February 13, 2005:

Lionel Lueke, guitar and Aaron Goldberg, piano

An innovative jazz guitarist whose highly rhythmic, percussive technique adds a new dimension to straight-ahead jazz playing, Lionel Lueke was born in the west African country of Benin and first picked up percussion instruments before choosing guitar at the age of 17. He has studied at the National Institute of Art in Ivory Coast, the American School of Modern Music in Paris, the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. He has performed and recorded with Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Diane Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, and Wayne Shorter, among many others.

“Lionel certainly is a unique player and when you hear him it's hard to believe that all of that is coming out of his guitar and from his imagination and what a sweetheart of a human being he is. I'm sure that his humanity is at the root of it all.''

—Herbie Hancock

“ Lionel is one of the most unique voices in music and possesses great promise for inventing new directions in Jazz.''

—Terence Blanchard

Aaron Goldberg is a jazz pianist and composer based in New York City. He debuted in 1999 as a bandleader with Turning Point on the J. Curve Records label, and his second CD, Unfolding, was released in 2001.

In addition to leading his own ensemble, he is currently a member of Warner Brothers Recording Artist Joshua Redman's quartet.

"Selfless in all the right ways...doesn't set out to demonstrate virtuosity, speed or heat, though all three are at his disposal...remarkable."

—The New York Times