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This review is most of all for you fusion- and jazzfans out there. Those, who are as familiar with the name Peter Erskine, like Rockfans are with Angus Young. Meanwhile 54 year old Erskine certainly belongs to the best and most busy drummers of the last decade. He worked on more than 700 album producions. He was with Steely Dan, Joni Mitches, Diana Krall and Weather Report, just to name a few. And he has put out nine albums so far under his own name and written a few books. Nowadays he also runs a CD Production company with his wife Mutsuko. 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. 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. 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. 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." |