Vibraphonist Joe Locke: swinging, soulful

"This band truly represents where I'm at artistically," says intense vibraphonist Joe Locke, who shares a double bill Saturday with Eric Alexander at the Ballard Jazz Festival.

Locke's all-star quartet — Geoffrey Keezer, piano; Terreon Gully, drums; Mike Pope, bass — has recorded in Japan, but this is its first stateside gig. Locke is recording the show for possible release.

The band plays at 7:30 p.m. at Mars Hill Church, 1401 N.W. Leary Way, Seattle ($20, all-festival pass $25; 206-219-3649 or www.ballardjazzfestival.com).

No vibraphonist working today swings more soulfully than Locke. Voted last year as the top "Rising Star" on vibes by Down Beat magazine critics, Locke is right up there nipping at the heels of Gary Burton and Bobby Hutcherson as one of the best in the business.

Locke is often singled out for his dizzying technique. On a recent tribute to Milt Jackson, "Rev-elation" (Sharp Nine), recorded live with the late master's rhythm section, at Ronnie Scott's (in London), Locke fastens onto certain phrases and spins them into an obsessive swirl.

"The technique only came about because of trying to get out these musical phrases that were so attractive to me," said Locke, who started out on piano and drums. "There were a lot of things Bobby Hutcherson did, the equivalent of 'sheets of sound,' but on the vibraphone, but every note was justified in the harmony. So I wasn't just trying to play really fast, but trying to achieve that cascade of sound."

As fast as he plays, Locke also produces a beautiful sound.

"I often hit the vibes very hard," he said, "but I use a medium mallet that enables me to achieve a round sound. I don't like a sound that's too percussive."

Beyond Locke, this quartet is a well-oiled machine. The band works as Keezer's regular trio as well as the backup band for saxophonist David Sanborn.

It's just one of many pleasures on hand today and Saturday at the Ballard festival. Tonight, starting at 8, the always-festive Ballard Avenue Jazz Walk ($15) offers a panoply of players in nine different places. Some highlights:

• Hammond B-3 ace Larry Goldings with guitarist Peter Bernstein at the Tractor Tavern.

• Vancouver vocalist Kate Hammett-Vaughan at Bad Albert's Tap & Grill.

• Tumbao, with Thomas Marriott, at the Lock & Keel Tavern.

• Jovino Santos Neto and Marc Seales at the Paradox.

• Pianist Dawn Clement's trio at Hattie's Hat.

Concerning Seattle's just-completed jazz festival, Earshot, I asked for reader comments last week. Here's what you're saying.

"I really enjoyed the festival overall," writes Microsoft music acquisitions manager (and former Earshot board member) Peter Davenport, "but it's unfortunate for those who don't want to end up spending over $100 per couple for a single set of music, that Earshot has to present artists in a venue like the Triple Door ... Festival audiences should be able to get into a venue for the price of the Earshot ticket."

Festival volunteer Genessee C. Adkins liked the venue switch: "The velvety decor and unbeatable acoustics at the Triple Door open the festival to a whole new crowd."

"I can't pretend to be objective as I read poetry and participated in a panel discussion," writes A.B. Spellman, the prominent poet, jazz critic and former National Endowment for the Arts administrator. "But I have to say that this was my third time at the thing, and I have been, literally, blown away each time. ... We have nothing like it where I live, Washington, D.C."

Paul de Barros: 206-464-3247 or pdebarros@seattletimes.com