Among electric bassists, those hailing from West Africa are among the most enjoyable to watch and hear. The very nature of that region’s music gives the instrument room to breath and allows for lines that are almost as intricate as the melodies they support. The bass is not used only to provide a rhythmic and harmonic foundation, it sings.

“In my tradition back in West Africa, there’s this instrument called xalam. I’m pretty much influenced by that, the way that I technically do certain things,” explained bassist Cheikh Ndoye, who first came to our attention while backing powerful violinist Karen Briggs. “The influence on that is also a singing gathering with a group of percussionists playing. What you can sing, pretty much you should be able to play.”

Residing locally when not touring with other artists, Ndoye will be leading his own group at Blues Alley tomorrow evening. This is the latest stop on a musical journey that began with piano lessons in his native Senegal. Self-taught on bass, Ndoye switched to the instrument as a teenager, when his influnces not only included his country’s indigenous music, but also extended to American bassists like Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller. However, in hearing Ndoye play, it is clear his musical references go deeper than other bassists.

“In general, I don’t listen to bassists when I practice,” he said. “I’m listening to music, any good players who are out there. It could be a saxophonist or it could be a guitarist.”