Joe Locke is considered by many to be the most gifted vibraphonist of his generation. His international reputation as a player, composer, band leader and conceptualist has been further enhanced recently by the accolades he has received for the creative output of his touring and recording projects, namely his 4 Walls of Freedom (voted one of the top ten CDs of 2003 by DownBeat magazine), and his work in the U.S. and Japan with the Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group. This unit's live performance at the Ballard Jazz Festival in Seattle, was awarded the Earshot Jazz 2005 Golden Ear Award as Concert of the Year.

Locke's recording "Re-velation", a tribute to vibes master Milt Jackson, stayed at #1 on Jazz Week's national radio chart for an unprecedented 8 weeks in 2005 / 2006. In June 2006 Joe Locke received the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Award for "Mallet Player of the Year".

A list of the artists with whom Joe has performed and recorded exhibits his diversity as an artist. That list includes Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Jimmy Scott, Rod Stewart, Hiram Bullock, Bob Berg and Jeff "Tain" Watts, to name only a few.

Joe Locke has released more than 25 recordings as a band leader, and appeared on almost 100 albums as a guest artist. He endorses vanderPlas Vibraphones and plays the Joe Locke Autograph Mallet (PJL) by Pro-Mark.