Although their geographical roots are spread out on the map, one listen to Gilfema leaves the distinct impression that guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke (from Benin, West Africa), Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth, and Swedish-Italian bassist Massimo Biolcati were destined to find one another. Gilfema has released just two albums -- the group's self-titled 2005 debut and now their new 2008 release Gilfema + 2, featuring the trio plus guest clarinetists Anat Cohen and John Ellis -- yet their recordings project a sense of intuitiveness in their interactions that more commonly result from decades of playing together.

Since the group's debut album in 2005, all three artists have kept extremely busy. Nemeth and Biolcati have both released debut albums as leaders; Loueke has released three solo efforts, including Virgin Forest, his debut ObliqSound solo album featuring Herbie Hancock, Cyro Baptista, Gregoire Maret and Gretchen Parlato, which also won a 2008 Independent Music Award for best song, World Traditional; and all three musicians were featured on Loueke's major label debut this year on Blue Note, called Karibu. All of Gilfema have toured the world with some of the biggest names in jazz, most notably, Loueke's star-making turns with Charlie Haden, Terence Blanchard and now as a touring member of recent Grammy-winner Herbie Hancock's band.

The group's name Gilfema--extracted from Lionel GILles Loueke (his friends and family call him Gilles), FErenc Nemeth and MAssimo Biolcati--is intended to emphasize the collaborative nature of the music created under this moniker. The sound of three vibrant cultures flows as one over an open tributary of jazz, effortlessly casting spells with compositions as intricate and purposeful as they are soothing and meditative.