Praised by mentor Herbie Hancock as “a musical painter,” jazz guitarist Lionel Loueke combines harmonic sophistication, soaring melody, knowledge of African music, and exceptional guitar techniques to create a warm, evocative sound of his own. Born in Benin, West Africa, Loueke began his studies at the National Institute of Art in Ivory Coast, and the American School of Modern Music in Paris. He came to the U.S. on a Berklee scholarship. This performance, a partnership between First Night, Berklee and 89.7 WGBH, will be broadcast live in Boston on 89.7 and on stations all over the country as part of NPR’s “Toast of the Nation.”