It is patently obvious that the Massimo Biolcati-produced Three by meta guitar/vocals-bass-drums trio Gilfema is a 5-star album. Truth be told I do not want to switch it off.

This new one is full of absorbing tunes, there is a real lilting warmth to the sound and a lot of interplay between the three developing in often surprising and engrossing ways.

The band soaked in Afrojazz and a deep understanding of the blues splicing it all with a progressive jazz sensibility delivered in the moment, a masterclass in flow (eg on the new record especially the jaw dropping 'Algorythm and Blues'), came together at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz under the musical direction of Terence Blanchard and Herbie Hancock, Lionel Loueke subsequently joining both Blanchard and Herbie's bands and gifting the world 'Benny's Tune.'

Gilfema recorded a brace of well received albums and later became the Lionel Loueke Trio for a decade of music together recording on Blue Note.

Tunes are: Têkê (L. Loueke) 5:19; Little Wing (J. Hendrix) 3:24; Lé (L. Loueke) 3:07; Happiness (Ferenc Nemeth) 3:30; 13th Floor to Heaven (L. Loueke, M. Biolcati) 5:22; Brio (L. Loueke, M. Biolcati) 3:29; Fleuve Congo (L. Loueke) 2:32; Algorythm and Blues (L. Loueke, M. Biolcati) 4:58; Dear J.L. (L. Loueke) 4:52; Aflao (L. Loueke) 4:45; Left Undone (L. Loueke, M. Biolcati) 5:16; Requiem for a Soul (F. Nemeth) 4:09; Until (M. Biolcati) 3:23. What Loueke is doing on 'Happiness' is ridiculous, playing on top of a load of polyrhythms. An extremely beautiful record. Immerse yourself in every track and sweat all the detail particularly if you are a student of the music and think about transcribing big portions of Three. More via the Sounderscore website. SG