Jazz Articles about Peter Erskine

About Peter Erskine

Album Review

Peter Erskine New Trio: In Praise of Shadows

Read "In Praise of Shadows" reviewed by Dave Wayne

by Dave Wayne
March 19, 2017

Expecting the delicately brooding pastel hues of his piano trio recordings for ECM Records, my socks were pleasantly knocked off from the git-go by Peter Erskine's New Trio. In Praise of Shadows opens with a slyly sweet, reggae-infused rendition of “Sukiyaki," a Japanese folk tune that became a surprise novelty hit for Kyu Sakamoto back in 1963. Erskine's version, featuring guest Judd Miller on electronic whistling, hints at the deeper meaning of the song, whose title--literally translated--means “I Look Up ...

Bailey's Bundles

A Mixed Bag - Joonsam, Petros Klampanis, O.R.K., Peter Erskine, David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner

by C. Michael Bailey
March 1, 2017

Joonsam A Door Origin Records 2016 South Korean bassist Joonsam Lee moved to New York City in 2007 and began composing...composing and meeting other like-minded musicians with whom to share ideas. For his debut recording, Lee has assembled these compositions, choosing those which reflect his many musical interests and experiences. With his sturdy rhythm featuring pianist Aaron Parks and drummer Nate Wood--Joonsam (who goes by this single name) adds trumpeter Ralph Alessi on trumpet on ...

Album Review

Peter Erskine Trio: John Taylor/Palle Danielsson: As it Was

Read "As it Was" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
July 18, 2016

Over the course of five years in the 1990s, drummer Peter Erskine, pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Danielsson came very close to perfecting the contemporary piano trio presentation. Across four ECM releases, You Never Know (1993), Time Being (1994), As It Is (1996) and Juni (1999), the international group, all with prior ECM history, came together under the uncustomary leadership of a drummer. The body of their work as a collective reflected their individual aspirations toward sharing the complimentary ...

Interview

Peter Erskine: Paging Dr. Um

by R.J. DeLuke
March 14, 2016

There's not much ground drummer Peter Erskine hasn't covered. He's said to have appeared on more than 600 albums. He has won two Grammys and holds an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. He's been a part of the big bands of Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson, and has played with the likes of Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, the Brecker Brothers, John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, Eliane Elias and many more. Then there's ...

Album Review

Peter Erskine: Dr. Um

by Dan Bilawsky
December 23, 2015

It would appear that this project has awakened the Peter Erskine of yore, the drummer who became legend while cresting the waves of fusion with Weather Report and Steps Ahead. In recent years Erskine's drumming has been spare, elegant, open, and, in enough instances, lightly swinging. If one word would come to mind to describe that playing, it would be “tasteful." But does that automatically mean that joining forces with some plugged-in players and laying down some ...

Album Review

Dave Slonaker Big Band: Intrada

by Jack Bowers
March 28, 2014

Don't be put off by the name. Intrada, composer / arranger Dave Slonaker points out, is “a musical form often composed as a prelude, overture or fanfare," one whose upbeat phrases give rise to an exhilarating curtain-raiser on Slonaker's initial big-band recording. Rest assured this is a world-class ensemble and there's no doubt whose steady hand is at the helm: Slonaker wrote every number save the standard “It's Only a Paper Moon" and arranged the complete package. ...

Album Review

Dewa Budjana: Joged Kahyangan

Read "Joged Kahyangan" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
February 22, 2014

A million-selling artist in Indonesia with pop-rock band Gigi, guitarist Dewa Budjana's solo projects informed by progressive rock, Indonesian folk and jazz fusion reveal a greater spirit of adventure. Budjana's second release of 2013 on the MoonJune label following Dawai in Paradise is similarly melodic, though differs significantly. Firstly, the word-fusion-meets-prog rock of Dawai in Paradise gives way to a more overtly contemporary jazz approach on Joged Kahyangan. Secondly, whereas the earlier release featured predominantly Indonesian musicians, Budjana harnesses heavyweight ...