GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Lionel Loueke brings his unique combination of jazz guitar and African roots influences to the Glenwood Springs Summer of Jazz stage in Two Rivers Park tonight.
The third in the summer concert series begins at 7 p.m. at the park pavilion.
Loueke joins local jazz aficionado and KDNK disc jockey Wick Moses for a concert preview discussion from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Center on Blake Avenue. Cost for the drop-in session is $8 per person.
“Loueke has used the many remarkable musical experiences of his 34 years to create his own unique sound as a guitarist, composer, and bandleader,” according to Loueke's website (www.lionelloueke.com).
His journey has taken him through hardship growing up in the West African country of Benin and across three continents to pursue his jazz studies. He has mentored with music legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard, and eventually landed with the most famous jazz record label in the world, Blue Note.
Born in Benin to parents that he describes as “intellectual,” he said “music was part of everyday life, but not in the family,” according to his website biography.
An older brother did play guitar, however, and was part of a band that played Afro-Pop music in the style of Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade.
“I remember when I was 11 or 12 … just looking at him playing, listening to the music,” he says. When Loueke was 17, his brother finally let him try his guitar, and he quickly realized that he had a great facility for the instrument.
The third in the summer concert series begins at 7 p.m. at the park pavilion.
Loueke joins local jazz aficionado and KDNK disc jockey Wick Moses for a concert preview discussion from noon to 1 p.m. today at the Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Center on Blake Avenue. Cost for the drop-in session is $8 per person.
“Loueke has used the many remarkable musical experiences of his 34 years to create his own unique sound as a guitarist, composer, and bandleader,” according to Loueke's website (www.lionelloueke.com).
His journey has taken him through hardship growing up in the West African country of Benin and across three continents to pursue his jazz studies. He has mentored with music legends such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard, and eventually landed with the most famous jazz record label in the world, Blue Note.
Born in Benin to parents that he describes as “intellectual,” he said “music was part of everyday life, but not in the family,” according to his website biography.
An older brother did play guitar, however, and was part of a band that played Afro-Pop music in the style of Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade.
“I remember when I was 11 or 12 … just looking at him playing, listening to the music,” he says. When Loueke was 17, his brother finally let him try his guitar, and he quickly realized that he had a great facility for the instrument.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
