★★★★★
Commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, The Impostor is Béla Fleck's 2011 genre-bending concerto extravaganza. Fleck is the latest of the modern bluegrass virtuosos to add concerto composer to his résumé, though he's performed with various symphonies throughout his banjo career. The Impostor serves as a three-piece journey paralleling Fleck's approach to his instrument...
- www.relix.com
2013-12-11
★★★★★
Outtakes worth preserving, but the great lost keepers do dry up as the banjo takes over ("Chant," "Spirit Song").
- www.robertchristgau.com
2010-08-25
★★★★★
Béla Fleck Throw Down Your Heart Docurama Films 2009 With Throw Down Your Heart Rounder, 2009), banjo revolutionary Béla Fleck took his instrument full circle, back to Africa where the instrument originated. The third in his ongoing Tales from the Acoustic Planet series, it was the end result of a 2005, five-week trip to four African countries where Fleck met with local musicians, playing and exchanging ideas and values?musical and otherwise...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2010-08-20
★★★★★
Track Listing: 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...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2009-11-19
★★★★★
Despite what one justifiably fears from the white-hand-on-black-hand photo that effectively authenticates the booklet, the banjo fusioneer's musical tourism stands firmly on the delightful side of cute for two thirds of a generous CD...
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-09-19
★★★★★
Pioneering banjo player Bela Fleck describes his new album, Outbound, as "a party with people from different cultures all hanging out." In a nutshell, that could be the mantra for Fleck's entire career. Over the last 20 years Fleck has taken sounds and styles from around the globe and given them his own left of center spin through his extraterrestrial banjo playing. At this point, Fleck doesn't have to prove to anyone that he's a virtuoso player and a master innovator...
- www.popmatters.com
2009-03-21
★★★★★
Pioneering banjo player Bela Fleck describes his new album, Outbound, as "a party with people from different cultures all hanging out." In a nutshell, that could be the mantra for Fleck's entire career. Over the last 20 years Fleck has taken sounds and styles from around the globe and given them his own left of center spin through his extraterrestrial banjo playing. At this point, Fleck doesn't have to prove to anyone that he's a virtuoso player and a master innovator...
- www.popmatters.com
2009-03-20