Pick of the Day: I Like Everything About You (Yes I Do!) (Audio)

I Like Everything About You (Yes I Do!). Performed by Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble. CD. 42 min. Crosspulse Media. 2013. ISBN unavail. $15.
Gr all levels–This outstanding first album for children and families from Crosspulse Percussion features melodies, rhythms, and instruments from around the world, with an emphasis on African music. Keith Terry, Omar Ledezma, Amber Hines, Evie Ladin, and Tacuma King make up the ensemble, and all give excellent performances on vocals (with gorgeous harmonies), instruments, and body rhythms. In a number of songs, they make creative use of body sounds: whistling, claps, steps, stomps, snaps, and clogging foot percussion. Well-known instruments include banjo, upright bass, harmonica, tin can, chopsticks, sticks, cowbell, and tambourine. The ensemble also performs on different kinds of drums: seko drums, congas, frame drum, and krin (African slit or log drums); and on such world instruments and percussion as nose flute, bolon, cajón, bamboo spoons, gongi bells, karinyan, maracas, quitiplas (bamboo stamping tubes), and claves. Many numbers are traditional folk songs from various cultures: “Yamawele” (Congo); “Little Liza Jane” fromEngland, but with African rhythms; “Cumbe” a scarf dance fromVenezuela; “Rara” (Haiti); “CooCoo” (Appalachia); and “Krin” (Ghana). Keith Terry contributes three pieces: “Jalan-Jalan,” “I Like Everything About You,” and “Body Beat” which moves from African American hambone through modern body music, Duke Ellington’s “Caravan,” a Spanish rap, and ends with intricate rhythms. The funky “Walkin’ the Dog,” “Breaths” (a Sweet Honey in the Rock song), and “Flores” by Pedro Izquierdo ofHavanaround out the playlist. This unique album is a great introduction to world music and rhythm for children and a listening feast for the whole family.–Beverly Wrigglesworth,San AntonioPublic Library, TX