Joe Locke / Christos Rafalides Duo
Joe Locke / Christos Rafalides Duo
Christos was my
graduate student at the
Manhattan School of Music from
September 1997 to May 1999. We immediately struck up a great
rapport. The lessons were serious business, but there were
times when they seemed more like a party. Recently, Christos
came to my home, dropped a cassette tape in my lap and,
smiling, said, "Check this out, man." It was a recording of
one of those lessons. We were working on the harmonic
progression to John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice". We'd
discovered a new way to negotiate the changes, and were
taking turns playing for each other. What comes through loud
and clear on that old cassette is the fun we were both
having. There we were, two grown men, elated by the joy of
discovery, laughing and screaming like a couple of kids at a
sleep-over.
Our friendship is based on a serious love and respect for
the music, but the fun we have working together is a big
part of the picture. Since those initial lessons, he's gone
on to become a formidable player, composer and band leader
but, whenever I make music with him, in some way we are back
in that practice room, turned on by the music, loving the
hang, and anticipating what's around the next corner. Making
this recording and documenting that joy was a complete
pleasure.
Masterclasses and Workshops
The urban energy of American Jazz and the rhythms of Cuba, Africa and the Mediterranean come together in the music of this exciting vibes / marimba duo. Once teacher and student, Locke and Rafalides now inspire each other as equals in a program of thought-provoking and beautiful original compositions, as well as Joe Locke's & Christos Rafalides' arrangements of pieces taken from the Great American Songbook and the contemporary popular music repertoire.
Joe and Christos have been widely praised for their individual achievements. Working together as clinician / performers, they bring the broad scope of their collective knowledge with them to any situation, besides giving a knockout concert!
Discography
Comprehensive Joe Locke discography incl. music samples.
Find a list of albums with Joe as a...
Education
Joe and Christos have been widely praised for their individual achievements. Working together as clinician / performers, they bring the broad scope of their collective knowledge with them to any situation, besides giving a knockout concert!
Find out more
