Joe Locke | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Paul Locke |
| Born | March 18, 1959 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vibraphone |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | SteepleChase, Milestone, Sharp Nine, Sirocco, Origin, Motema |
Joseph Paul Locke (born March 18, 1959) is an American jazz vibraphonist.
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]
