Featured Tunes: Lionel Loueke

It’s not everyday that legends of jazz Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter line up to play on a debut album, but that’s just what happened with jazz guitar player and vocalist Lionel Loueke on his new album Karibu. We know a good thing when we hear it and Lionel’s guitar chops and vocal stylings, which are gently percussive and melodic at the same time, are stunning. Originally from Benin (a small country in West Africa), he combines a deep understanding of traditional African folk music and the jazz technique of musicians like George Benson and Wes Montgomery. After working as a musician in Africa for several years (his brother played guitar with Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade), he moved from Paris to Boston to deepen his study of Jazz and to attend the Berklee College of Music. He went on to attend the world-renowned Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in LA, where Mr. Hancock quickly spotted this rising star (and we're oh-so-thankful!). We'll let the music speak for itself - the following video is quick introduction from Lionel himself.