Peter Erskine • Peregrine Hard Wag Records HWR 001
Peregrine, named after the peregrine falcon, an impressive bird and the fastest animal on earth, consists of eight tracks, three of which are Erskine originals and one by pianist Alan Pasqua. Compositions by Keith Jarrett, Jimmy Webb, Brian Wilson, and Phoebe Snow fill out the album -- there is not a dud in the group. In Erskine’s words “. . . the album I’ve always wanted to make” is fundamentally a piano-trio album, which is what Peregrine is. The personnel is ramped up the with the addition of a vocalist, saxophone and percussion on “Poetry Man,” and sax only on “Leaving LA.” Following the cymbal splash that introduces the album’s opener “Gumbo Time,” I knew I was in for a delightful sonic/musical experience. As soon as Alan Pasqua’s piano enters, the lazy, gospel-tinged theme reminded me of Mac Rebennack, Alan Toussaint and, surprisingly, Keith Jarrett. After a slow slog through a southern swamp as portrayed by the trio here, the next tune, “Bop Be,” presents a straightforward, swing-oriented romp in an idiom as iconic as the music it represents. Everyone shines on this one, especially Pasqua and Colley, who sail through their solos with economy and finesse. Erskine displays a few tricks here, also. The addition of Bob Shepphard’s sax on “Leaving LA” adds urgency to the frantic pace of this Erskine original. The languid pace of “Wichita Lineman” lends new meaning to the phrase laid back. The same can be said for Brian Wilson’s iconic “God Only Knows” -- I have not heard a lovelier version of this song. “Poetry Man” introduces vocalist Kate Lamont, who pays a heartfelt and beautiful homage to original songstress and composer Phoebe Snow. Two Erskine originals, “David’s Blues” and “On the Lake,” conclude the album with a “walking blues” and an atmospheric, painfully beautiful tone poem, respectively. A photo on the back of the printed inner sleeve shows the three principle players smiling for the camera. You’ll also be smiling shortly after lowering the stylus on this outstanding jazz record. It will continue because of the demonstration-quality sound of this recording. The 140-gram, translucent disc, on Paramount Pressing’s Ultra Vinyl, lets the music shine. Though it is not stated whether the recording originated from analog or digital sources, I had no issues with what I heard. Turning the volume slightly past the norm on my preamp put the musicians in my room. Incidentally, Hard Wag, the name of the record label, has
been interpreted as meaning equally most excellent and pure joy. With
the perfectly honed playing heard from all the participants on this album and the
LP’s outstanding sonics, it is indeed both. |
wo-time Grammy
Award-winning jazz drummer Peter Erskine has been a much-in-demand musician for over fifty
years. He began his career in 1972, when he held down the drummer’s chair in Stan
Kenton’s band. Four years later, he was drumming for Maynard Ferguson. A few years
after that came a four-year stint with the iconic jazz-fusion band Weather Report, a
tenure that earned him his first Grammy in 1979 for the group’s album 8:30.
His second Grammy came in 2006 when he was a member of the WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk)
big band. He has recorded over twenty albums under his own name and well over that number
as a co-leader. Erskine has appeared on numerous albums as a sideman, working with artists
such as John Abercrombie, Gary Burton, Diana Krall, Al Di Meola, Jaco Pastorius, John
Patitucci, John Scofield and Kenny Wheeler. To drop names from more popular musical
genres, he has worked with Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, Michael Franks, Randy
Crawford, Michel Legrand, Toots Thieleman, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart, Diane Schuur, Kate
Bush and Barbra Streisand. In addition to his appearances as a drummer on over 700 albums
and film scores, Erskine pursues the role of educator through the publication of several
instructional books on drumming and at the Thornton School of Music, University of
Southern California, where he is Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset Studies.