The Joe Locke/Geoffrey Keezer Group is a perfect match, balancing the wide musical interests of two leaders who are also formidable composers and performers. Joining them are two up-and-coming young artists who've been on the national jazz scene for over a decade apiece, drummer
Terreon Gully (who made his mark recording with
Stefon Harris,
Jacky Terrasson, and
Lizz Wright) plus bassist
Mike Pope (who recorded with
Chuck Loeb,
Stefan Karlsson, and
Bill Bruford, among others). The quartet mostly focuses on originals by the co-leaders, with
Keezer sometimes incorporating electric keyboards and
Pope alternating between electric and acoustic basses.
Locke's tense "Darth Alexis" produces plenty of fireworks with his explosive solo and
Keezer's striking blend of acoustic and electric keyboards. The vibraphonist's refreshing arrangement of
John Coltrane's "Naima" adds an unusual countermelody with the theme stripped down and initially hidden in the background, then spacing it out in an irregular manner.
Keezer's setting of British singer/songwriter
Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" is a transcription of her a cappella recording, with his electric keyboards providing a hip accompaniment for
Locke's sparse vibraphone. The pianist takes center stage in his glistening "Terraces," a piece full of surprising twists. While
Joe Locke and
Geoff Keezer both lead individual groups of their own, the occasional opportunity for them to join forces is guaranteed to produce memorable music.