Lionel Loueke Trio
ft. Jeff Ballard and Linley Marthe (BEN/USA)

Lionel Loueke is a guitar virtuoso known for his captivating performances and distinctive musical language, which brings together jazz, West African musical traditions, and a host of other influences. On this tour, he performs as part of a trio, joined by the exceptional drummer and percussionist Jeff Ballard, renowned for his layered rhythmic approach and irresistible grooves, and acclaimed bassist Linley Marthe, known, among other things, for his work with the Joe Zawinul Syndicate.

These three distinctive musicians create a musical dialogue full of energy, interplay, and unexpected moments. Loueke’s original guitar playing meets Ballard’s colourful rhythms and Marthe’s distinctive, dynamic bass sound. The concert celebrates an upcoming album on which Loueke pays tribute to the music of his native Benin. Expect an evening drawing on a wealth of musical traditions and genres—and promising a captivating experience for jazz enthusiasts and live-music lovers alike.

Starting out on vocals and percussion, Lionel Loueke picked up the guitar late, at age 17. After his initial to exposure to jazz in Benin, he left to attend the National Institute of Art in nearby Ivory Coast. In 1994 he left Africa to pursue jazz studies at the American School of Modern Music in Paris, then went to the U.S. on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. From there, Loueke gained acceptance to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, where he encountered his Gilfema bandmates Biolcati, Nemeth, Parlato and other musicians with whom he would form lasting creative relationships.

In 2008 and 2009, Lionel Loueke was picked as top Rising Star guitarist in DownBeat magazine's annual Critics Poll. Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as "a musical painter," Lionel Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, a deep knowledge of African music, and conventional and extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound of his own. JazzTimes wrote “Loueke's lines are smartly formed and deftly executed. His ear-friendly melodicism draws both from traditional African sources and a lifetime of closely studying the likes of Jim Hall and George Benson, and his rhythmic shifts come quickly and packed with surprises.”

Lionel Loueke – g; Linley Marthe – b; Jeff Ballard – dr.

Admission: special ‘Christmas’ price until 31 December – 1,600 CZK for seated tickets, 800 CZK for standing tickets; until 11 May – 1,800 CZK for seated tickets, 900 CZK for standing tickets; and on the day of the concert – 2,000 CZK for seated tickets, 1,000 CZK for standing tickets. VIP admission: 2,300 Kč (seats by the stage in direct contact with the band). When purchasing a seat ticket, it is no longer necessary to reserve a seat. Club discounts do not apply to this concert. Thank you for your understanding.

Band website: www.lionellouekemusic.com