Lean In is a studio collaborative album by Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke and American jazz singer Gretchen Parlato. The album was released on by Edition.
The album was conceived during the height of the pandemic as the two musicians exchanged musical ideas online from their respective homes in Luxembourg and Los Angeles. Just four months into this remote collaboration, Parlato and Loueke convened in a Los Angeles studio, completing the ensemble with bassist Burniss Travis and drummer Mark Guiliana. The songs are performed in English, Portuguese, and FonâÂÂthe indigenous language of Benin. The 12 tracks weave together influences from pop and R&B classics, Afrobeat, and Brazilian music. The album includes original compositions, spontaneous improvisational interludes, and fresh reinterpretations of songs by artists such as the Foo Fighters.
Lean In was nominated for Best jazz vocal album at the 66th Grammyî Awards.
Peter Quinn of Jazzwise wrote: "This new duo album from Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke celebrates 20-plus years of musical connection and camaraderie... Parlato and Loueke's shared vision creates music that makes you move, touches the heart, and stirs the soul." Neil Spencer of The Guardian stated: "Vocal duties are swapped and shared... Loueke provides vocal yips and clicks, Parlato sings with unshowy elan, always sensuous and involving, while the duoâÂÂs joint vocals on opener Akwe are positively joyous. A treat." Peter Gamble of Jazz Journal added: "There is an undoubted charm about the duo of singer Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke, whose friendship and association goes back 20 years. There is a West African slant to many of the tunes, the majority of them being Parlato or Loueke originals."
Band
Guest Personnel