''Razzberry Jazzberry Jam'' is a Canadian

animated Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most ani ...

and live action preschool

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

series aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on December 23, 2008. This series is about

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

. All of the characters are anthropomorphic musical instruments. In each episode a special guest arrives at "The House of Jam" and the band learn about that guest (instrument) and a new song that features that instrument. Each episode also has two live action components wherein children learn about musical concepts with real musicians and real instruments. The animation is done with Macromedia Flash 8.

Characters

* Louis the

Trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

voiced by Cle Bennett. He is the charismatic showman leader of the Jazzberries, who has been a part of the band since its creation, along with R.C. and former Jazzberry Annie the Voice. Louis is an understanding and kind leader, but can also be impulsive. He is named for Louis Armstrong. * Ella the

Piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

voiced by Christine Hamilton. Ella is the largest instrument and the only Jazzberry who moves around on wheels, which makes her self-conscious at times, though this does not bother the band. The kindest and sweetest member of the band, Ella is passionate about music and the House of Jam. She's named for

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

. * Billie the

Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

voiced by

Nicole Stamp Nicole Stamp is a Canadian television host, director, actor, filmmaker, playwright, and voice actress. Career Stamp works as a host, producer, and director, having started her career at TVOntario, where she co-hosted TVOntario's afternoon blo ...

and sung by Jenna Andrews. The daughter of musician Elmore the Guitar, Billie is a diva, who is very much aware of her talent and is a huge perfectionist as a result. Her impulsive and often competitive personality butts heads with the other instruments often. She's named for

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

. * R.C. the

Double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox additions such as the octobass). Similar i ...

voiced by

Maurice Dean Wint Maurice Dean Wint is a British-born Canadian actor who has starred in several films and television shows. Life and career Wint was born in Leicestershire, England, and moved to Canada in 1967 with his family. He began to act in Toronto on stag ...

. A fellow founding member of the Jazzberries, alongside Louis. R.C. is very calm and oftentimes quiet, but whenever he talks, the other Jazzberries listen. He's much more serious about his music compared to the other members, as shown when he preferred to dress fancy instead of in a costume for their performance in the episode "Phantom of the Jam." His initials stand for

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

. * Buddy and Krupa the drums voiced by Steve Markle and Jeff Kassel respectively. Buddy is sweet, innocent and peppy, while Krupa is sassy and pessimistic. The drums often wish they were independent of each other, but the two genuinely have kind intentions—Buddy believes everybody deserves praise and Krupa's perfectionism stems from a desire for everyone to be talented. Buddy's named for

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

while Krupa is named for

Gene Krupa Eugene Bertram Krupa (January 15, 1909 – October 16, 1973), known as Gene Krupa, was an American jazz drummer, bandleader and composer who performed with energy and showmanship. His drum solo on Benny Goodman's 1937 recording of " Sing, Sing, ...

. *Annie the Fan voiced by

Julie Lemieux Julie Lemieux (born December 4, 1962) is a Canadian voice actress. Career Lemieux has provided the voice for characters such as Sammy Tsukino in ''Sailor Moon'', young Darien Shields in '' Sailor Moon R: The Movie'', and Peruru in '' Sailor Moon ...

References

{{Reflist 2000s Canadian animated television series 2010s Canadian animated television series 2008 Canadian television series debuts 2012 Canadian television series endings Canadian children's animated musical television series Canadian television series with live action and animation CBC Television original programming Canadian flash animated television series Canadian preschool education television series Animated preschool education television series Culture of Charlottetown Television shows filmed in Prince Edward Island 2000s preschool education television series 2010s preschool education television series