Lionel Loueke signs to Edition Records.
Friday, June 19, 2020
Guitarist, vocalist and composer Lionel Loueke has signed to the British label Edition Records. "HH", his debut release for the label will see him re-imagining the music of Herbie Hancock.
We have received the following press release fro Edition Records;
Lionel Loueke Signs to Edition
We’re thrilled to announce the signing of legendary guitarist Lionel Loueke to Edition Records. In October, Lionel will release his brand new album ‘HH’ - re-imagining the music of his friend and mentor, Herbie Hancock. A collection of Herbie’s music as you’ve never heard it before from one the most in-demand guitarists on the planet!
The remarkable, distinctive and singularly unique guitarist and composer Lionel Loueke releases his new album for Edition Records, titled HH, performing music of his long-term mentor, the legendary Herbie Hancock, in October 2020. Known for his ability to “transform the guitar into a virtual Afro-Western orchestra” (Jazz Times), he is a musician who transcends genre to create unparalleled sounds. In a deeply personal tribute, Lionel takes Herbie’s best-known compositions (including Cantaloupe Island, Watermelon Man and Rock It), and creates something entirely fresh and new.
Never has Herbie’s music been played like this!
Lionel Loueke on signing to Edition Records:
“I am excited to work with Edition Records on this personal album. It’s like joining a musical family since some of my friends like Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jeff Ballard, Zakir, and many more, are already on the label. I really like the way Edition records listen to the artist first, with a professional and artistic guidance.
I have been playing with The Master Herbie Hancock for more than 15 years, and still it wasn’t easy to work on his music because the originals are already so beautiful and he keeps developing them every time we play on stage. The challenge was to put my own imprints on these masterpieces. To rethink them with my touch on it. He is my mentor and I feel very lucky to be part of his musical journey. It’s a gift to learn that much from him - humanly, spiritually and musically speaking.
Being from Benin in West Africa, I carry in my playing the curve of my life. As we are going through a rough time, with the Coronavirus pandemic, I can say that Love, Humanity, Spirituality and Music give me Freedom and Hope on a daily basis - and those are lessons I learnt from Herbie. This project is beyond music in other words. It was a need for me to play his music.”