Not All Big Bands Are Created Equal - Peter Erskine

Peter Erskine is the drummer on "For The Moment" by the Bob Mintzer Big Band, a Brazilian inspired big band recording, done live at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsman's Guild. For more Bob: www.bobmintzer.com
Peter Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S.. He began playing the drums at the age of four. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy[1] in Michigan, then studied percussion at Indiana University.
His professional career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra.[1] After three years with Kenton he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years. In 1978 he joined Weather Report,[1][2] joining the legendary Jaco Pastorius to form a formidable rhythm section. After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band Word of Mouth, he joined Steps Ahead. His big band recordings with the Bob Mintzer Big Band are excellent modern big band jazz/funk performances studied by many students of drums and drumming.
His music-style spanning talent also features on Kate Bush's 2005 album Aerial, where Erskine teams with bass player Eberhard Weber. Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah and Linda Ronstadt among many more still choose Peter for his multifaceted musicality. Even Scottish and Finnish Classical Orchestras have had him as a featured musician.
His playing style is characterized by a thorough dedication to time-keeping and swing, a great dynamic spectrum and an ability to play several styles of music very sensitively. These qualities may be the reason for his very wide use as a session drummer in musical settings of great variety. Hence he could also be labeled as an "all-around drummer", in terms of musical styles he is capable of playing with skill.
As a jazz drummer, his dedication to timekeeping makes his jazz playing sound quite modern, as he does not tend to play with "flexible" timekeeping as do most traditionalist jazz drummers. It remains a matter of personal opinion to be discussed whether he has thus brought jazz into the modern era of perfect timekeeping (a reference here is made to drum machines and electronic music with flawless metronomical timekeeping of today), or whether he diverges from traditional jazz drumming.
Today, Erskine splits his time as a musician and that of a professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

[@davidstewart4780]

Just realized that in listening to hundreds of hours of Jaco Pastorius, I have spent the equal time "unconsciously" listening to Peter Erskine. What an amazing drummer he is!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Peter is an unsung percussion hero.

[@jonnyquest7939]

I saw Peter playing with the Kenton band ‘74 at Riverside City College and was blown away. Then I saw him playing with Weather Report with Jaco in ‘77 . Amazing musician!

[@clivegaby7775]

Saw him in London 1970 live, with the Kenton band, great drummer.

[@gitarwoman2]

Yes. Peter E, one of my favorite drummers!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

He's always been a great drummer.

[@rhumph223]

Nicely done, gentlemen. Yes, Peter Erskine is 'the consummate musician/drummer' of our time. Moreover, he can do just about any style of music, simply because he has had experience in most styles and he knows what the music needs at any given moment in time. I share Peter's playing with my students as an example of how it should be played and with what kind of sound and touch the music requires. I have the highest regard for Peter. And, he is my friend.

[@ShartimusPrime]

Just bought the "For the Moment" album because of this video.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Good choice!

[@cypan1]

Peter Erskine ..... Bob Mintzer ....Jaco Pastorious .... Michael Randy Brecker 1982 Montreal Jazz Festival all in their Prime ...Just the most incredible Chemistry i Have ever listened too..... type in Jaco Pastorious 1982 ... on you tube and listen CAREFULLY how these Guys Consomate their Incredible Talents ... i was @ this Very Show when they Video taped it all ... when the Camera s Pan @ the end of the show .. we were all Caught on the Cameras lol was one of the Best shows i have ever seen ... with all these Grand Masters in one Concert Hall Theatre St St Denis ... Hope you do Check it Out .... they KICK ASS Truely AWESOME !!!!

[@rhythmfield]

Same here

[@Bob-nu3xe]

Watched Peter on tour in the UK way back with Stan Kenton, Peter was so in the pocket a real joy to meet him

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Beautiful.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Very!

[@MrDowntownLA]

Peter Erskine deserves a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as the quintessential session drummer and the bridge between “Big Bands” and contemporary “Jazz” aka Music. TK

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Agreed!

[@rhythmfield]

He’s always had a certain wise insight and unique perspective that casts an atypical light on whatever he’s discussing (or playing)

[@AlvesterGarnett]

Such a great musician and educator.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

True dat

[@charsibaba6960]

"The horizon line" what an amazing and insightful observation.

[@drumtwo4seven]

Peter Erskine is imho the greatest Big Band drummer of all time. No one else gets close on any level. A great all around drummer as well. One of the all time greats. It just freaks me out how insanely well he plays Big Band. Impeccable.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

His first gigs were with the big bands of Maynard Ferguson and Stan Kenton.

[@bconroy2]

I would love to see and video by Peter exploring what he says at the beginning of this video: "Not all big bands are created equal"." I would love to hear Peter discussing the differences between the great bands he played with, what was different about their creations, how he modified his playing to play with Maynard, Stan , Weather Report, the WDR Big Band and Mintzer's band; what he enjoyed or didn't, in each band he played in, and even including commentary about bands that he may not have played in, such as Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, or Buddy, or Woody Herman. I think that would be very interesting.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

It would!

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Erskine. Respect.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!!

[@Fabelnegros]

thx a lot for this ! awesome !

[@Drumminman4U]

I like Mintzer's compositions. First one I heard was way back in the late 70s with Buddy Rich's band called "No Jive". "March Majestic" is also a favorite of mine. Here's the thing about this type of stuff; it's all very creative and innovative but after a while I miss that 4/4 swing feeling you get with a more Basie/Ellington type of tune. Sometimes it seems like composers just try to get too clever and the piece starts to sound like a science project, you know? If you listen to old Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson recordings there is great writing but they never lost track of that swing feel. It's the meat and potatoes of jazz. IT DON'T MEAN A THING IF IT AINT' GOT THAT SWING!

[@matksena]

He plays Sonor s class at this video !!! great sound

[@erdwest]

Kick and fill!! My favorite type of big band drummer!! Did he play with Bob Berg?

[@PatriotSteve]

Dr. Um - One of the greats. Jaco's drummer... what else do you need to know.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

He was part of Weather Report, when Jaco was in the band

[@PatriotSteve]

Jazz Video Guy Jaco actually convinced Zawinul to hire him.

[@cypan1]

checkout Steve this 1982 Concert in Montreal you will be Amazed thanx type in Jaco Pastorious 1982 on you tube Friggin Astounding ! omg yes they Kick ASS !! unreal !

[@Ryyper]

I prefer Alex Acuna in Weather Report. Erskine is unquestionably one of the best. He is also a legend in his own mind, and there is zero humilty in him.

[@PatriotSteve]

Chris Whoknowsbetter so he’s no different than Jaco, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Bob Dylan, Santana, Prince, and many other elite musicians.

[@speedproductions797]

2:34 awesome!

[@aammirr]

...coulda sworn I saw him in '71 @ Newport with the Kenton band !

[@robertkosar7420]

Probably did he played in a kitten band around that time

[@QuentinFarrisDrums]

Anyone know what he means by, "finding the horizon line so you can shape it." @ 4:31?

[@Drumminman4U]

Yeh, I wondered about that too. Pretty general and undefined. I think he is referring to the overall sound picture and feel of the tune. The "horizon line" would be the pulse the drummer sets that everyone else plays over and around with solos etc. That way the drummer can set up phrases with drum fills and anticipate where everything is going. That's my take away from his comment here. ?

[@isaacleedrums]

Quentin Farris he means to listen to more Bring Me the Horizon.

[@chuckwagon2328]

He got the Kenton gig in 1972 ...

[@travelingman9763]

I saw him then and attended a Kenton Clinic at Towson University.

[@russellesimonetta9071]

As a drummer you must listen but never follow!!! Drive the bus!!!

[@Hornman64]

He did play with the Kenton band but I don't know the period off hand.

[@jimbrown1559]

Beginning in my college years (early '60s), I made a point of hearing the Kenton band as often as possible. Sometime in that time frame, Erskine had just joined the band, and the guys were absolutely THRILLED! I'd guess '63-'64?

[@Bob-nu3xe]

Il met Peter back when he toured with Kenton he gave me one piece of advice don't sell your Slingerland drum kit which i did, regretted it ever since

[@JazzVideoGuy]

No regrets, puleez. Just keep swinging.

[@Bob-nu3xe]

thanks man 65 and back on the throne still kicking some of the young guns! drummers are a special group of people!

[@MrPartidoalto]

He was using the big Slingerland kit back then and through the Maynard Ferguson years and part of the WR era

[@jerryschoeffler5354]

@@MrPartidoalto Saw Peter with Kenton in 1972 at Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK. Was awesome then. Just out of interlochen. I still have my '73 6 piece black oyster kit with double release super sensitive snare Slingerlands. Love them. Time and aging of the wood has improved the sound. I always thought that Kentons cymbal selection was spot on for the big band sounds.

[@pin8584]

I thought he was talking about skullgirls

[@MrDrumsPhilAmbros]

WHEN I HEAR ARRANGEMENTS AS THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE? IF YOU WILL, AND NEVER LIKED A BIG BAND THAT PLAYS THIS WAY, WITHOUT RIME OF REASON? FOR ME.. IT,S NOT THE SAME AS MY OLD FRIEND BUDDY RICH BAND, OR THE BASIE BAND ? I WANT TO HEAR THE BAND SWINGING WITH DRIVE AND ALL THE SOLES UP FRONT, AND ON AND EVEN PATH, WITH A START AND A END? BUT THAT IS ME PERHAPS NOT YOU..AS A DRUMMER WITH SINATRA AND ALL THE REST I BECAME A DRIVING DRUMMER LIKE BUDDY DID.... HOWEVER AT TIMES I PLAY AS JOE MORELLO AND LOVE TRIO WORK, THAT IS THE PLACE FOR ME TO PLAY AS THIS BAND IS WITH THAT ARRANGEMENT..TO BE A FREE DRUMMER IN AND OUT OF THE MUSIC, HOWEVER WE ALL LIKE WHAT WE LIKE? AS FOR PETER HE IS A TRUE PRO AND CAN HANDLE ANY BAND I WILL SAY THAT ALL DRUMMERS LIKE TO PLAY ONLY WHAT THEY LIKE? HOWEVER IF YOU WANT THE MONEY YOU SHOULD PLAY EVERYTHING .....PHILLY