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Editorial Reviews
Full title: Throw Down Your Heart/Tales From The Acoustic Planet Vol. 3/Africa Sessions. 2009's Throw Down Your Heart chronicles banjo virtuoso and 18 time Grammy award winner Bela Fleck's musical journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo. Bela's boundary-breaking musical adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali, and provides a glimpse of the beauty and complexity of African music. Using his banjo, Bela transcends barriers of language and culture, finding common ground and forging connections with musicians from very different backgrounds. Throw Down Your Heart is also the title of the award-winning documentary film about Bela's journey to Africa.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Overview:
Bela Fleck took his banjo and traveled across Africa including visits to Uganda, Mali, Tanzania, and South Africa. At each location Bela jammed and recorded with the local stars, including kora master Toumani Diabate, guitarist D'Gary, vocalists Oumani Sangare and Baba Maal, ngoni player Baekou Kouyate, djembe player Madou Sanogo. This brief list of African stars only scratches the surface of what probably amounts to about 100 different African musicians that play on the various tracks on this album. Each track features a different group of musicians and is recorded in a different locale. The end result is a magnificent fusion of the banjo and traditional African music. There is just an enormous amount of material here with a total of 18 tracks. With so much diversity of material you are likely to find a track two that disagree with your tastes, but overall its hard to imagine any fans of Bela Fleck and/or traditional African music not loving this CD. My only criticism is it is too bad that legendary kora master Toumani Diabate only plays on one track. However, the two are currently touring the together, so if your lucky and they come to your town, you can see more of their amazing chemistry in concert.
Song Highlights:
D'Gary Jam - this is track features an all-star cast included Toumani Diabate and his Malian band, D'Gary on guiar, plus great vocals.
Throw Down Your Heart - Written by Bela Fleck on his way to Africa during a layover in Amsterdam, this is the best song writing on the CD. A great new Bela Fleck tune played with a small group of musicians from Mali.
Ah Ndiya - This track is highlighted by the gorgeous vocals of Oumani Sangare. Pretty and moving.
Bela Fleck took his banjo and traveled across Africa including visits to Uganda, Mali, Tanzania, and South Africa. At each location Bela jammed and recorded with the local stars, including kora master Toumani Diabate, guitarist D'Gary, vocalists Oumani Sangare and Baba Maal, ngoni player Baekou Kouyate, djembe player Madou Sanogo. This brief list of African stars only scratches the surface of what probably amounts to about 100 different African musicians that play on the various tracks on this album. Each track features a different group of musicians and is recorded in a different locale. The end result is a magnificent fusion of the banjo and traditional African music. There is just an enormous amount of material here with a total of 18 tracks. With so much diversity of material you are likely to find a track two that disagree with your tastes, but overall its hard to imagine any fans of Bela Fleck and/or traditional African music not loving this CD. My only criticism is it is too bad that legendary kora master Toumani Diabate only plays on one track. However, the two are currently touring the together, so if your lucky and they come to your town, you can see more of their amazing chemistry in concert.
Song Highlights:
D'Gary Jam - this is track features an all-star cast included Toumani Diabate and his Malian band, D'Gary on guiar, plus great vocals.
Throw Down Your Heart - Written by Bela Fleck on his way to Africa during a layover in Amsterdam, this is the best song writing on the CD. A great new Bela Fleck tune played with a small group of musicians from Mali.
Ah Ndiya - This track is highlighted by the gorgeous vocals of Oumani Sangare. Pretty and moving.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whenever I see a new Bela Fleck album is being released, I order it immediately. Bela is one of maybe 3 artists whose work I can always count on loving at first hearing, no matter what style of music it is. (And Bela has always been an eclectic and adventurous musician, exploring a wide range of musical genres.) This album is certainly no exception. The music contained on this CD is among the most soulful and hypnotic I've ever heard, and does an excellent job of illustrating the journey Bela undertook, to explore the African roots of the banjo. Also, I literally wept when I read the liner note explaining the album's title... then I wept again when I explained it to my wife! I am a huge fan of all Bela's diverse body of work, but the acoustic planet series is especially satisfying. Now I can't wait to see the documentary!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
On THROW DOWN YOUR HEART, banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck travels to Africa to trace the origins of his main instrument and play with local musicians. In doing this, he has created a beautiful album affirms his role in the banjo continuum and highlights some wonderful performances by his African host musicians. This album is a five star tour of the wonders of African music that uncovers one stunning performance after another. Working in several countries and with different musicians on each track, the album is packed start to finish with strong performances that will keep the adventurous music fan coming back again and again to enjoy. Also be aware that a film version of Fleck's journey will soon be released.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
So Good!
This was a great documentary. Bela went to Africa and played with some of the best there. This is the wonderful soundtrack that went with that trip. Read more
Published 26 days ago by John b
5.0 out of 5 stars
A treasure
Once again Fleck has not only shown his mastery, but also his humility in playing as accompaniment for various known and unknown African folk/traditional musicians. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Wade Hampton Cornell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Throw Down Your Heart Vol. 3
I think what Bela Fleck did was incredible. The music music is great and fascinating
I love the way he did not want to dominate but let the Africans get their heart out in... Read more
I love the way he did not want to dominate but let the Africans get their heart out in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sally Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps even better than the movie!
These songs and tunes in audio isolation (vs. with visuals on his fine documentary DVD) are both powerful and playful. Read more
Published 12 months ago by applewood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bela Fleck is a genius
This CD is a must for anyone who loves creativity and joy,not to mention a bit of ethnomusicology. The humor and delicacy of the playing and singing makes me wish I'd been on his... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Richard Stein
5.0 out of 5 stars
Basically Bela - how can I go wrong?
Bela Fleck, never a person to stick with one musical style, took his banjo to Africa and visited musicians throughout the continent. Read more
Published 18 months ago by pickyprincess
5.0 out of 5 stars
Throw Down Your Heart/Bela Fleck
I absolutely love this CD. It makes me happy to listen to it, which I do often.
Published on November 7, 2010 by Marie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bela accompanies and showcases African Music
I loved this album. It's original, fun loving, under-produced, genuine. Bela showcases the talent rather than use it as a backdrop. Read more
Published on March 24, 2010 by Kim A Miller
4.0 out of 5 stars
African music personified
This album is wonderful! Takes me on a journey through the continent of Africa. Oumou Sangare's voice is beautiful and rare. Read more
Published on February 16, 2010 by a real person
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dance and rhythm for heart and soul
I don't listen to much music, but I love this album. Great diversity of melody and music that touches the heart in unexpected places, and sparks african rhytms that dance through... Read more
Published on January 26, 2010 by NancyAnn Stealey
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