Lionel Loueke
Karibu
Blue Note Records
By George W. Harris

This is the Blue Note release by the guy who may be guiding guitar playing for the next generation of musicians. Cameroonian Lionel Loueke has been a sideman for years, honing his skills with Terence Blanchard and Herbie Hancock. Working here with his regular long time trio of Massimo Biolcati (b) and Ferenc Nemeth (d), with guest appearances by Hancock and Wayne Shorter, Loueke captures the essence of Africa’s polyrhythmic pulse with jazz’s spirit of improvisation. Standards like “Skylark” and “Benny’s Tune” are taken to the tropical rain forest for added richness, textures and exoticism. The interplay between the triomates is astounding; they bounce off each other like balls on a snooker table. Hancock’s piano musings give an extra dose of spaciousness on “Seven Teens”, and teams up with Shorter on “Nonvignon” to create some thought provoking quintet interplay. The enticing attraction to Loueke’s playing is that it can be appreciated for it’s rhythmic groove, or for it’s complicated dexterity. There is something for every level of musical interest. Get on the ground floor with this important guitarist, and look for him coming to town.