VIRTUOSITY AND TECHNIQUE, LIONEL LOUEKE CLOSES THE V EDITION OF GUITAR MASTERS

2009-03-20

VIRTUOSITY AND TECHNIQUE, LIONEL LOUEKE CLOSES THE V EDITION OF GUITAR MASTERS

The guitar of Lionel Loueke will end the V edition of Guitar Masters series. Next March 24th at 9:00 PM, this African guitarist, characterized for having one of the most personal voices of jazz, will perform in the Chamber Hall at Alfredo Kraus Auditorium.

Loueke has created his own sound as guitarist, composer and singer. He debuted with ‘Karibu’, a word from the Swahili language, meaning ‘welcome’; a perfect name for an album that invites listeners to the musical world of one of the most intimate voices of jazz. This work presents many aspects of Loueke, as the combination of percussion and his voice, with guitar and bass.

His story begins in Benin, a little country in western Africa, his parents were very intellectuals, one of his elder brothers played the guitar in a group, Loueke loved to listen to him. When he was seventeen, his brother allowed him to play his guitar, and he realized his little brother was very talented. Lionel started to play the traditional music of his country, as well as music from Nigeria, Congo, Zaire, Mali and Senegal. Finally he decided to become a professional and left Benin to attend The National Institute of Art in Côte d’Ivoire.

In 1994, Loueke left Africa and moved to Paris to study jazz in the American School of Modern Music. After his graduation, he gained a scholarship for Berklee, so he left Paris and moved to The United States of America. After he earned his degree in Berklee, Loueke was accepted in The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. This institute had a program that allowed students playing with great jazz musicians, between them his mentors: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard.

Even before getting his degree, Loueke joined the Blanchard Sextet, which allowed him to express himself as a composer and singer. When he left this assemble he was hired by Hancock to join his quartet, and recorded the album ‘River’, nominated to a Grammy. He has also recorded under his signature: ‘Space Time’, ‘Virgin Forest’ y ‘Gilfema’.

Tickets for the concert are available at: Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30 h, Monday to Friday; and from 10:00 to 14:00 h on Saturdays. By Internet at Cajatique - La Caja de Canarias and by calling: 902 405 504.

2009-03-20
VIRTUOSITY AND TECHNIQUE, LIONEL LOUEKE CLOSES THE V EDITION OF GUITAR MASTERS
	The guitar of Lionel Loueke will end the V edition of Guitar Masters series. Next March 24th at 9:00 PM, this African guitarist, characterized for having one of the most personal voices of jazz, will perform in the Chamber Hall at Alfredo Kraus Auditorium. Loueke has created his own sound as guitarist, composer and singer. He debuted with ‘Karibu’, a word from the Swahili language, meaning ‘welcome’; a perfect name for an album that invites listeners to the musical world of one of the most intimate voices of jazz. This work presents many aspects of Loueke, as the combination of percussion and his voice, with guitar and bass. His story begins in Benin, a little country in western Africa, his parents were very intellectuals, one of his elder brothers played the guitar in a group, Loueke loved to listen to him. When he was seventeen, his brother allowed him to play his guitar, and he realized his little brother was very talented. Lionel started to play the traditional music of his country, as well as music from Nigeria, Congo, Zaire, Mali and Senegal. Finally he decided to become a professional and left Benin to attend The National Institute of Art in Côte d’Ivoire. In 1994, Loueke left Africa and moved to Paris to study jazz in the American School of Modern Music. After his graduation, he gained a scholarship for Berklee, so he left Paris and moved to The United States of America. After he earned his degree in Berklee, Loueke was accepted in The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. This institute had a program that allowed students playing with great jazz musicians, between them his mentors: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard. Even before getting his degree, Loueke joined the Blanchard Sextet, which allowed him to express himself as a composer and singer. When he left this assemble he was hired by Hancock to join his quartet, and recorded the album ‘River’, nominated to a Grammy. He has also recorded under his signature: ‘Space Time’, ‘Virgin Forest’ y ‘Gilfema’. Tickets for the concert are available at: Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30 h, Monday to Friday; and from 10:00 to 14:00 h on Saturdays. By Internet at Cajatique - La Caja de Canarias and by calling: 902 405 504.