“...The Pacific Northwest's secret weapon on bass. Well, not
so secret. He is one serious cat (to use the parlance of our
times) on bass. He has an instantly recognizable rhythmic
and harmonic style that includes chords and some
quantifiably viscous funkosity. He grooves is what I am telling
you...”
Bassist Ridiculoso - Basso Ridiculoso
“Good fusion is hard to come by, but thanks to people like
bassist Erskine, it’s making a comeback...”
Kyle O' Brian - Jazz Society of Oregon
“...Hard-hitting...fluent..”
Bill Milkowski - Jazz Times
“despite his incredible technique, he never overplays and
instead stays within service to the songs... ...I suspect with
the talent he shows here, we will be hearing much more from
this player/composer. ”
Brad Walseth - Jazz Chicago
Read more
“...The Pacific Northwest's secret weapon on bass. Well, not
so secret. He is one serious cat (to use the parlance of our
times) on bass. He has an instantly recognizable rhythmic
and harmonic style that includes chords and some
quantifiably viscous funkosity. He grooves is what I am telling
you...”
Bassist Ridiculoso - Basso Ridiculoso
“Good fusion is hard to come by, but thanks to people like
bassist Erskine, it’s making a comeback...”
Kyle O' Brian - Jazz Society of Oregon
“...Hard-hitting...fluent..”
Bill Milkowski - Jazz Times
“despite his incredible technique, he never overplays and
instead stays within service to the songs... ...I suspect with
the talent he shows here, we will be hearing much more from
this player/composer. ”
Brad Walseth - Jazz Chicago
“The instrumental interplay is airtight and based on complex
polyrhythms, like a cross between Return to Forever and the
Fania All-Stars”
Burning Ambulance - Burning Ambulance
“ANYONE WHO HEARS DAMIAN ERSKINE’S new album So
To Speak is about to find out what both keyed-in locals and
hardcore jazz/fusion bass enthusiasts already know: There’s
a world-class virtuoso bassist living in Portland, Oregon, and
most nights he’s out there hustling like the rest of us.”
Bryan Beller - Bass Player Magazine
“A modern groove master with top notch tecnhique”
Mike Flynn - Bass Guitar UK
“Bassist Erskine is an extraordinary talent...”
Layla Macoran - NY Cultural Examiner
“bassist Damian Erskine’s new CD, So to Speak, is a
supremely inspired effort, rendered by some of Portland’s
best jazz, funk, Latin and soul musicians. His compositions
are a master class in groovology, ridiculously strong meter,
inventive melodies and a solid underlayment”
Don Campbell - Oregon Music News
"Rhythmic mastery and the Erskine name continue to be
synonymous with Damian Erskine's smoking performances
on So To Speak."
Dan Bilawsky - All About Jazz
“Damian Erskine leading a hip group with a Latin-fusion
influence on a host of new tunes, all of them composed by
Erskine. He’s the Man and proves it in his inventive
compositions and in his imaginative ideas and performance. ”
Bob Gish - Jazz Inside NY
“There is no denying his chops; the syncopated lines are fun
to follow and keep your head moving constantly.”
Joey Flores - MyOwnFm
“Erskine was in supreme command of his band and his music
and his bass. The lightning fast runs we have come to expect
from him were compounded by odd-meters, large orchestral
statements, uncut funk, latin grooves and complex yet
completely accessible… a powerfully enjoyable experience.”
Tom D'Antoni - Oregon Music News
“Damian Erskine’s “So to Speak,” is simply flawless,
rhythmically mesmerizing and underneath it all melodically
transparent! “So to Speak,” by Erskine escapes the spoils of
commercialism untarnished to unveil a musical gem that want
disappoint even the hard to please music enthusiasts! ”
Rob Young - The Urban Flux
“A high octane contemporary jazz fusillade that has it on the
ball at every turn. In case you thought Victor Wooten is as
good as it gets for jazz bass, you would be right, but now
Wooten has a worthy, new bookend. Hot stuff.”
Chris Spector - Midwest Record
“Damian Erskine's significant facility, big pocket and harmonic
awareness are what comes when talent and hard work
collide.”
Johnathan Herrera - Bass Player Magazine
“....Damian has such a refreshing and individual bass style. I
thought of Jaco, Linley Marthe, Richard Bona and others but
he certainly has his own voice and is someone who, make no
mistake, it’s time you checked out. But this is not just a record
for bassists. This is simply a great record.”
Phil Wain - NoTreble.com
“..Trios showcases Damian's musicality that does never gets
overshadowed by his serious chops. Recommended !!”
Abstract Logix
“...Great playing, and gorgeous tone throughout”
Bill Murphy & J.D. Considine - Bass Guitar
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