Longing

This is Joe Locke's second date for Steeplechase; he's joined by a fine group including pianist George Cables, bassist Jeff Andrews, drummer Ronnie Burrage and the talented young German saxophonist Johannes Enders. The opening medley of Big John Patton's "Back Up" and Lee Morgan's "The Double Up" kicks things off nicely; other interpretations of jazz compositions include a sensitive take of Thad Jones' gorgeous "A Child is Born" and a wild retooling of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," featuring the leader on Midi vibes. The one standard is a beautiful arrangement of "Over the Rainbow," with very subtle playing by both Locke and Cables. Locke wrote three of the compositions on this date: "Etch-a-Sketch," an adventurous piece based on the chord changes to "I Got Rhythm" and utilizing the Midi vibes; the intense tribute "Khalid the Warrior; " and the only disappointing track, the bland ballad "Longing," with a weak lyric sung badly by Mark Ledford, who also adds his trumpet. Although this isn't the first choice among Joe Locke's recordings for Steeplechase, it is well worth purchasing.