From Senegal comes a great group of drummers and singers called Sing Sing Juniors, who play traditional music in the sabar drum tradition. Most of the musicians in the group are related, and each one is considered a gëwél, or griot. They are people who hold to the traditions, and those of us outside of Senegal are very appreciative of being able to hear these traditions on their self-titled CD.

I'm a huge fan of drum and percussion albums, so hearing this was a treat. The rhythms on each of the tracks are fantastic, and anyone who has ever wanted to hear how Brazilian rhythms achieved their African influence can find a few hints on this CD. While those unfamiliar to percussion albums, especially cultural/ethnic ones, may hear nothing but beats, each piece has a specific reason, whether it's a prayer, to honor family, or to welcome a celebration.

There's absolutely no Western influence, so no remixes, no electronic treatment, no special appearances from Bill Laswell or Wyclef, what you hear is music from the continent that is the origin of the world as we know it. The liner notes claim that this is their debut CD, but all of them are very professional, showing how years of playing have made them a group of musicians who can play this without thought. Rhythm is the heartbeat that provides life, and the Sing Sing Juniors show us why.
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