Karibu is his major label debut but you may have come across him and his regular sidemen, bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Ferenc Nemeth as a trio Gilfema who released an album on contemporary jazz/house label oddity ObliqSound.

Nemeth is from Hungary and Biolcati is a Sweden-born Italian who met up with Loueke at Berklee and later went onto to do post-graduate work at the Monk Institute (being handpicked by no less than Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter).

So who are these two guests; ney legends? No surprise that Herbie Hancock is one. He joins in on a track called ‘Seven Teens’ and joins is the word as he turns in a typical piano performance that doesn’t outdo the other musicians (well he does a little but he is Mr. Hands).

Loueke’s style of West African modal/avant-guard gypsy guitar and minimal Bobby McFerrin style scat vocal improvisations are truly as beautiful as they are emotional. The version of the Carmichael-Mercer ‘Skylark’ is a glorious songbird of a track (compared with Sonny Rollin’s version on Milestone Profiles) whilst the title track, ‘Karibu’ (the Swahili word meaning “welcome”) is a joyous upbeat shuffle.

On the subject of cover versions, what price Wayne Shorter on ‘Naima’? Well it’s different to Coltrane’s masterpiece and you know Shorter isn’t going to mess it up. It’s a good leftfield version but the tracks that get my vote are the freeform ‘Zala’ and the longest track of the set, the intricate ‘Light Dark’ that features both Shorter and Hancock.

For a more fusion guitar track, ‘Agbannon Blues’ is more in a early George Benson framework (the jazzy George) and the album ends with a kora-calypso-styled track called ‘Nonvignon’ with some ‘real’ singing.

So it’s a great mix of original compositions, re-interpretations of a couple of standards with the added bonus of a Afro-jazz impro viewpoint and two of the greatest jazz musicians ever makes this a special album, Blue Note are going through a bit of the purple patch at the moment after the recent Droppin’ Science break beat compilation, the Horace Silver Live At Newport ‘58 reissue and their other exciting trio led by Robert Glasper to name just three. OK, the cover artwork may not be as good as back in the 60s/70s but the quality is still Blue Note.

Reviewed: Lionel Loueke - Karibu (Blue Note) Cat. No.02465 Release Date; 25.03.08
Tracklisting
1. Karibu (6:52)
2. Seven Teens featuring Herbie Hancock (6:59)
3. Skylark (6:50)
4. Zala (6:33)
5. Naima featuring Wayne Shorter (7:08)
6. Benny’s Tune (6:11)
7. Light Dark featuring Herbie Hancock/Wayne Shorter (10:12)
8. Agbannon Blues (6:07)
9. Nonvignon (5:41)

Links
www.lionelloueke.com
www.myspace.com/lionelloueke
www.bluenote.com
www.obliqsound.com
Gilles Peterson :: 06 March 2008 :: Hot 8 Brass Band Maida Vale Session & Horace Silver Living Legend Mix
Gilles Peterson :: 13 March 2008 :: Tracks from There Will Be Blood soundtrack
Horace Silver - ‘Senor Blues’ (Live) (Blue Note Records)

“[Loueke] is one of the most striking jazz artists to emerge is some time… a spellbinding presence…a startlingly original voice… Karibu [is] his imaginative and vivid Blue Note debut.” —The New York Times

” …a solid showcase of a new Afro-jazz star who clearly will be with us for a long time.” —DownBeat

“Inventiveness has always been one of Lionel Loueke’s hallmarks… his daring imagination has made [Karibu] one of the year’s finest jazz releases.” —VIBE

” …an ear-opening delight…this year’s first major jazz revelation.” —Billboard

” …a bebop griot… Loueke is at a point in his career where he is no longer a mere talented young player, he is becoming a landmark.” —Bloomberg News

“The buzz-generating guitarist has journeyed a long way for his turn in the modern jazz spotlight, so rightfully deserved.” —PLANET°

“Globalize this, but don’t call it world music. Lionel Loueke is simply a spectacular composer and straight-on jazz artist who can sing and finger-pick a guitar unlike anybody else.” —ESSENCE.com