded by a grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation. Thank you Threadhead for your commitment to supporting New Orleans culture bearers.