American jazz vibraphonist
Musical artist
Joseph Paul Locke (born March 18, 1959) is an American jazz vibraphonist.
Life and career
A native of Palo Alto, California, Locke grew up in Rochester, New York.[1] His father taught music.[1] When Locke was eight years old he began learning drums and piano, then started on vibraphone five years later.[1][2] After playing in rock bands, he became attracted to jazz in his teen years[3] and attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.[1]
In 1981, he moved to New York City and worked as a sideman for Kenny Barron,[2] Freddy Cole, Marvin Smith,[1] and Eddie Henderson.[3] For influences, he has cited Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson.[1][2][3] His first solo album, Present Tense, was released by Steeplechase in 1990.[1] He started the band Mutual Appreciation Society in 1999 with David Hazeltine, Essiet Essiet, and Billy Drummond and has recorded frequently with pianist Geoff Keezer.[1] His album Four Walls of Freedom was based on the writings of Thomas Merton.[1]
In 2016, he was inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in Rochester.[1] Joe Locke is the International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music and holds the title of Hon ARAM.[4] He has won the Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year Award from the Jazz Journalists Association on six occasions.[1]
Discography
As leader
- Present Tense (SteepleChase, 1990)
- Scenario (Cadence Jazz, 1987)
- But Beautiful with Kenny Barron (SteepleChase, 1991)
- Longing (SteepleChase, 1991)
- Wire Walker (SteepleChase, 1993)
- Moment to Moment (Milestone, 1995)
- Very Early (SteepleChase, 1995)
- Sound Tracks (Milestone, 1997)
- Mutual Admiration Society with David Hazeltine (Sharp Nine, 1999)
- Saturn's Child with Frank Kimbrough (OmniTone, 1999)
- Beauty Burning (Sirocco, 2000)
- Storytelling (Sirocco, 2001)
- State of Soul (Sirocco, 2002)
- The Willow with Frank Kimbrough (OmniTone, 2002)
- Four Walls of Freedom (Sirocco, 2003)
- Dear Life (Sirocco, 2004)
- Revelation (Sharp Nine, 2005)
- Live in Seatlle with Geoff Keezer (Sharp Nine, 2005)
- Sticks and Strings (Jazz Eyes, 2007)
- Force of Four (Origin, 2008)
- Live at JazzBaltica with Trio Da Paz (MAXJAZZ, 2008)
- Mutual Admiration Society 2 with David Hazeltine (Sharp Nine, 2009)
- Nocturne for Ava with Bob Sneider (Origin, 2009)
- For the Love of You (E1, 2010)
- Via (Origin, 2011)
- Signing (Motema, 2012)
- Wish Upon A Star (Motema, 2012)
- Lay Down My Heart (Motema, 2013)
- Love Is a Pendulum (Motema, 2015)
- Subtle Disguise (Origin, 2018)
- Makram (Circle 9, 2023)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Collar, Matt. "Joe Locke". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ a b c Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (2007). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-19-507418-5.
- ^ a b c Zimmerman, Brian (14 January 2019). "Q&A with Vibraphonist Joe Locke: Between the Heart and Mind". JAZZIZ Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ "Joe Locke". Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
