Joe Locke, Rosario Giuliani, Dado Moroni - Stepping On Stars (2011)

The 2009 edition of Umbria Jazz has proposed in its calendar an unprecedented and interesting trio consisting of Joe Locke on the vibraphone, Rosario Giuliani on the sax and Dado Moroni on the piano. The three concerts in Perugia, particularly followed by the public, gave listeners the opportunity to enjoy a preview of the very original project formulated and performed by the trio. This project was recorded on the occasion by EGEA Music and is the subject of the CD “Stepping on Stars”. This CD represents the fifth title of the prestigious EGEA - Umbria Jazz series. The work of Stepping on stars escapes a simple classification. It draws heavily on the language of Jazz but presents new elements. It is undoubtedly chamber music, characterized by a great formal balance between the parts, but it is also fluid music, the result of the creative contribution of individuals. The themes, almost always "cantabile", are the object of refined elaborations by each musician: the inspiration of Rosario Giuliani, the refinement of Joe Locke, the immediacy of the interventions by Dado Moroni. All without ever making an easy concession to mannerism, to complacency. Enjoyable music, never banal. [Translated from Italian] ~ ibs.it. 

Egea Records [Umbria Jazz], EUJ 1005, 2011
Recorded at Auditorium Santa Cecilia, Perugia / Egea Recording Hall July, 2009 

Musicians:
Joe Locke - Vibraphone
Rosario Giuliani - Alto & Soprano Saxophones
Dado Moroni - Piano 

Tracks:
1. Sword Of Whispers {Joe Locke} (8:07)
2. My Angel {Rosario Giuliani} (6:37)
3. Brother Alfred {Dado Moroni} (5:00)
4. Beatrice Rose {Joe Locke} (7:02)
5. Love Is A Pendulum {Joe Locke} (6:10)
6. Stepping On Stars {Joe Locke} (6:49)
7. Alone {Dado Moroni} (3:38)
8. The Peacocks {Jimmy Rowles} (7:34) 

Total Time: 50:57

Credits:
Coordinator, Supervisor, label - Marco Suraci
Recording Engineer - Angelo Cioffi

Joe Locke - For The Love Of You (2009)

Honoring various composers, vibraphonist Joe Locke has led his group for three years in an annual gig at Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in New York. Recently Locke decided to record the output with the happy result being For The Love Of You. Four top-flight musicians are gathered for this gig - pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Clarence Penn. Joining the four, little-known vocalist Kenny Washington - Vocals (not to be confused with the renowned drummer of the same name) is the real star here. How they all got together is an interesting story. Locke met Washington singing in a small venue in Half Moon Bay, Northern California. He was so impressed with what he heard that he decided to collaborate with him in the future. He got the chance during Mancini week at Dizzy's, an event that honored film composer Henry Mancini. This was the beginning of what became a yearly get-together. After the first year, the program expanded to include the music of other film-score writers, including Johnny Mandel and Ennio Morricone. In 2009, the scope was widened further, bringing in material from pop-rockers the Isley Brothers and Neil Young, along with standards and Locke originals. Washington is heard on seven of the ten tracks. He has a smooth tenor voice with a four-octave range. At all times, he respects the lyrics. Each number, whether slow ballad or swing, he stays with the story. In a style akin to Nat King Cole, he begins in a mellow mood with Mancini's "Two for the Road." Next the atmosphere warms with a bouncy version of Lane/Harburg's "Old Devil Moon." The backup from Locke and his crew could not be better. They create a sphere for the vocals to shine while leaving ample space for all to show their solo talents. Three instrumental tracks further emphasize their collective prowess. A centerpiece of the record is Mandel's "The Shadow of Your Smile." At the start, Penn's up-tempo drumming is effective counterpoint to Washington's leisurely pace. Soon it builds toward an explosive climax. Keezer and Locke further add sparks with torrid solos, and Washington finishes with a coda that vividly shows off his wide range. Of the instrumentals, Morricone's "Cinema Paradiso" is a winner. Mraz's stately bowed-bass opening gives way to dreamy solos by Locke and Keezer. Mraz concludes the piece with a lovely pizzicato flourish. ~ by Larry Taylor, AAJ. 

E1 Entertainment, E1E-CD-2046, 2010
Recorded 11th-12th May, 2009 At Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Joe Locke - Vibraphone, Arranger
Geoffrey Keezer - Piano
George Mraz - Bass, Arranger
Clarence Penn - Drums
Kenny Washington - Vocals (#1-4,6,7,9) 

Tracks:
01. Two For The Road {Leslie Bricusse, Henry Mancini} (5:04)
02. Old Devil Moon {E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Burton Lane} (7:34)
03. For The Love Of You {Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper} (6:01)
04. Verrazano Moon {Joe Locke} (6:30)
05. I Miss New York [When I Been Gone Too Long] {Joe Locke} (4:57)
06. Birds {Neil Young} (4:56)
07. The Shadow Of Your Smile {Johnny Mandel, Ben Webster} (7:57)
08. Cinema Paradiso {Ennio Morricone} (5:24)
09. Pure Imagination {Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (5:27)
10. Bright Side Up {Joe Locke} (5:11) 

Total Time: 59:01 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Joe Locke
Producer - Todd Barkan
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Michael Marciano
Mastering Engineer - Alan Silverman [Art Studio]
Management - nadworks. ltd Nadja von Massow
Arranger - Art Hirahara, Pat O'Leary
Artwork, Graphic Design - Nadja von Massow
Cover Photo - Christoph Risch
Photography - Russ Titelman, Alexandros Lambrovassillis, Tom Marcello