Obliqsound
2006
Virgin Forest
About This Album
Lionel Loueke's West African roots are displayed fully on this recording with his regular mates Ferenc Nemeth (drums/percussion) and Massimo Biolcati (bass). Featured artists on several tracks are percussionist Cyro Baptista and vocalist Gretchen Parlato, the alluring singer's bossa-tinged, soaring, or bird-like sounds a perfect complement for Loueke's understated throat work. Pay attention to Parlato in the future; she's a special artist. Of the selections, six are coupled with short ritual vocal/percussion preludes (one postlude) that segue into the main compositions. Of these pieces, one is quite reminiscent of sweet Brazilian master troubadour Milton Nascimento, another in 6/8 (a favored rhythm of Loueke) is centered in modal minimalism, another is a highlife tune, and a fourth has Loueke's late-night guitar sounding more like a kora, while a trio number "Benny's Tune" is the closest to mainstream jazz, and quite reminiscent of Kenny Burrell's sparse sound. A virtuoso musician, Loueke displays harmonics on the perky two-minute "Danse des Animaux," uses melodica on the shortie "Dispute des Loupes," and showcases the harmonica of Gregoire Maret for the ballad "Moesha I.
Track List (try tracks 2,4,6,8,9,10,12,14,15,16 and 18)

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