Customer Reviews

Toto Bona Lokua

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I did not hear about this on NPR. For me, the tour by Richard Bona is going to coincide with a trip I am taking soon, and saw the recording as the newest release, so I bought it.

I am familiar with Lokua Kanza, as one of the most beautiful voices that I have ever heard out of Africa. Saw him live acoustic in 2002, with his backup singer only, and it was an unreal show, "chicken-skin" through most of the numbers. One of the best.

This album will haunt you, and it would be surprizing to find anyone who did not like it. Humans respond well to harmonized voices, and this CD showcases some ethereal harmonies. Enjoy..!

This is the first truely unique cd I've purchased in a very long time. As a musician I find it difficult to find new music worth listening to however I heard a review of the CD on NPR and had to get it. Trust me on this if you have a need to listen to something that is interesting, look no further. The story is a french studio owner got the idea to bring together a few very tallented jazz artists to do a cd of origanl work. He contacted three african singers, each from different areas and all fairly unfamiliar with each other. Over a period of a week or so the three made this album. Mostly acapella (and impromptu) with the addition of some acustic bass & guitar and lite drum work. The three did all the music and the product is truely beautiful. I highly recomend this cd.

The first couple of times that I played Toto Bona Lokua, the songs really didn't seem to have anything special. Upon the third listen, I was blown away by the harmonic beauty and rhythmic sublimeness of each note from this amazing trio.

I went from being unimpressed to being down-right possessed! (Now, I can't get the music out of my head, or my heart - and I really don't want to.) Yes, the CD was a bit of a slow-burn, but a little patience allowed me to experience this truly unique and disarmingly enchanting piece of music. . . Just let go and listen!

Maybe even Take 6 (at least in theory). Beautiful combination of lush and sparse, dark and bright, free and planned. I am primarily a fan of Richard Bona and am largely unfamiliar with the other three artists' works, but maybe not for long. These three gentlemen's voices blend so well together, which draws the hesitant comparison to Take 6. Their native lyrics and vocalizing bring to mind some early Bobby McFerrin records (or even his solo on Manhattan Transfer's version of "A Night in Tunesia." Wonderful listening for a variety of occasions.

My only complaint is the brevity of the CD, clocking in at just over 30 minutes--I would have loved to hear them for an another 30. . . . Spontaneity has its limitations, however, and this seems like a minor quibble. BOTTOM LINE: Give it a listen, and, if you are familiar with anything mentioned above or with any previous works by these three, you are bound to be impressed, delighted, and entertained.

I am not a musical genious nor a writer of reviews, only a lover of world music. But on this CD I had to put in my two cents: Get it. Now. It has risen to the top of my favorites list. I agree with other reviews (and grieve!) that it is too short, and am broken hearted that there will probably never be a chance to catch these three artists performing this material together on one stage. Don't let that stop you from adding this masterpiece to your collection.

This improvisational session of three backup musicians from three different countries in Africa and the Carribean is eclectic fusion that is candy to the ears. Don't expect to hear any soul rending ballads. Some of the lyrics are in the native languages of the musicians, and others, they admit, are just nonsense words that they made up to fit the music. With each musician taking a lead on a different song, the styles and rhythms change from song to song in an international musical tour. Think of Bob Marley meets Ladysmith Black Mambaza. It is the perfect cd played loud for be-bopping around the kitchen while you cook, or played low as background to a dinner party conversation.

Three extraordinary men, each with separate careers, who will not likely ever sing together again -- this is truly soul-stirring music!

Three fine musicians, a celebration of the human voice, and of spontaneity. Some of the songs are idiosyncratic and of the moment, while others will stick with you.

Probably my second best purchase of the year, or tied for first. It is amazing how unknown albums like this slip through the cracks when so much "famous" commercial junk gets sold in the millions. These musicians are smart, and have managed to put together an album where every song is interesting if not fantastic.

I'm a Richard Bona fan but new to Gerald Toto and Lokua Kanza. I know about the producer Daniel Richard who is also the CEO/President of Universal Jazz France. Daniel is responsible for signing Richard, Salif Keita, Meshell Ndegeocello. My girl and I listen to this and bug out. These are 3 musical friends who did their 4 songs at home and traded files. It sounds like one project and a lot of fun. You can tell they are inspired and respectful of each other. Buy this and tell a friend.