Gilfema

Led by up-and-coming West African guitarist Lionel Loueke (who's played with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Charlie Haden, among others), Gilfema re-envisions American jazz through an African lens, and the results are to die for. Loueke, who's already renowned for his guitar technique and innovative use of effects, ditches the trickery for this trio, opting instead for an organic guitar tone that's richly underpinned by Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth and Italian-Swede Massimo Biolcati's supple, sophisticated bass.