Critics Sign Off On Joe Locke

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Composer, Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke, Mike Pope, Motéma Music, Pianist, Terreon Gully, Vibraphonist

THE JOE LOCKE/GEOFFREY KEEZER GROUP’S SIGNING SOARS

Joe Locke.Geoffrey Keezer Group, SIGNING

“lush and hot-blooded” –JazzTimes

* * * * * “here’s one of those albums that stays in the mind for all the right reasons: great melodic content, interesting time signatures and a sense of real connection between the musicians concerned.” – Jazz Journal

Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group -][- Signing – [Motéma Music, 2012] –

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Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke

Joe Locke - Geoffrey Keezer Group, Signing

Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group -][- Signing –MP3– [Motéma Music, 2012] –

With the release of Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer group’s Signing , the much in demand follow-up to their Live in Seattle (Earshot Awards’ ‘Best live performance of 2006’), Locke’s career is set to kick into yet a higher gear as he simultaneously forges a new relationship with Motéma. The award-winning artist is set to release a series of three Locke projects in the coming year and a half, each designed to demonstrate a different facet of his unerring lyricism, unfettered imagination, and show-stopping virtuosity.

Storms/Nocturnes Trio -][- VIA – [Origin Records, 2011] –

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Geoffrey Keezer, Jazz, Joe Locke, Origin Records, Pianist, Saxophonist, Tim Garland, Vibraphonist

“This trio truly sizzles with virtuosity and creativity. Tim, Geoffrey and Joe make an amazing trio.” —Chick Corea

Storms Nocturnes Trio - VIA

Storms/Nocturnes Trio -][- VIA –Mp3– [Origin Records, 2011]

With VIA, the third album by the chamber jazz trio Storms/Nocturnes, British saxophone legend Tim Garland, world leading vibraphone virtuoso Joe Locke and recent Grammy nominee, pianist Geoffrey Keezer, create a unique three-way dialogue of captivating, immersive music. Bringing their different styles and backgrounds together, they create music which can be spacious or immensely complex, delicate but often approaching orchestral depth, and collectively find their way into a new mood or feel before the listener knows they have left the old one.

Their spontaneous interaction, the dovetailing, the assertion of contrasting yet mutually supportive roles are all taken to a new level on this recording. This enduring international alliance of Jazz giants is celebrating its tenth anniversary with this album and concerts throughout Europe and the U.S.

For more information about the Trio, visit www.stormsnocturnes.com/ and listen to samples of this extraordinary recording.

the weekend spin … with Joe Locke & Geoffery Keezer Group -][- Live in Seattle [Origin]

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Geoffery Keezer, Jazz, Joe Locke, Piano, Vibes

Greeting’s jazz enthusiasts, although it was a short week like you I’m excited that Friday has arrived. Viewer Mark Beckmanfrom Seattle turned me on to this project, therefore I decided to spend some time with the talented Joe Locke on vibes and a extremely gifted Geoffery Keezer on piano caught Live in Seattle as the featured album for the weekend spin. Great jazz, weekends & you linked together is the perfect collaboration, please do have a bless and safe one! —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Joe Locke & Geoffery Keezer Group - Live in Seattle

Joe Locke & Geoffery Keezer Group -][- Live in Seattle – [Origin Records, 2006]

Geoffrey Keezer’s trio (with Mike Pope and Terreon Gully) are joined here by Joe Locke on vibes for an intense live performance at the Ballard Jazz Festival in Seattle.

Ballard, a Seattle neighborhood that formerly boasted two regular jazz venues but now has none, is a traditionally Scandinavian enclave. That part of the world has always supported this music, so the venue is still appropriate. What transpires here is great individual playing and tight group interaction. Keezer has been one of the best young keyboardists for several years, and is heard here on electric instruments as well as his more familiar acoustic one. Mike Pope is solid and collaborative as always, and Terreon Gully is among the most interesting and innovative of what is an outstanding cadre of younger jazz drummers.

Motéma Music to Release ANOTHER LOOK from Pianist/Composer & Guggenheim Fellow RYAN COHAN

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Ahmad Jamal, Jazz, Joe Locke, Piano, RYAN COHAN

Available In Stores & Online On September 14, 2010

“Cohan is a gifted, strong pianist from the Bud Powell-Herbie Hancock-Chick Corea tree [and] already a master . . .” – DownBeat

Ryan Cohan - Another Look (Motéma, 2010)

On September 14, 2010, Motéma, one of the industry’s leading labels, will proudly release Another Look, pianist/composer Ryan Cohan’s follow up recording to his highly praised debut recording for the label, 2007’s One Sky, which landed on the “Best Recordings of the Year” lists in multiple major media outlets.  While One Sky displayed the Guggenheim Fellow‘s prodigious talents as a composer, Another Look takes a major leap towards showcasing the strength and depth of Cohan’s gifts as a pianist and as an improviser.  “While my previous recordings centered more heavily on my writing, this project offers a perspective shift towards spontaneous playing.  We went into the studio immediately following several weeks of touring in Europe to capture a live feel and the raw essence of my group.  It was the perfect opportunity to record”, said Cohan.

JAZZ MASTER JOE LOCKE’S NEW ALBUM FOR THE LOVE OF YOU

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Jazz, Joe Locke, Vibes

TO BE RELEASED BY E1 MUSIC JANUARY 26th, 2010

Joe Locke - For the Love of You

E1 Music announces the release of a new album from vibraphonist Joe Locke. For The Love of You will be released on January 26th, 2010 and features vocalist Kenny Washington. Joining Locke and Washington is an all-star rhythm section: Grammy nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Clarence Penn. Locke, a top radio charting jazz artist, is highly regarded as an instrumentalist, composer and band leader.

Elegance, lyricism and soul are the sublime qualities at play in this magical new release. For the first time in many years, the vibesman includes vocals as a primary part of the mix. Forging a style that seems to be made of equal parts Nat King Cole and Donny Hathaway, Kenny Washington weaves his unique spell around a diverse repertoire. The seven vocal tunes include pieces taken from the contemporary pop / soul lexicon as well as the Great American Songbook. There is also a stunning Locke original, “Verrazano Moon,” which is given a deeply poignant reading by Washington and the band. Three instrumentals round out the collection – the swinging “I Miss New York (When I Been Gone Too Long),” the contemporary “Bright Side Up” (both Locke originals) and an elegant reading of Ennio Morricone’s “Cinema Paradiso.”