Lionel Loueke - The Journey (2018) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

A shooting star of the international jazz scene, a genius guitarist demanded by the greatest (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Sting, Chick Corea), Lionel Loueke is an extraordinary artist. His unique musical personality blends genres and influences, from traditional African rhythms to western jazz. In The Journey, his first solo album for the label Aparté, he sings, vocalises, clicks his tongue, slaps his guitar strings, draws from funk, reaches out for the most unexpected harmonics and unfolds an incredible palette of sounds, like a one-man orchestra. Surrounded by impressive guests from all horizons (Pino Palladino, Patrick Messina, Vincent Ségal, Mark Feldman, Cyro Baptista…) under the direction of maestro Robert Sadin, multiple Grammy Award winner, Loueke delivers here his most personal record. From hopeful ballads (Molika, Kába) to irresistible rhythms (Gbê, Dark Lightning), this journey has an invigorating perfume of freedom.

Tracklist:
1. Bouriyan 03:13
2. Molika 03:54
3. Bawo 03:57
4. Vi Gnin 05:37
5. Mandé 04:24
6. Kába 04:36
7. Dark Lightning 02:18
8. Vivi 03:18
9. Hope 05:47
10. Gbê 03:48
11. Gbêdetemin 04:05
12. Guira 00:29
13. Okagbé 02:32
14. Reflections on Vi Gnin 02:26
15. The Healing 02:21

Personnel:
Pino Palladino, bass
Cyro Baptista, percussion
John Ellis, soprano saxophone
Vincent Ségal, cello
Patrick Messina, clarinet
Mark Feldman, violin
Massimo Biolcati, bass
Ferenc Nemeth, percussion
Étienne Charles, trumpet, percussion
Dramane Dembélé peul, flute
Christi Joza Orisha, percussion
Robert Sadin, soundscape