19. Toumani Diabate & Ali Farka Toure- In The Heart Of The Moon


Reportedly this album came about spontaneously with guitarist Ali Farka Toure from Mali and griot/kora player Toumani Diabate agreeing to a series of live duets in amongst their busy schedules and without any time to rehearse. If that is true then this result's even more impressive.
This is no battle for supremacy or a show-off. It's two very inventive artists interacting acoustically. It's amazing how they feel each other out, inviting each other to take a lead or engage in call-and-respond techniques. You don't hear something like this in rock music. Diabate's tinkling kora (like the higher regions of a harp) corresponds very well with the fingerpicking of Toure's guitar and even don't need the addition of Ry Cooder's piano and guitar on a few tracks. Nothing short of amazing!