Lean In (album)
| Lean In | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 19 May 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2–4 March 2022 | |||
| Studio | Lucy's Meat Market, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 45:02 | |||
| Label | Edition EDN1216 | |||
| Producer | Lionel Loueke, Gretchen Parlato | |||
| Lionel Loueke chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz | [1] |
| Jazzwise | [2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| Tom Hull | B+()[4] |
Lean In is a studio collaborative album by Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke and American jazz singer Gretchen Parlato.[5] The album was released on 19 May 2023 by Edition.[6]
Background
The album was conceived during the height of the pandemic as the two musicians exchanged musical ideas online from their respective homes in Luxembourg and Los Angeles. Just four months into this remote collaboration, Parlato and Loueke convened in a Los Angeles studio, completing the ensemble with bassist Burniss Travis and drummer Mark Guiliana.[7] The songs are performed in English, Portuguese, and Fon—the indigenous language of Benin. The 12 tracks weave together influences from pop and R&B classics, Afrobeat, and Brazilian music. The album includes original compositions, spontaneous improvisational interludes, and fresh reinterpretations of songs by artists such as the Foo Fighters.[8]
Lean In was nominated for Best jazz vocal album at the 66th Grammy® Awards.[9][10]
Reception
Peter Quinn of Jazzwise wrote: "This new duo album from Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke celebrates 20-plus years of musical connection and camaraderie... Parlato and Loueke's shared vision creates music that makes you move, touches the heart, and stirs the soul."[2] Neil Spencer of The Guardian stated: "Vocal duties are swapped and shared... Loueke provides vocal yips and clicks, Parlato sings with unshowy elan, always sensuous and involving, while the duo’s joint vocals on opener Akwe are positively joyous. A treat."[3] Peter Gamble of Jazz Journal added: "There is an undoubted charm about the duo of singer Gretchen Parlato and guitarist Lionel Loueke, whose friendship and association goes back 20 years. There is a West African slant to many of the tunes, the majority of them being Parlato or Loueke originals."[11]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Lionel Loueke and Gretchen Parlato except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Akwê" | Loueke | 4:59 |
| 2. | "I Miss You" | Lynn Malsby | 5:03 |
| 3. | "If I Knew" | 4:27 | |
| 4. | "Okagbé Interlude" | Loueke | 1:20 |
| 5. | "Astronauta" | Carlos Pingarilho, Marcos Vasconcellos | 4:54 |
| 6. | "Mi War Sé Interlude" | 0:58 | |
| 7. | "Muse" | 4:47 | |
| 8. | "Nonvignon" | 3:54 | |
| 9. | "Lean In" | 4:49 | |
| 10. | "Painful Joy" | 4:16 | |
| 11. | "Dù Wé Interlude" | 1:13 | |
| 12. | "Walking After You" | Dave Grohl | 4:30 |
| Total length: | 45:02 | ||
Personnel
Band
- Gretchen Parlato – voice, percussion
- Lionel Loueke – guitar, voice, percussion
Guest Personnel
- Mark Guiliana – drums, percussion (tracks 2 3 6 7 9 11 12)
- Burniss Travis – electric bass (tracks 3 6 11)
- Marley Guiliana – voice (tracks 3 6 12)
- Lisa Loueke – voice (track 3)
References
- ^ Leonardi, Angelo (5 June 2023). "Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke: Lean In album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ a b Quinn, Peter. "Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke: Lean In". Jazzwise. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ a b Spencer, Neil (29 April 2023). "Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke: Lean In review – a winning partnership between old friends". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Gretchen Parlato". Tom Hull. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ "Lean In - Gretchen Parlato | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke | Lean In". Edition Records. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (17 May 2023). "'Lean In' by Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke Review: A Dexterous Jazz Duo". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Feibel, Adam (22 March 2023). "Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke pair up on Lean In". JAZZ.FM91. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Bardowell, Dannielle (13 December 2023). "GRAMMY NEWS: Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke Earn GRAMMY® Nomination for 'Lean In' (Edition Records)". LYDIALIEBMAN.COM. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ "2024 GRAMMYs: See The Full Winners & Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
- ^ Gamble, Peter (7 July 2023). "Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke: Lean In". Jazz Journal. Retrieved 28 November 2025.