Biography
Percussionist Joe Locke maintains a strong reputation as both a player and writer, celebrated for the lyrical, rhythmic drive he brings to vibraphone and drums alike. After surfacing in the late 1980s, he first earned notice as a dependable hard-bop sideman alongside Eddie Henderson, Freddy Cole, Eric Alexander, and additional peers. He further demonstrated his command of jazz lineage through the 1994 release Longing and the 1999 duo project Mutual Appreciation Society recorded with pianist David Hazeltine. Entering the new decade, Locke earned wider notice with expansive statements such as the 2003 six-movement suite Four Walls of Freedom, drawn from the writings of monk Thomas Merton, and the 2005 Milt Jackson homage Rev-elation. A five-time Jazz Journalists Association “Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year” winner, he received induction into the Music Hall of Fame of his Rochester, New York hometown in 2016.
Although born in Palo Alto, California in 1959, Locke relocated with his family to Rochester, New York while still young. There he began piano and drums near age eight, then adopted the vibraphone at thirteen. Urged by his father, a music educator, he first performed in rock groups before absorbing jazz during his teenage years and absorbing the approaches of idols Bobby Hutcherson and Milt Jackson. Following high school he refined his technique at the Eastman School of Music under instructors John Beck, Gordon Stout, and Ted Moore.
Locke arrived in New York City in 1981 and soon secured sideman engagements and recording dates with Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Jerry Gonzalez, and further notables. He also supplied the score for the independent film and documentary El Salvador: Another Vietnam. His first album as leader, Present Tense, appeared in 1990 on the Danish SteepleChase imprint. Subsequent SteepleChase titles included the 1994 session But Beautiful with pianist Kenny Barron, the aforementioned Longing, and 1996’s Inner Space.
During the same span he traveled to Japan with Eddie Henderson and recorded with Grover Washington, Jr., Dianne Reeves, George Cables, Barbara Dennerlein, and the Mingus Big Band, among others. Signing with Milestone/Fantasy, he issued 1995’s Moment to Moment: The Music of Henry Mancini. Later Milestone releases comprised 1997’s Sound Tracks, devoted to cinema themes, and 1998’s Slander (And Other Love Songs). In 1999 he joined pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Billy Drummond for Mutual Appreciation Society.
The 2000s brought an ongoing association with John Priestley’s Sirocco Jazz Ltd. imprint, yielding Beauty Burning with pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts plus 2001’s Storytelling, which featured vocalist Mark Ledford and keyboardist/co-producer Henry Hey. The same Storytelling ensemble appeared on 2002’s State of Soul. The following year Locke delivered the ambitious Four Walls of Freedom. He then united with pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Mickey Roker for the 2005 Sharp Nine Records date Rev-elation. Subsequent activity included the 2006 live recording Live in Seattle with pianist Geoff Keezer and the quartet sessions Sticks and Stones in 2007 and Force of Four in 2008, the latter featuring saxophonist Wayne Escoffery as guest.
For the Love of You emerged in 2010 with Keezer, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Clarence Penn. The atmospheric Via followed in 2011, again pairing Locke with Keezer and multi-reed player Tim Garland. Keezer returned for 2012’s Signing on Motéma Music alongside drummer Terreon Gully and bassist Mike Pope. Additional Motéma releases comprised 2013’s Lay Down My Heart: Blues & Ballads, Vol. 1 and 2015’s Love is a Pendulum. Locke resurfaced in 2018 with Subtle Disguise, an album that incorporated contributions from saxophonist David Binney, guitarist Raul Midón, and others. Alongside original material the set contained interpretations of Bob Dylan’s “Who Killed Davey Moore?” and Blind Willie Johnson’s “Motherless Children.”
Although born in Palo Alto, California in 1959, Locke relocated with his family to Rochester, New York while still young. There he began piano and drums near age eight, then adopted the vibraphone at thirteen. Urged by his father, a music educator, he first performed in rock groups before absorbing jazz during his teenage years and absorbing the approaches of idols Bobby Hutcherson and Milt Jackson. Following high school he refined his technique at the Eastman School of Music under instructors John Beck, Gordon Stout, and Ted Moore.
Locke arrived in New York City in 1981 and soon secured sideman engagements and recording dates with Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Jerry Gonzalez, and further notables. He also supplied the score for the independent film and documentary El Salvador: Another Vietnam. His first album as leader, Present Tense, appeared in 1990 on the Danish SteepleChase imprint. Subsequent SteepleChase titles included the 1994 session But Beautiful with pianist Kenny Barron, the aforementioned Longing, and 1996’s Inner Space.
During the same span he traveled to Japan with Eddie Henderson and recorded with Grover Washington, Jr., Dianne Reeves, George Cables, Barbara Dennerlein, and the Mingus Big Band, among others. Signing with Milestone/Fantasy, he issued 1995’s Moment to Moment: The Music of Henry Mancini. Later Milestone releases comprised 1997’s Sound Tracks, devoted to cinema themes, and 1998’s Slander (And Other Love Songs). In 1999 he joined pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Billy Drummond for Mutual Appreciation Society.
The 2000s brought an ongoing association with John Priestley’s Sirocco Jazz Ltd. imprint, yielding Beauty Burning with pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts plus 2001’s Storytelling, which featured vocalist Mark Ledford and keyboardist/co-producer Henry Hey. The same Storytelling ensemble appeared on 2002’s State of Soul. The following year Locke delivered the ambitious Four Walls of Freedom. He then united with pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Mickey Roker for the 2005 Sharp Nine Records date Rev-elation. Subsequent activity included the 2006 live recording Live in Seattle with pianist Geoff Keezer and the quartet sessions Sticks and Stones in 2007 and Force of Four in 2008, the latter featuring saxophonist Wayne Escoffery as guest.
For the Love of You emerged in 2010 with Keezer, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Clarence Penn. The atmospheric Via followed in 2011, again pairing Locke with Keezer and multi-reed player Tim Garland. Keezer returned for 2012’s Signing on Motéma Music alongside drummer Terreon Gully and bassist Mike Pope. Additional Motéma releases comprised 2013’s Lay Down My Heart: Blues & Ballads, Vol. 1 and 2015’s Love is a Pendulum. Locke resurfaced in 2018 with Subtle Disguise, an album that incorporated contributions from saxophonist David Binney, guitarist Raul Midón, and others. Alongside original material the set contained interpretations of Bob Dylan’s “Who Killed Davey Moore?” and Blind Willie Johnson’s “Motherless Children.”
Albums
