Excellent, fun, and worth buying even for a non jazz fan
To preface this review, I am not a jazz fan. I have very little exposure to Jazz, don't own other Jazz CDs, and don't listen to Jazz regularly. I found out about this CD when NPR did and interview with Dee Dee, during which they played a couple of the tracks. I was immediately entranced by Dee Dee's amazing voice, and by the sheer energy and joy present in the music. After some consideration, I decided to buy the CD and try something new. I am so glad I did. This CD is amazing. The music is powerful, entertaining, and thankfully accessible to an inexperienced Jazz listener like myself. I've always thought of jazz as something I should like, but that might take a lot of work to appreciate. This CD changed my mind, and I may dip my toes in a little deeper...

My favorite tracks are 'Bad Spirits," "Oh My Love," and "Afro Blue." All of the tracks are enjoyable, and I like to put them on as background music for a party, or on high quality headphones to combat a bad mood. I find it interesting that Red Earth plays as well when I'm specifically listening to it with all my focus as it does as ambiance.

I'll be checking out more of Dee Dee in the near future. If you're a huge jazz fan, there's nothing I can say that you don't already know. If however you are like and have little exposure, buy the CD. It's definitely worthy of your time.

COLOURFUL WORLD ETHNIC MUSIC WITH STRENGTH AND ROBUSTNESS
Among the best world-ethnic albums for this decade colourful and very strong in musical expression .OUMOU SANGARE, EDSEL GOMEZ ,BABA SISSOKO ,are some of the big names which collaborate with DEE DEE in RED EARTH .An excellent recording which will cover with the most satisfying way everybody s thirst for SUPERFINE WORLD ETHNIC MUSIC .FULL OF ENJOYMENT.

Became a Fan of Bridgewater on a Plane
I had never heard of Dee Dee Bridgewater, and then on a long plane ride Red Earth was one of the available albums for listening. I went nuts. I ordered it as soon as I got home. The mix of sounds and styles are terrific and Bridgewater's strong voice and stylizing are among the best. She's a real star.

Specatular!
Absolutely gorgeous album combining Malian traditional music with vocal Jazz and Blues. Bridgewater is absolutely a trail-blazer and this album puts her way out in front. The musicians featured on the cd are the top in their field. The vocalists bring an authenticity and fullness of sound that makes each song an adventurous journey. By far, this is Dee Dee's best album to date. It is bold, vibrant and rich...just like Mali, just like Dee Dee.

Softer than on FM
I personally was introduced to this CD on an FM radio that broadcasted Four Women. The radio version was much more energetic than the CD. Still, quite good Jazz