Dienstag, 13. Jan 2009, 23:19

From my review at rvajazz.com:

Sat 10 Jan – Lionel Loueke Trio @ Jazz Standard

Guitarist Lionel Loueke is capable of a plethora of tones and timbres with his instrumental combination of guitar, voice, and effects. Beginning the set at Jazz Standard on Saturday night with the title track from his latest release, Karibu, Loueke's voice and guitar melded into an African herald. Singing bass in unison to a mixed-meter thumbed guitar riff while adding clicking vocal percussion, Loueke immediately captivated the audience and quickly caught those not familiar with his background and music up to speed. On point into the groove came Swiss-Italian bassist Massimo Biolcati and Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth with African style and Caribbean subtleties. Nemeth, like Loueke, layered subdivisions on top of one another until the groove was a flowing and syncopated stream. The trio is playful and persuasive, often times prodding at each other with a grin to develop an idea. Within "Seven Teens," named for the distribution of beats in the main phrase as 4+6+4+3, Loueke played duo with each band mate, navigating the phrase's map with ease and style. An effect on the band leader's vocal mic expelled harmonies based on the chord fingered on guitar. A whole choir seemed to join the band, even when Loueke jokingly played with the effect, expanding the group's already lusciously full sound.