gretchen parlato

Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke, Lean In

Self-proclaimed “musical soulmates,” Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke celebrate 20 years of friendship and collaboration on their duo album Lean In. Pulling from both of their strengths, this record offers a feast…

Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke, “Lean In”
Did any disc offer more pure pleasure, track by track, than this gem from the Benin-born guitarist Lionel Loueke and the American singer Gretchen Parlato?  Singing in English, Portuguese, and the indigenous Fon…

Gretchen Parlato's latest work is a collaborative album with her ally, genius guitarist Lionel Loueke, and finally realized after 20 years.

In her latest work, Gretchen Parlato has evolved musically as an artist from her previous work "Flor", and since…

The Week in Jazz, Jazziz Magazine
Lean In is a joyful yet soothing fusion of Gretchen Parlato’s love for Brazilian music and Loueke’s West African roots, as well as the first duo collaboration between the two celebrated musicians. Aside from…

by Steph Cosme, Staccatofy, June 5, 2023

Lean In captures the multifaceted brilliance of Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke, a blend of unique musical, linguistic diversity, and genre-fluid artistry. This album serves as a beacon of creative exploration, weaving…

By Angelo Leonardi, All About Jazz, June 5, 2023

Gretchen Parlato's sophisticated interpretations are underpinned by lively musical imagination and Loueke's imaginative instrumental contributions are a key stimulus.

The recording collaborations between the Los Angeles vocalist and the Benin guitarist…

By Will Layman, Pop Matters, 31 May 2023

Has there ever been a more natural musical pairing than Lionel Loueke and Gretchen Parlato? Loueke is a guitarist and singer from Benin who has been playing jazz in the United…

By Geno Thackara, All About Jazz, May 27, 2023  

The closeness is on display from the first minute, where the duo weave a catchy lead melody and begin scatting their way through the opener in flighty but clearly honed unison.…

“lifts the spirits like helium inside rubber balloons”

Parlato & Loueke offer the listener a contemporary duet, blending two individually talented artists with a collaboration that…

by Barney Whittaker, Prestomusic, May 19, 2023

Like all great friendships, there is a certain vulnerability reflected in this music… the warmth and reciprocity of this shared musical creation is a testament to the strong bonds made between friends and…

by Jim Hynes, Making a Scene, May 20, 2023

Only synergistic, like-minded musicians could craft an album so rich in rhythms, textures and harmonies through the use of so few instruments.

Although the duo of vocalist-arranger Gretchen Parlato and guitarist-vocalist …

by Craig Byrd, Cultural Attaché

Lean In - Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke

Vocalist/songwriter Parlato and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Loueke team up for this album of 12 songs – most of them composed by Loueke and Parlato. There are a couple of…

- John Fordham, The Guardian, May 19, 2023

The long rapport between unique American vocalist Gretchen Parlato and frequent Herbie Hancock guitar partner Lionel Loueke illuminates the alluring Lean In (Edition). Loueke’s Benin roots on the joyously buoyant Akwê, Parlato’s…

by Chris Baber, Jazz Views, May 18, 2023

Parlato’s husky vocals finding sympathetic accompaniment in Loueke’s guitar and voice. At times, Loueke’s plucked guitar takes on the timbre of a kora or other traditional stringed instruments. At other times, his…

By Martin Johnson, Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2023

The less-is-more approach is as old as music itself, but very few performers on the contemporary jazz scene are as accomplished at it as Ms. Parlato and Mr. Loueke.

Vocalist and…

Radio France, may 17, 2023

A highly anticipated collaboration between vocalist Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke, "Lean In" tells the story of 20 years of connection, inspiration and friendship between two kindred spirits in music. 

» hear tracks &…

With Lean In, American singer Gretchen Parlato and Benin-born guitarist Lionel Loueke celebrate musical cultures in a successful pairing where they complement each other on 12 absorbing cuts. This session, a response to pandemic…

by Thierry De Clemensat, Bayou Blue News,  Paris Move

“no superlative would be powerful enough to describe it. …Joe Zawinul and his group Weather Report paved the way for joyful cultural blends, which are only mastered by the greatest…