Joe Locke

Joe Locke
Joe Locke 2007, photo by Nadja von Massow
Background information
Born	March 18, 1959 (1959-03-18) (age 50) Palo Alto, California, United States
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Vibraphone
Years active	1975–present
Labels	Wire Walker Music, also Omnitone, Origin Records, Sharp Nine Records, SteepleChase
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 and educator.

Biography

Locke was born in Palo Alto, California, but raised in Rochester, New York. 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 Santamaria 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, The 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).

Projects

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 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. In 2004 Scottish saxophonist and educator, Tommy Smith replaced the late Bob Berg for the band’s second recording Dear Life.

Joe Locke live at JazzBaltica, Germany, June/July 2007

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 his six albums for SteepleChase, Locke moved to Milestone 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 recodings.

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".

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 Quartet. "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 most 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 a unique new quartet 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 travelled by these four player/composers, come together in this group; their first recording, "Force of Four" (Origin) becoming an overwhelming success.

Quotes about Joe Locke

• "Joe Locke's crystalline tone has a warm glow around the edges, which suits the shape of his improvisations to perfection." —Dave Gelly, The Guardian (GB)
• "Joe Locke's playing and writing have been an absolute joy to this vibist's ears that have been starving to hear a player who challenges himself on every tune. Joe is constantly pushing the envelope musically. The cat is going into orbit soon .... I love it!" —Mike Mainieri
• "In the select group of contemporary vibes players, Locke has claims to head the list." —Penguin Encyclopedia of Jazz
• "Not only has he mastered an instrument that has catapulted only a handful of players to the forefront of modern jazz - but he has done so in a way that transcends mere technique and establishes him as a unique and adventurous musical voice." —Derk Richardson San Francisco Bay Guardian

Recent awards

• 2006 - Golden Ear Award - "2005 Concert of the Year" (Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group at Ballard Jazz Festival)
• 2006 - JJA Award - "2006 Mallet Player of the Year"
• 2008 - Golden Ear Award - "2007 Concert of the Year" (Joe Locke at Port Townsend Jazz Festival)
• 2008 - JJA Award - "2008 Mallet Player of the Year"
• 2009 - JJA Award - "2009 Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year"

Selected discography

• 2010 - For The Love Of You – w/ Geoffrey Keezer, George Mraz, Clarence Penn and vocalist Kenny Washington (E1 Music) - to be released Jan. 2010
• 2009 - Mutual Admiration Society 2 – w/ David Hazeltine (SharpNine)
• 2008 - Force of Four – Joe Locke (Origin)
• 2008 - Verrazano Moon – Joe Locke / Frank Kimbrough (Ominitone)
• 2008 - Live at JazzBaltica – Trio Da Paz & Joe Locke (MAXJAZZ)
• 2007 - Sticks & Strings – Joe Locke Quartet (MusicEyes)
• 2006 - Live in Seattle – Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group (Origin)
• 2006 - Fallen Angel – w/ Bob Sneider (Sons of Sound)
• 2005 - Van Gogh by Numbers – w/ Christos Rafalides (Wire Walker)
• 2005 - Rev.elation – A Milt Jackson Tribute (Sharp Nine Records)
• 2005 - Summertime – w/ Geoff Keezer (Eighty Eight’s / Sony Music)
• 2004 - Summer Knows – w/ Geoff Keezer (Eighty Eight’s / Sony Music)
• 2004 - Dear Life - Joe Locke & 4 Walls Of Freedom (Sirocco Music)
• 2003 - 4 Walls Of Freedom - Joe Locke & 4 Walls Of Freedom (Sirocco Music)
• 2002 - State Of Soul - (Sirocco Music)
• 2001 - Storytelling - (Sirocco Music)
• 2001 - The Willow - w/ Frank Kimbrough (OmniTone)
• 2001 - Beauty Burning - (Sirocco Music)
• 1999 - Mutual Admiration Society - w/ David Hazletine Quartet (SharpNine)
• 1999 - Saturn's Child - w/ Frank Kimbrough (OmniTone)
• 1998 - Slander and other Love Songs - (Milestone)
• 1997 - Sound Tracks - (Milestone)
• 1996 - Inner Space - (Steeplechase)
• 1995 - Moment To Moment - (Milestone)
• 1995 - Very Early - (Steeplechase)
• 1993 - Wirewalker (Steeplechase)
• 1991 - But Beautiful - w/ Kenny Barron - (Steeplechase)
• 1991 - Longing - (Steeplechase)
• 1990 - Present Tense - (Milestone)

Sources: discography on www.joelocke.com, discography by Noal Cohen

External links

• Joe Locke's official Website
• Comprehensive Joe Locke Discography (by Noal Cohen)