Dr. Lonnie Smith is an unparalleled musician. An authentic guru of the Hammond B-3 organ for over five decades, his arrangements of songs reveal an R&B background as well as his affinity for funk and gospel. With a theatrical stage presence that wins over audiences, and a dynamic range and hard-grooving sound that blows their minds, Dr. Lonnie Smith is the hippest Hammond B-3 organist on the scene today.

With a velvety West African French–accented baritone, guitarist and vocalist Lionel Loueke exudes a seductive effortlessness. He can play fast and loud, but it’s nearly impossible to imagine him ever fretting over a difficult passage. His music smolders with controlled intensity; clicking and whistling with his vocals and tapping and scratching his guitar, all while carefully orchestrating loops and harmonizing effects. Praised by his mentor Herbie Hancock as “a musical painter,” Loueke combines harmonic complexity, soaring melody, and a deep knowledge of African folk forms, with extended guitar techniques to create a warm and evocative sound never before heard.

This rare pairing combines the music of West Africa with African American music and jazz in unexpected and exciting ways.