In the Heart of the Moon is an inspired collaboration from two of Malian music s most important artists, guitarist Ali Farka Toure and kora player Toumani Diabate. Although they originally planned to duet on just one track, their creativity could not be contained, and a complete album s worth of new material was recorded. There were no rehearsals, and performances were improvised from repertoire familiar to both men. With an electric atmosphere that was almost palpable, the album was recorded in three 2 hour sessions over consecutive days with a mobile studio at the Hotel Mande, on the banks of the Niger River in Bamako, Mali.