Guitar / Vocals

Lionel Loueke

(1973–)

Benin

Lionel Loueke (b. 1973) — Guitar, Vocals. Led Karibu, Gaïa. Worked with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding.

A guitarist from the Republic of Benin in West Africa. His signature style involves making percussion sounds with his mouth while he plays guitar. Brought into the bands of both Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, he blends African rhythms with jazz vocabulary in a way that sounds completely natural.

Lionel Loueke's videos

Recorded in 2010 and later released as an archive video. Lionel LouekeLionel Louekeリオーネル・ルエケ's vocal clicks and extended guitar techniques are foregrounded — the West African-born guitarist's signature.

— Lionel Loueke: Tiny Desk Concert, Patrick Jarenwattananon, 2010

Videos featuring Lionel Loueke

Lionel LouekeLionel Louekeリオーネル・ルエケ, originally from Benin, has played in Herbie HancockHerbie Hancockハービー・ハンコック's groups since 2005, fusing West African rhythms with modern jazz guitar. His distinctive percussive clicks and harmonic-rich picking brought new timbres to jazz guitar.

— Possibilities, Herbie Hancock, 2014

Herbie Hancock

On 2008's Karibu, Lionel LouekeLionel Louekeリオーネル・ルエケ made his Blue Note leader debut. Herbie HancockHerbie Hancockハービー・ハンコック and Wayne ShorterWayne Shorterウェイン・ショーター guest, and the album includes tracks sung in his native Fon language.

— Lionel Loueke: Karibu, All About Jazz (Mark F. Turner), 2008