Guitarist Lionel Loueke has earned an international reputation for blending jazz with West African flavors. Born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1973, Loueke played percussion as a child, but in his teens he took up guitar and developed a fascination with jazz. He eventually came to study music in the U.S., where he became an in-demand guitarist in the 2000s, working with Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Haden, and tons of other jazz notables. Loueke released his first solo album in 2005 but gained his widest exposure from his string of albums on Blue Note between 2008 and 2015. He’s equally masterly solo or with a band, putting the musical inflections of his homeland into a post-bop framework. But his one-man performances are especially unique, incorporating harmonics and effects pedals to help create a whole world of sound.