Photo by Andrea Canter

Joe Locke is regarded by many to be the most gifted vibraphonist of his generation. In addition to his strengths as an instrumentalist he is building his ever-growing stature as a band leader, composer and conceptualist. Combining the veratility and mastery of Locke with the expresive and capable trumpet of Jim Rotondi yields a wonderful musical experience. A worthy successor to Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw, Rotondi is a stylist who continues to explore rich harmonies with original and soulful eloquence. With Locke's vibraphone providing rich overtones and a dense aural carpet, Rotondi weaves intricate and logical patterns of sound. Whether he is blowing with firey fury or a mournful cry, Rotondi never looses the emotional connection with the audience, who are engaged in the emerging tapestry of his performance.

Jim Rotondi was born in Butte, Montana and began his musical studies at an early age. His mother, a piano teacher, encouraged Jim to begin playing the piano at age eight. He then took up the trumpet at the age of twelve. He attended North Texas State University, where he graduated with a degree in trumpet performance. While still in Texas, Jim was awarded first place in the International Trumpet Guild's Jazz trumpet competition for the year 1984. After college Jim began recording and touring internationally with the Ray Charles Orchestra. He also tours with Lionel Hampton and Grammy-winner Toshiko Akiyoshi, as well as with his own group. He was also a featured soloist at the 1992 Chile International Jazz Festival in Santiago, along with saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Danilo Perez.

Jim's extensive recording experience most recently includes the release of his seventh date as a leader, titled "Iron Man", for the Criss Cross Jazz label. He can also be heard on several of Charles Earland's Highnote Records releases, alongside saxophonist Eric Alexander, with whom Jim made his recording debut on Eric's Delmark release "Straight Up." Other recordings include saxophonist George Coleman's Octet, featuring Harold Mabern, as well as drummer Ray Appleton's Sextet, which features Slide Hampton, Charles McPherson, and John Hicks. Jim is also a member of the group One For All, whose Sharp Nine Records releases "Too Soon To Tell" and "Optimism" received critical acclaim from Cadence, JazzTimes, and The Detroit Free Press.

Jim currently lives and works in the New York City area, where he maintains a vigorous performing, recording, composing and teaching schedule. He has recently given clinics at Emory University in Atlanta, served on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, California, as well as being an affiliate faculty member at the State University of New York in Purchase.

Joe Locke was born in Palo Alto, California, but raised in Rochester, New York. Locke is a self-taught improviser, though he benefited from his early studies in classical percussion and composition at the Eastman School of Music with Gordon Stout, Ted Moore and David Mancini.

The critical community continually cites Joe Locke for his artistic work. "There seems little doubt that Locke, with his ability to play cool and funky, heady and relaxed, is set to become the pre-eminent vibraphonist in jazz." (The Times, London) Joe has been voted the #1 vibist in DownBeat Magazine's Critic's Poll (TDWR) and Brazil's International Jazz Poll. Locke has recorded 20 cds as a band leader, including the critically acclaimed "Moment to Moment", a tribute to the music of Henry Mancini. As producer and as a sideman, he appears on more than 65 recordings. (Click here to read a Jazz Police review of Rev-Elation and Click here to read a Jazz Police review of Fallen Angel)

As a jazz musician, Locke was precocious, having played with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Pepper Adams and Mongo Santamaria before he was even out of high school. Since moving to New York City in 1981, Joe has performed with Grover Washington Jr., Kenny Barron, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Daniels, Jerry Gonzales' Fort Apache Band, Rod Stewart, The Beastie Boys, Eddie Henderson, Hiram Bullock, Bob Berg, Ron Carter, Jimmie Scott, Geoffrey Keezer, The Mingus Big Band and Randy Brecker, among many others. Joe has toured extensively throughout the world, both as leader and guest soloist. Some highlights include a 16 city tour of Russia, which culminated in a concert with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned violist, Yuri Bashmet; a 30 city tour of all major capitals of Europe, performing Charles Mingus' magnum opus, "Epitaph" as a featured soloist under the direction of distinguished conductor, Gunther Schuller; a series of volcanic duet concerts in Italy with pianist Cecil Taylor, where Joe went head-to-head for three nights with the undisputed high priest of the avante-garde.

The past years have been busy for Locke. Besides his work with the Locke/Keezer Quartet, the Milt Jackson Tribute Band and 4 Walls of Freedom, he premiered new music as part of a Duo Project with fellow vibes and marimba artist Christos Rafalides. Joe was a guest soloist with the Jeff "Tain" Watts expanded ensemble for 3 nights at Lincoln Center's Stanley Kaplan Penthouse, and performed a 3 night engagement in duo with piano master John Hicks, also at the Penthouse. Another highlight for Locke was a week-long engagement at the Village Vanguard in NYC, playing alongside Al Foster and Buster Williams, as a member of the Renee Rosnes Quartet, performing original music by this brilliant pianist/ composer. Locke's recent recording "Rev.elation" with the Milt Jackson Tribute Band remained on top of the Jazz Week album charts for an unprecedented 8 week run in 2005.

"Joe Locke is a wonderful young man who's all about the music, all the time! You can hear it in every note he plays." Bobby Hutcherson

Catch the magic May 12th-14th at Jazz at Pearl's. Call for tickets: 415-291-8255. Doors open 30 minutes prior to show. Shows are at 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm every show night! Jazz at Pearl's is located in the heart of North Beach at 256 Columbus Ave (at Broadway), San Francisco, CA 94133. Just a few minutes from Union Square we can be reached by Taxi or by foot from most major San Francisco Hotels. Public transportation can get you straight to our doorstep.