“Rossignol” (2007) – Lionel Loueke * Written by Lionel Loueke * LP: Virgin Forest * Produced by Robert Sadin * Label: Obliq Sound
On his 2007 Virgin Forest album, guitarist Lionel Luoeke mixes his West African roots and his jazz chops into an especially fine purée. As you can hear on this track, the sound is entrancing and organic, featuring chanted vocals that could be sung in Fon or French—the prevalent languages in his native Benin. If Loueke were simply singing from a lexicon of his own invention, though, he would get your attention. (The female voice on “Rossingol” and others on the album belong to Gretchen Parlato.) Loueke is currently based in New York City.