Mallet Men

[jazzboCR]

Joe Locke bop/hard bop/post-bop, certainly, but has played as disparately as with Cecil Taylor and a chamber ork. Been making stunning records since he was 24 and only 1 mutt in the bunch (saddled with inferior material--'01's Storytelling). Can't go wrong with any of them but his '12 disc with pianist Geoffrey Keezer in a quartet setting is transcendant: http://www.allmusic.com/album/signing-mw0002315530 The rest of the discog: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-locke...iscography About him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Locke and by him: http://www.joelocke.com/ << In addition to being a superior player, he's also a composer and educator.

Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R5fFYqS474 << from his newest disc, with an undeservedly little-known pianist, Dado Moroni (q.v.) << excellently recorded--feel the bass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGOvbLOz4fI << Great trio on a pure-jazz song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al06IyMKj5U << truly fine quartet on a classic tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m4uHXtq5tk << Utter master of the 4-mallet technique--shines, even solo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l6DFx5YgHI << Graces the Gypsy/Flamenco side of music

SEMI-BONUS--Just 1 song but they take it everywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ZufNttXuE
SEMI-BONUS--Another single song--they don't half-step on this gig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ0rMo740Ek
BONUS--a 1-1/2 hour all-star "Homage to Milt Jackson": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzSAKN3UdTI