THROW DOWN YOUR HEART: THE AFRICA SESSIONS PART 2
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Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck is honored to continue exploring the instrument's roots in 2010 with the help of Bassekouye Kouyate, Anania Ngolia and John Kitime during the 33-city tour, Africa Project: Collaborations with Amazing African Musicians. All three musicians are featured on the 2010 Grammy-nominated album and award-winning documentary, Throw Down Your Heart.
The tour was conceived after the musicians collaborated on another album, the double disc effort Throw Down Your Heart: The Africa Sessions Part 2, Unreleased Tracks, which will be available February 2.
“Honestly, I ran out of time to finish the first album," says Bela. “This stuff needed to be heard! More of these great artists from the African continent will be brought into the light."
“The moment I heard Anania Ngoliga I knew we had to find him," hails Fleck, regarding the blind, singing Tanzanian thumb piano master who will be joined by guitarist John Kitime. “When we did, he exceeded my expectations, which were quite high."
One of the foremost ngoni players (essentially the banjo of Mali), Kouyate will be joined by his rocking band, Ngoni Ba. Their forthcoming album I Speak Fula (Next Ambiance / Sub Pop) will be released February 2, and features Toumani Diabate, Vieux Farka Toure and Kasse Mady Diabate.
Throw Down Your Heart is the 11-time Grammy winner's most ambitious project to date and has earned some of the best reviews of his career.
Bela Fleck & The Africa Project: Collaborations with Amazing African Musicians Tour
02/02/10 Tue Fort Lewis College Durango, CO
02/03/10 Wed Lensic Performing Arts Center Santa Fe, NM
02/04/10 Thu Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO
02/05/10 Fri Wheeler Opera House Aspen, CO
02/06/10 Sat Avalon Theatre Grand Junction, CO
02/08/10 Mon Boulder Theater Boulder, CO
02/10/10 Wed Granada Theater Dallas, TX
02/11/10 Thu Lyric Theatre Oxford, MS
02/12/10 Fri Lovett Auditorium Murray, KY
02/13/10 Sat Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS
02/14/10 Sun Canopy Club Urbana, IL
02/16/10 Tue House Of Blues Cleveland, OH
02/17/10 Wed Hill Auditorium Ann Arbor, MI
02/18/10 Thu Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium Athens, OH
02/19/10 Fri Clowes Memorial Hall Indianapolis, IN
02/20/10 Sat Holland Performing Arts Center Omaha, NE
02/21/10 Sun Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, IL
02/22/10 Mon Parrish Auditorium Hamilton, OH
02/24/10 Wed Grand Opera House Wilmington, DE
02/25/10 Thu Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Storrs Mansfield, CT
02/26/10 Fri Grand Opera House Wilmington, DE
02/27/10 Sat Weis Center for the Performing Arts Lewisburg, PA
03/01/10 Mon Dominion-Chalmers United Church Ottawa, ON
03/02/10 Tue Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME
03/03/10 Wed Schwab Auditorium University Park, PA
03/04/10 Thu Jefferson Center Roanoke, VA
03/05/10 Fri Weinberg Center for the Arts Frederick, MD
03/06/10 Sat Rialto Center for the Performing Arts Atlanta, GA
03/08/10 Mon The Plaza Theatre Orlando, FL
03/09/10 Tue Sunrise Theatre Fort Pierce, FL
03/10/10 Wed Florida Theater Jacksonville, FL
03/11/10 Thu Bama Theater Tuscaloosa, AL
03/12/10 Fri Orange Peel Asheville, NC
Complete Bela Fleck tour dates available here.
