Jazz Articles about Joe Locke

Joe Locke / David Hazeltine Quartet: Mutual Admiration Society

by Jack Bowers
August 1, 1999

This is a sparkling, deeply–grooved session by four seasoned pros whose musical temperaments are perfectly harmonized. While Locke and Hazeltine, both 40, have known each other for more than a decade, Mutual Admiration Society marks their first collaborative effort in a recording studio, one in which the reciprocal esteem is evident from start to finish. Locke and Hazeltine are so harmoniously well–matched that one sometimes wonders if they mightn’t be able to read each other’s thoughts. Also on the same ...

Eddie Henderson: Reemergence

by C. Andrew Hovan
August 1, 1999

Considering that he's approaching his 60th birthday, you'd think that trumpeter Eddie Henderson would be better known than what he is. But of course we also have to take into consideration that there are actually two Eddies- the jazz musician and Dr. Henderson the practicing psychiatrist. Yet despite his dual activities and the limitations of a 24-hour day, the jazz trumpeter in Henderson has matured into a distinctive stylists who has taken as much from the '70s period of jazz ...

Joe Locke/David Hazeltine: Mutual Admiration Society

by C. Andrew Hovan
July 1, 1999

It's only about half way through the year, but this one proves to be strong contender for one of the best releases of 1999. The little label that could out of Westfield, New Jersey keeps cranking out some vigorous and very substantial music and so it should come to no surprise that they would be behind this very imaginative endeavor. Of the two front men here, vibraphonist Joe Locke probably carries more name recognition. He's recently recorded a string of ...

Eddie Henderson Quintet: Reemergence

by Jack Bowers
April 1, 1999

Eddie Henderson is one of those immoderately talented but relatively unsung players who are known as “musicians' musicians," mainly because the public at large has almost no idea who they are or what they are capable of doing--which in Henderson's case is almost anything he pleases, at least on trumpet. The 58--year--old veteran was influenced by Miles Davis, studied informally with Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan, jammed alongside Woody Shaw, and has played with some of the best--known names in ...

Joe Locke Quintet: Slander (And Other Love Songs)

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 1999

Vibraphonist Joe Locke has been a much in demand session musician for several years but steps out as a leader and composer in impressive fashion on “Slander (And Other Love Songs)”.

Locke’s “Song For Cables”, commences with verve and exhilaration as the seasoned rhythm section of Rufus Reid (b) and Gene Jackson (d) set an up-tempo and furious pulse underneath Locke’s multi-colored vibes. Here and throughout Locke displays blistering hand speed with his mallets. The vastly under recognized guitarist, Vic ...

Joe Locke: Slander (And Other Love Songs)

by Douglas Payne
November 1, 1998

This superb quintet session is the third, and undoubtedly best Milestone disc 39-year-old vibraphonist Joe Locke has released to date. Locke, a veteran of the Mingus Big Band and former Pepper Adams, Eddie Henderson, Dianne Reeve and Hiram Bullock sideman, has made his strongest personal statement with Slander (And Other Love Songs).The influence of Bobby Hutcherson is overwhelming here -- especially as evidenced by the strong boppish originals Locke has crafted (the exceptional “Song for Cables," ...