I did a search and hadn't seen this posted. I'm streaming Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart at my desk on Netflix. It's a documentary about Bela Fleck taking his banjo to Africa and playing along with traditional instruments. No CBGs, but very interesting. Worth watching if you have Netflix account.
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I just saw this on Netflix. Yes, the giant xylophone played by 30 guys is so cool! Also the two banjo-like instruments, which of course, I can't remember the names of now. Ok, I looked it up - I think they were the akonting and ngoni - basically, half of a dried gourd with an animal skin nailed to the top and a broomstick sized stick through it for a neck. The strings seemed to be modern nylon, not a traditional gut. The thumb pianos were also amazing. I have no idea how you would play a very complicated rhythm line and be able to sing to it at the same time like they were doing.
okay, watched the video about a week ago. We thought it was very cool, one thought though while watching it. Maybe some African can get dropped of in the middle of the Appalachian county with a translator and get in touch with local music.
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Naz Nomad said:
That was pretty amazing. I just finished watching/listening. The studio session at the end was great.