Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona and Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke have taken the New York scene by storm, catapulting to all-star status through their own innovative bands and prolific sideman work with the likes of Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard and many others among the jazz elite. In joining forces for this exclusive West Coast date, they take the next step in an extraordinary creative journey, forging a new “world-jazz” sound rooted in similar life paths: Both were born in Africa and educated in Paris; both possess gorgeous, pure voices; and both display overwhelming instrumental prowess. Certain to be one of the most memorable pairings of 2009.

"Imagine an artist with Jaco Pastorius's virtuosity, George Benson's vocal fluidity, Joao Gilberto's sense of song and harmony, all mixed up with African culture.”
—Los Angeles Times on Richard Bona

"A new Afro-jazz star who clearly will be with us for
a long time.”
—DownBeat on Lionel Loueke