Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke

They have performed together for more than twenty years and finally team up now for a record on the briliant Edition Records from the UK. Both have individually released their latest records on Edition, too: Gretchen with “Flor” in 2021, and Lionel with his Herbie Hancock solo tribute “HH” in 2020, with its 6-track remix EP “HH Reimagined” with Gilles Peterson last year. “Lean In” is an album about healing, deep trust, love and family. They are joined on this project by family members and friends Mark and Marley Guiliana (Mark is Gretchen’s husband), Lisa Loueke, and Burniss Travis.

First single off the album just came out: remember “I Miss You” by all-female funk band Klymaxx? The group’s 1984 ballad, written by Lynn Malsby, from their “Meeting In The Ladies Room” LP, was a huge pop hit. Both Gretchen and Lionel strip it even further down and put their Brazilian/West African stamp on the track with stupendous percussion and handclap work. Check it out below. It’s a wonderful interpretation.

“Lean In” will be released on May 19th, including vinyl!