Gilfema is a band. That is somewhat rare in jazz, where most successful combos support a leader, or occasionally co-leaders. Although sometimes all three members of Gilfema perform together as the Lionel Loueke Trio, under this band name, they do things the cooperative way, which is reflected in the even distribution of composing duties on their second release, Gilfema + 2.
If you accompanied Gilfema on tour, you would hear a lot of highly melodic, upbeat jazz built atop various grooves and world music influences. Guitarist and vocalist Loueke hails from the West African nation of Benin where the official language is French. Bassist Massimo Biolcati is Swedish-Italian and drummer Ferenc Nemeth is Hungarian.
Where did they meet? New York City, of course. For G+2, the trio added two clarinets, Anat Cohen from Israel, and John Ellis, playing the bass variety.
Right from the introductory notes of Loueke’s Twins, G+2 has a fresh, clean sound. Here the composer’s vocals sound great layered above the deep rich clarinets. Nemeth’s Question of Perspective nicely employs voice, guitar, and clarinet in unison, for another very hummable up-tempo track. For infectious funk though, Loueke’s Your World lays down the most addictive groove of the CD. A monumental track, it’s definitely a highlight of the release.
Consistently melodic and buoyant, G+2 is probably at its most subdued on Biolcati’s cool-toned “One Mind’s Eye” and Nemeth’s relaxed Morning Dew, while Salome probably uses the darkest aural colors of “G+2,” allowing ample space for a bass solo from the composer. Despite some down-beat numbers, the session is mostly an upbeat, high energy affair, as on Festa, which almost has a pseudo-calypso thing going on, capped off by a cool little coda from Loueke.
Incorporating a bit of highlife and bit of jam band, the Gilfema plays jazz you can dance to. In a way, they are heirs to African Jazz great Hugh Masekela, at least during his funky but still legit years on the Chisa label (before the disco abominations).
Though Loueke is undoubtedly the best known of the three, all have recorded under their own names (including Biolcati’s recent debut as a leader on Persona, also on ObliqSound). They form a cohesive unit on G+2 seamlessly integrating the two guest clarinets into the mix. It all makes for a really distinct sound, as they create music that is actually fun to listen to.
Joe Bendel blogs on jazz and cultural issues at http://jbspins.blogspot.com, and coordinated the Jazz Foundation of America’s instrument donation campaign for musicians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
