About eight years ago, Peter Erskine, Nguyen Le' (git) and Michael Benita (Bass) have gathered to a so called transcontinental threesome. These three firstclass musicians make each for themselves a colourful imput  taken from their musical heritage. The first result  of this cooperation was the CD „E_L_B“ from 2001.
Now they have come together again for another chapter and a tour. Next to Peter Erskine, Michel Benita, who is born in Algier and now lives in Paris handles the contrabass. He is also a member of the Orchestre National de Jazz. - All good things are three, as we say so. And vietnamese guitarist Nguyên Lê, who was actually born in Paris, France, has become one of the key figures of the european jazz scene and world music. You can see and feel his horizon in the mixture of music of his country and traditional Jazz, fusion but also Jimi Hendrix. He developed his very own style. 

So, when you put these 3 musicians together, you only get high quality sound. And tonight they are here at Munich's Jazzclub Unterfahrt (by the way, this club is nominated as one of the 100 best jazzclubs worldwide). Long talk short sense - it is absolutey sold out. Yeah well, the club ain't that gig, and maybe 150 people fit in. Although it doesn't happen that often, that it is so crowded exspecially when we all have to get up early next morning for work.  

The band starts at 9 p.m. with too much understatement but therefore even more applause. Peter Erskine seems like uncle Ernie from next door. But he definately ain't behind his drumkit. The set starts with some rather quiet tunes, which soon develop a sort of passion for details. There is so much power in it, but also softness.combined with a mystery touch of unusual vision of modern jazz. The setlist includes own compositions of Erskine as well as other's. He dedicates 'Theme For Jaco' the former Weather Report Bassist Jaco Pastorius, who died much too soon in the early eighties.
Also I have to admit, I have rarely checked out such a great guitarist  like Nguy'n Le'. At some points I forget to close my mouth because of amazement.

You could call it not from this world. E_L_B play themselves into multiplicated improvistations, and at some point I can even make a rock rhythm out. And I have the impression the notes in front of  Nguy'n Le' are just there for environment. Because he doesn't seem to even look at it during his play. Back to Peter Erskine, who takes the frontrole in back with his magic drumsticks and always keeps smiling - don't worry be happy.... he seems to say. It all looks so easy and light and sounds perfect. But behind the musical performance there is 150% perfection. Over all Mr. Benita holds the rhythm on the contrabass and also gets his solo stint inbetween, to show how good he is as well. 
The magic performance lasts twice one hour with a 20 minutes break....

And we get one encore over all. In the end Peter Ersking says: " thank you for coming and if you wanna hear the same tunes, yeah well, almost the same tunes  again, then please come back tomorrow."
That was it. I get once again to the conclution that the best musicians come out of the fusion corner. Those who understand to combine all styles of music.
So - for every musiclover who is open for different tunes, this here is an absolute must. For everybody else - be carefull it's heavy stuff.....

Last but not least - no matter what, but in the end, music is only music - it's just gotta but good.... 
http://www.petererskine.com/         http://www.nguyen-le.com/Site/Bonjour.html