Description
Label Review.
Original album released 2009. A document of virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck's remarkable journey across Africa to explore the banjo's roots, is available for the first time as a complete film and music set, with the addition of a brand new duo album with kora master Toumani Diabat.
Our Overview.
‘Throw Down Your Heart’, a document of the influential American virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck’s remarkable journey across Africa to explore the banjo’s roots, is available for the first time as a complete film and music set, with the addition of a brand new duo album with kora master Toumani Diabat , ‘The Ripple Effect’ (also available separately on 180-gram 2-LP gatefold vinyl).
‘Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions’ brings together Béla’s Grammy-winning 2009 album ‘Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3—Africa Sessions’ along with ‘Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks’ as well as ‘The Ripple Effect’ with kora player Toumani Diabaté. The kora is a forerunner and cousin of the banjo. The collection, including three discs of music and a DVD, document Fleck’s journeys in Africa to discover the roots of the banjo.
“I knew that my beloved instrument had originally come from West Africa,” Fleck wrote in a statement. “And from time to time I found tantalizing tidbits of African acoustic music that gave me the confidence to know that there was a phenomenal amount of incredible stuff going on under the radar.”
Then, Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin played Béla a recording of renowned Malian singer Oumou Sangare. “I was literally stunned,” Fleck remembers. “I’d had this reaction only a few times — when music was so compelling that everything had to stop while I listened. Earl Scruggs’ banjo did it to me. Chick Corea’s music did it to me. And so did this.”
As fate would have it, one of Fleck’s old bluegrass friends managed Sangare and the singer invited Béla to Mali which kicked off a three-nation journey Fleck described as “a nonstop set of intense, powerful and joyful musical interactions. Every day for five weeks, I was meeting musicians, and filming pieces with them in their homes, other unconventional locations, and even on rare occasions – recording studios. We recorded/filmed over 30 pieces so it came out to something like a tune per day while we were there.”
This is the first time it will be available as a complete set. Its release is timed to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of Rounder Records.
Tracklisting:
CD DVD 1: Tulinesangala / Kinetsa / Ah Ndiya / Kabibi / Angelina / D’gary Jam / Throw Down Your Heart / Thula Mama / Wairenziante / Buribalal / Zawose / Ajula / Mbamba / Pakugyenda Balebauo / Jesus Is The Only Answer / Matitu / Mariam / Djorolen / Dunia Haina Wema / Thumb Fun
CD DVD 2: Spirit Song / Salam Aleikum / Chant / The Rights Of Man / Ya Fama / The Rights Of Man / Ya Fama / Kamungoro / Kandjo / Obughangwa / Soumauro / Furaha / Mar Rano / Jesus Of Banjul / Mali Jam / Kayi Ni Wura / OldJoe Jatta
CD DVD 3: Bamako / Nashville / Snug Harbor / Elyne Road / Matitu/Buribalal / Manchester / Throw Down Your Heart / Kauonding Sissoko / Katmandu / Dueling Banjos
CD DVD 4: Anania’s Song / Kinetsa / Aida Ganya Kitenge Bero Yoti / Awomiso / Tulinesangala / Wairenziante / Fatina Mbaya / Jesus Is The Only Answer / Tulinesangala / My Name Is Anania / Furaha / Dunia Haina Wema / Sunrise / Throw Down Your Heart / Matitu / Gogo / Zawose Vocalizations / Tudumishe Utamaduni Wa Tanzani / Nightclub Open Song / Nightclub Song / Cha Cha’sTune / Leele / Ndapari / Duna Haina Wema / Throw Down Your Heart / Jatta Family Song / Remy Jatta Solo / Home Sweet Home / When Strings Collide / O Susannah / Ajula / Mbamba / Harouna Jam / Djelimady Solo / Kayi Ni Wura / Bb Jam / Daman Ndiaye / Harouna’s Groove / Yafama / Mariam / Bassekou Solo / Mariam / Ah Ndiya / Djorolen / Throw Down Your Heart / Children Of Nakisenyi / D’gary Jam / Bampa Di Da / Gambian Fantasy In Blue / Spirit Song / Matitu And Cha Cha / Bagamoyo Song / Dunia Haina Wema / Throw Down Your Heart / Lost Luggage / Press Conference / Old Joe Jatta / Jesus Jah Jarju And B la Fleck / Bb Jam (Extended Version) / Trilok Gurtu At The Hotel Wassulu / Buribalal Akibar / N’guatu / Harouna Jam