A colleague shipped a box of CDs to me for possible review and one immediately stood out from the others: Harambee by Signal Hill Alumni Choir. Hailing from Tobago, an island located in the Caribbean, the choir covers a collection of African songs – each track characterized by a beautiful harmony.

Listening to the CD for the first time I was reminded of a Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert I attended. The South African group, who provided the backup vocals for Paul Simon’s Graceland, performed with absolutely no frills. Eschewing fancy costumes, theatrics, pyrotechnics and even instruments they captivated the audience strictly with their vocals. Performing at an aging concert hall, their perfect consonance managed to add luster to the fading, peeling paint and brought a soothing softness to the frayed carpet, making the decrepit theater shine once again.

In a similar manner, the upbeat, energetic songs of Signal Hill Alumni Choir have the power to transform a sterile living room into an inviting place as well. Harambee consists of eleven tracks including folk songs from Kenya, South Africa, Congo and Nigeria, as well as a contemporary Benin song and an Orisha chant.

What is a contemporary Benin song or an Orisha chant? It’s hard to explain but they are fun to listen to and the notes on the back of the CD describe them best:

"Some of these melodies will cause you to feel goose pimples just like we feel them when we are rehearsing or performing on stage. Listen attentively and feel the feel, claim the roots, move with the energy and experience the spirituality of these songs."

My favorite songs are "Ning Wendete," a calypso-like Kenyan folk song and "Akanamandla," a rollicking South African spiritual. Harambee is a testament to the power of music. Even though I can’t understand the majority of the lyrics, it was able to move me, proving that music is a universal language.