This recording is a warm collection of original children's songs performed by the award-winning group, Sweet Honey in the Rock using their voices, bodies, hand percussions, and improvisation to tell their stories. Children are also heard on select tracks. The songs include influences of blues, jazz, gospel, and African culture, and are perfect for car rides or play time.

One of the most unique aspects of Still The Same Me is Sweet Honey in the Rock's a capella style. The group does such a wonderful job of creating chords with their own voices, and the beat with their own bodies or small hand percussion instruments, that listeners may not even notice the absence of traditional instruments. This is demonstrated in the African play-song, Tuwe Tuwe, since the song is part of a clapping game, and the group members encourage listeners to join in. Voice harmonization takes place in many of the tracks, but is perhaps best displayed in Goodnight, as the harmony creates a beautiful and soothing feel. A baritone voice creates the 'bass' and main beat in Way Down Deep; about half way in to the song, hand drums join in and bring up the mood of the song. The six improvisation tracks are also excellent examples of what this group really has to offer. Each improv track is based off of the original one, Improv Time - Rhythm Slam!, but also has a unique flavor to it. Improv Time - Rhythm Slam! Consists of a strong beat, hand drums, sticks, egbe shekeres (which creates a bass sound), and the guiro, along with the women's voices singing sounds - but not necessarily words.

Since the music doesn't involve instruments beyond drums and hand percussion, it is easy for your little one to join right in and feel a part of the CD. They can mimic the vocal sounds, beat on the bottom of a toy as a makeshift drum, or shake a can with beans or change in it for a shaker. Encourage your child to feel the beat and find his or her personal expression of it. The songs are also entwined with history, offering ways to introduce children to new ideas and important historical and cultural events. For instance, We Shall Not be Moved is an African American church song that was also used as a union organizing song and a Civil Rights Movement freedom song. This song was used during marches and rallies. We Are Almost Home is an African American spiritual from the Nineteenth century. This song can be applied to any challenge, big and small, encouraging listeners to just keep going - they are almost there! The title is repeated for the entire song, making is very easy to join in and sing along. The songs also bring up subjects and feelings a child can relate to, such as not understanding why adults are always in such a hurry in Time, trying to get over a bad day or feeling crummy in Still Gotta Get Up In the Morning, or always being okay with who you are in the title track Still the Same Me; "The universe is a wonderful place, and there's nothing I can't try. Happiness is when I do my best! Still the same me on the inside."

My four-year-old niece, Emily, and I listened to this album during playtime one afternoon. She really got a kick out of the song, I Love to Laugh because it had real kids giggling the whole time in the background. I took the hint and started tickling her so she was laughing along too. Later, when we were done in the play room, I thought I would be clever and put on the song Oh My Goodness, Look at This Mess! and encourage Emily to sing along while cleaning up her play room. It worked...this time, but I think she will eventually catch on to me.

--Audra

Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sweet Honey in the Rock is a Grammy Award-winning African Americna female a capella ensemble with deep musical roots in spirituals, hymns, and gospel, as well as jazz and blues. The group consists of six African American females who harmonize and use hand percussion instruments to create a blend of lyrics, movement and narrative that relate history, point the finger at injustice, encourage activism, and sing the praises of love. After 30 years of leading and singing with the ensemble, Dr. Reagon retired from Sweet Honey in the Rock in 2004.