Cathy and Marcy are seasoned veterans in the children’s and family music scene. Winners of two Grammy Awards, they continue to create some of the most family-friendly music around. For their new CD, Banjo To Beatbox (Community Music, download: $6.99, EP disc $7.99,  HYPERLINK “http://www.cathymarcy.com” http://www.cathymarcy.com, age 5-12), Cathy and Marcy team up with hip-hop sensation Christylez Bacon for a musical adventure that connects the traditional with the contemporary.

This combination, where folk music meets the raps and rhythms of hip-hop, creates a delightful, groove-filled musical hybrid.

Bacon is amazing as a beatbox (mouth drums) artist and his playful musical nature fits right in with Cathy and Marcy’s mission of community music making. “Beatbox is roots music with recent urban origins, but based on a long tradition of African rhythms,” Cathy says. “The banjo also originally comes from Africa, so this really makes sense.”

What emerges is a set of songs that is outstanding from start to finish. They kick it off with “Jubilation,” where the trio sets the tone and states their case: “One thing that would help this nation is more music and jubilation.” It will have everyone joining in the fun of this rhyme-filled song.

Bacon really gets it movin’ with “It’s the Beatbox.” Check out the video version, a live performance of “It’s The Beatbox,” included on the disc. Simply insert the CD into a Mac or PC to access the QuickTime movie.

Fred Koch, Chicago Parent

(See more of Koch’s reviews at ChicagoParent.com or check out his Web site at  HYPERLINK “http://www.BestChildrensMusic.com”http://www.BestChildrensMusic.com for other ideas.)