| Joe Locke | |
|---|---|
Joe Locke 2007, photo by Nadja von Massow |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | March 18, 1959 Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Vibraphone, Marimba |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | Wire Walker Music, also Omnitone, Origin Records, Sharp Nine Records, SteepleChase, E1 Entertainment (form. Koch Records) |
| Associated acts | Force of Four, Locke/Keezer Group, 4 Walls of Freedom |
| Website | www.joelocke.com |
Joseph Paul Locke (born March 18, 1959) is a US American jazz vibraphonist, composer, recording artist and educator.
Contents |
Locke was born in Palo Alto, California, but raised in Rochester, New York.[1] A self-taught improviser, he benefited from his early studies in classical percussion and composition at the Eastman School of Music with John Beck, Gordon Stout, Ted Moore and David Mancini.
The critical community continually cites Joe Locke for his artistic work. "There seems little doubt that Locke, with his ability to play cool and funky, heady and relaxed, is set to become the pre-eminent vibraphonist in jazz." (The Times, London) Joe has been voted the #1 vibist in DownBeat Magazine's Critic's Poll (TDWR) and Brazil's International Jazz Poll. Locke has recorded 20 CDs as a band leader, including the critically acclaimed "Moment to Moment", a tribute to the music of Henry Mancini. As producer and as a sideman, he appears on more than 65 recordings.
As a jazz musician, Locke was precocious, having played with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Pepper Adams and Mongo Santamaría before he was even out of high school. Since moving to New York City in 1981, Joe has performed with Grover Washington, Jr., Kenny Barron, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Daniels, Jerry Gonzales' Fort Apache Band, Rod Stewart, Beastie Boys, Eddie Henderson, Hiram Bullock, Bob Berg, Ron Carter, Jimmie Scott, Geoffrey Keezer, The Mingus Big Band and Randy Brecker, among many others. Joe has toured extensively throughout the world, both as leader and guest soloist. Some highlights include a 16 city tour of Russia, which culminated in a concert with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned violist, Yuri Bashmet; a 30 city tour of all major capitals of Europe, performing Charles Mingus' magnum opus, "Epitaph" as a featured soloist under the direction of distinguished conductor, Gunther Schuller; a series of volcanic duet concerts in Italy with pianist Cecil Taylor, where Joe went head-to-head for three nights with the undisputed high priest of the avante-garde.
In 2006, 2008 and 2009 Joe Locke received the "Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year" Award, presented by the Jazz Journalist Association (JJA).
Joe Locke has been on the scene for over twenty years, though it is only in the past decade that his name has begun to reach a broader audience. This is in no small part due to his participation in two seminal groups: British reed player Tim Garland's "Storms/Nocturnes" Trio, which also features pianist Geoffrey Keezer[2] and, perhaps most importantly, one of Locke's most recent group projects, "4 Walls of Freedom", which has released two albums to great critical acclaim.[3] In 2004 Scottish saxophonist and educator, Tommy Smith replaced the late Bob Berg for the band's second recording Dear Life.
With these projects Locke has completely transcended his past reputation as a fine post bop instrumentalist, demonstrating a more complete musical picture that includes everything from melodic chamber jazz to intensely personal compositions that bridge the gap between post bop and a more lyrical contemporary style.
Following six albums for SteepleChase, resulting from his work with Eddie Henderson,[3] Locke moved to Milestone[1] for three albums: "Sound Tracks", "Moment to Moment" and "Slander and Other Love Songs", all featuring pianist Billy Childs and drummer Gene Jackson.
In 1998 Locke recorded a duet record with Frank Kimbrough, Saturn's Child Interestingly enough, the follow-up to "Saturn's Child", "The Willow" (Omnitone Records), found Locke and Kimbrough expanding the sonic palette by adding Tim Ries on woodwinds and Jeff Ballard on hand percussion. Prestigious collaborations with such fine pianists like Kenny Barron and David Hazeltine ("Mutual Admiration Society") equally resulted in critically acclaimed recordings.
In 2000, Locke recorded his first album with Sirocco Records and continued to record for his unique groups such as Storytelling, and "4 Walls of Freedom" and as a member of the Storms/Nocturnes Trio, with Tim Garland and Geoffrey Keezer. The concept for the band Storytelling came out of meeting vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Mark Ledford in '86 and produced two, vocal based recordings, that featured Joe as a composer and lyricist: "Storytelling" and "State of Soul".
The Storms/Nocturnes Trio so far resulted in two critically acclaimed recordings and numerous tours: 2001's "Storms/Nocturnes" and 2003's "Rising Tide". Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer and Tim Garland reunited in 2010 for a select series of concert in Europe.
In 2004/2005 Joe teamed up again with pianist Geoffrey Keezer for two recordings on the Eighty Eight's label (Sony Music): "Summer Knows" and "Summertime". Completing the "New Sound Quartet" are bassist Bob Hurst and Billy Kilson on drums. Joe has also been working intensively with fellow Vibes and Marimba artist Christos Rafalides, resulting in the successful Locke/Rafalides Duo and Education Project, including the celebrated recording: "Van Gogh by Numbers", released on Wire Walker.
Other recordings in recent years have found him guesting with Russell Malone, Eddie Higgins, Vic Juris, The New York Quartet (featuring Billy Childs, Idris Muhammed and Cameron Brown), Tim Garland's Storms/Nocturnes chamber trio and vocalist Dianne Reeves. While maintaining a busy touring schedule, Locke also finds time to work with student ensembles and compose for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz Band Classic of the New York Youth Symphony. In 2008, Joe was appointed International Vibraphone Consultant by the Royal Academy of Music, London - a position which he holds on a visiting basis.
One of Joe Locke's most exciting work to date includes the first US release of the Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group. "Live in Seattle" - featuring Mike Pope and Terreon Gully, was recorded 2005 at the Ballard Jazz Festival and was released in July 2006 on the Origin label. His recent recording, "Sticks and Strings" (MusicEyes) - featuring Jonathan Kreisberg, Jay Anderson and Joe LaBarbera - was released in November 2007 during an extensive and well received tour of Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain).
In 2008 Joe put together the unique new quartet, Force of Four by gathering the young talents and distinct musical personalities of Robert Rodriguez (piano), Johnathan Blake (drums) and Ricardo Rodriguez (bass), building this fresh sounding ensemble. The influences of New York, Cuba, Philadelphia and Puerto Rico, as well as the many places traveled by these four player/composers, come together in this group; their first recording, "Force of Four" (Origin) becoming an overwhelming success.
2010 marked Joe Locke's return to incorporating vocals into his music. The E1 Music recording "For The Love of You" of the Joe Locke Group features the inspirational voice of singer Kenny Washington, plus an all star band: Geoffrey Keezer, George Mraz and Clarence Penn.
| For The Love Of You | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by the Joe Locke Group | |
| Released | 26 January 2010 |
| Recorded | New York, 2009 |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Label | E1 Music |
| Producer | Todd Barkan and Joe Locke |
Sources: discography on www.joelocke.com, discography by Noal Cohen