In the Heart of the Moon

Touré and the kora player Toumani Diabaté recorded the album in July 2004 in the room called Toit de Bamako on top of the Hôtel Mandé, without rehearsal. Nick Gold produced it, Jerry Boys recorded and mixed it, and additional recording was done at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, Studio Bogolan in Bamako and Egrem Studios in Havana. Ry Cooder plays piano on two tracks and guitar on another, and Cachaíto López plays bass. The title comes from Touré: "A very important meeting in the realm at the heart of the moon."

It won Best Traditional World Music Album at the 48th Grammy Awards, a month before Touré died. The Guardian called the album an exquisite selection of gently virtuoso duets, and in June 2005 Touré and Diabaté played together at the Barbican in London. Pitchfork noted that this album and Savane were recorded at the same sessions.