Customer Reviews

Music From the Hearts of the Masters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to strongly disagree with the person below who criticised this CD as being too repetitive and having too many "repeating cascades". This is a failed attempt to sound like a professional music critic, if this person truly new anything about tribal rhythms of Africa they would know that a strong part of the tradition is based in repetition of percussion and melody as this leads to the inducement of trance-like states for many tribal rituals.

This album actual succeeds in my opinion to bring this beautiful chracteristic of that tradition together with the powerful ability of improvisation that these two "Masters" achieve as naturally as they breath.

If you are looking for traditional Jazz this CD is not for you, but if you love African-Jazz I highly recommend it. I guess the best comparison I could make in terms of how this music made me feel was to the famous Ali Farka Toure/Ry Cooder Duet.

who love playing music could make music that sounds this good. What is amazing is that there are only two instruments here, drums and the kora, a West African 21-stringed contraption that sounds sometimes like a guitar, sometimes like a harp. The music is unique, beginning with laying down a rhythm and then improvising off of it. It evolves from (deceptively) simple to extremely complex. Jack DeJohnette has always been one of my favorite drummers, and there is no disappointment on this CD. Suso is a master at his craft, as well.

this is a masterpiece, make no mistake about it! suso and jack are absolutely unbelievable on this brilliant collaboration yeilding some of the most hauntingly beautiful and technically brillant musical tapestry ever released... The Kora makes such fantastic sounds, like a cross between a guitar and a harp... anyone who listens to this will be an immediate convert for this music as i have become... six stars to this music of genius...

There's a timeless quality in music that stretches from the earliest humans to the present, and around the world with a fine-tooth comb. Everyone is affected, and that's why music is oftentimes referred to as the Universal Language.

Jack DeJohnette and Foday Musa Suso experiment with native rhythms and primitive melodies that could come from any region of the globe. Their instruments, as well, can be found just about anywhere. A congenial stringed instrument alongside underlying percussive patterns allow these two veteran artists to draw from common ancestral influences as they improvise.

Pleasant in all aspects, their collaborative performance mesmerizes, soothes, and reflects a kindred spirit. However, they rely on repetitive phrases, repeating cascades, and like rhythms to express each idea, resulting in a session with little variation. Again and again, they roll out similar refrains that lull the audience toward a sleepy afternoon's pleasures.

DeJohnette's drum kit follows the norm, as he emphasizes snare drum, tom-tom and bass drum textures. His crisp articulation and supportive rhythms give the session an underlying current of thunder. Suso's harp-like lyrical catchphrases rebound against a soft layer of "warm fuzzies," giving the session its gentle perspective. Together, they drone for an hour, repeating themes that portray the becalming quality of their music.

It's one of the fundamental purposes for the creation of music: to soothe. DeJohnette and Suso achieve their goal, while the listener is left wanting a little variety.

IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THESE GUYS IN ACTION,YOU ARE MISSING A TREAT! ON THIS CD YOU WILL EXPERIENCE VARIETY OF EMOTIONS. ALLOW THESE MASTER MUSICIANS TO TAKE YOU ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!

Jack DeJohnette is a master of color and form, and Music from the Hearts of Masters is evidence of this...

When Jazz is facing it's own troubles, music of this kind will show the way to the future, and it begins with the rhythm.

Just listen - suso is on point and de johnette is plain and simply sick on the percussion