Originally from the small West African nation of Benin, guitarist Lionel Loueke has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past several years. In 2008 and 2009, he was picked as top Rising Star guitarist in Down Beat magazine’s annual Critics Poll. His sophomore release for Blue Note, Mwaliko, follows up 2007’s acclaimed Karibu with a series of searching, innovative, intimate duets with Angelique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona and Marcus Gilmore.
— Last.fm
Why This Artist
Lionel Loueke's listeners explore deep into the catalog, not just the hits — top 8% for catalog depth. Only 4K platform followers, but 36K listeners — discovery outpaces the fanbase. A jazz act in the sonic world of Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny.
Sounds Like
Wes Montgomery · Pat Metheny · Vulfpeck · Inner Wave · Herbie Hancock