Peter Erskine

Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

Early life and education

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 in Michigan, then studied percussion at Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University.

Career

His professional music career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra. After four years with Kenton, he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years. In 1978, he joined Weather Report, joining Jaco Pastorius in the rhythm section. After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band's ''Word of Mouth (Jaco Pastorius album), Word of Mouth'', he joined Steps Ahead.

In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release ''Swingrass '83''. He toured the US in 1992 with Chick Corea.

Erskine splits his time as a musician and a professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

He was featured on Kate Bush's 2005 album ''Aerial (album), Aerial'', where Erskine teamed with bass player Eberhard Weber. Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah and Linda Ronstadt, as well as Scottish and Finnish classical orchestras, have had Erskine perform as a featured musician.

In 2011, he appeared on stage at the Royal Opera House, London in the new opera ''Anna Nicole''.

Honors and awards

In 1992, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Personal life

Erskine is married to Mutsuko Erskine. The two have two children, actress and writer Maya Erskine, and film editor and producer Taichi Erskine.

Discography

As leader

Source:

As co-leader

* 1985: ''Current Events (album), Current Events'' with John Abercrombie (guitarist), John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson (ECM, 1986)
* 1988: ''John Abercrombie / Marc Johnson / Peter Erskine'' (ECM, 1989) – live
* 1991: ''StAR (album), StAR'' with Jan Garbarek, Miroslav Vitous (ECM, 1991)

* 1994: ''Traction Avant'' with Alessandro Galati, Palle Danielsson (Via Veneto, 1995)
* 1995?: ''From Kenton to Now'' with Richard Torres (Fuzzy Music, 1995)
* 1996: ''Jason Salad!'' with Alessandro Galati, John Patitucci, Bob Sheppard (Via Veneto, 1997)
* 1996: ''Turnage: Blood on the Floor'' with John Scofield, Martin Robertson, Peter Rundel (Decca, 1997)
* 1998: ''Live at the Baked Potato'' with Dirk K., Jörg Kleutgens (Kalle Fornia, 1998) – live
* 1998: ''The Hudson Project (album), The Hudson Project'' with John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, John Patitucci (Stretch, 2000) – live
* 2000: ''ELB'' with Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita (ACT, 2001)
* 2001: ''Badlands'' with Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter (Fuzzy Music, 2002)
* 2002?: ''Turnage: Fractured Lines'' with Evelyn Glennie, Christian Lindberg, Leonard Slatkin (Chandos, 2002)
* 2006: ''Worth the Wait'' with Tim Hagans (Fuzzy Music, 2008) – live
* 2008?: ''Dream Flight'' with ELB (ACT, 2008)
* 2009?: ''The Trio Live @ Charlie O's'' (Fuzzy Music, 2009) – live
* 2009: ''Scenes from a Dream'' with Chris Minh Doky, Larry Goldings (Red Dot Music, 2010)
* 2010?: ''The Interlochen Concert'' with Alan Pasqua, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Darek Oles (Fuzzy Music, 2010) – live
* 2010?: ''Standards 2: Movie Music'' with Bob Mintzer, Darek Oleszkiewicz, Alan Pasqua (Fuzzy Music, 2011) – soundtrack
* 2014: ''Trio M/E/D'' with Palle Danielsson, Rita Marcotulli (Abeat, 2015) – live
* 2015: ''How Long Is Now?'' with Lars Danielsson, Iiro Rantala (ACT, 2016)
* 2019: ''3 Nights in L.A.'' with George Garzone, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles (Fuzzy Music, 2019)[3CD] – live
* 2021: ''Live In Italy'' with Alan Pasqua, Darek Oles (Fuzzy Music, 2022) – live

Source:

As a member

Steps Ahead
* ''Steps Ahead (album), Steps Ahead'' (Elektra/Musician, 1983)
* ''Modern Times'' (Elektra/Musician, 1984)
* ''Magnetic'' (Elektra, 1986)
* ''Holding Together'' (NYC, 2002)[2CD] – live rec. 1999

As sideman

With Rez Abbasi
* ''Third Ear'' (Cathexis, 1995) – rec. 1991–92
* ''Modern Memory'' (Cathexis, 1998)

With John Abercrombie (guitarist), John Abercrombie
* 1987: ''Getting There (album), Getting There'' (ECM, 1988)
* 1992: ''November (John Abercrombie album), November'' (ECM, 1993)

With David Benoit (musician), David Benoit
* ''Waiting for Spring (album), Waiting for Spring'' (GRP, 1989)
* ''Letter to Evan (David Benoit album), Letter to Evan'' (GRP, 1992)
* ''The Benoit/Freeman Project 2'' with Russ Freeman (Peak, 2004)

With Wayne Bergeron
* ''You Call This a Living?'' (Weg, 2002)
* ''Full Circle'' (Wayne Bergeron, 2016) – rec. 2012–15

With Warren Bernhardt
* ''Warren Bernhardt Trio '83'' (DMP, 1983)
* ''Hands On'' (DMP, 1987)
* ''Heat of the Moment'' (DMP, 1989)
* ''Amelia's Song'' (DMP, 2003)
* ''So Real'' (DMP, 2003)

With Randy Bernsen
* ''Music for Planets People and Washing Machines'' (Amc, 1984)
* ''Mo' Wasabi'' (Zebra, 1986)

With Chris Botti
* ''Slowing Down the World'' (GRP, 1999)
* ''December (Chris Botti album), December'' (Columbia, 2002)

With Michael Bublé
* ''Crazy Love (Michael Bublé album), Crazy Love'' (Reprise, 2009)
* ''Christmas (Michael Bublé album), Christmas'' (Reprise, 2011)
* ''Love (Michael Bublé album), Love'' (Reprise, 2018)

With Gary Burton
* 1988?: ''Times Like These (Gary Burton album), Times Like These'' (GRP, 1988)
* 1989: ''Reunion (Gary Burton album), Reunion'' (GRP, 1990)
* 1991?: ''Cool Nights'' (GRP, 1991)
* 1993: ''It's Another Day'' (GRP, 1994)
* 1996: ''Departure'' (Concord Jazz, 1997)

With Joey Calderazzo
* ''In the Door'' (Blue Note, 1991)
* ''The Traveler'' (Blue Note, 1993)

With George Cables
* ''Cables' Vision'' (Contemporary, 1980)
* ''Whisper Not'' (Atlas, 1981)
* ''The Big Jazz Trio'' (Eastworld, 1984)
* ''Circle (George Cables album), Circle'' (Contemporary, 1985)
* ''Shared Secrets (album), Shared Secrets'' (MuseFX, 2002)

With Alex Cline
* ''Sparks Fly Upward'' (Cryptogramophone, 1999)
* ''The Constant Flame'' (Cryptogramophone, 2001)

With Pino Daniele
* ''Medina'' (RCA, 2001)
* ''Passi D'Autore'' (RCA, 2004)
* ''Il mio nome è Pino Daniele e vivo qui'' (RCA, 2007)

With Eddie Daniels
* ''Benny Rides Again'' with Gary Burton (GRP, 1992)
* ''Under the Influence'' (GRP, 1993)
* ''The Five Seasons'' (Shanachie, 1995)

With Yelena Eckemoff
* ''Cold Sun'' (L&H, 2010)
* ''Flying Steps'' (L&H, 2010)
* ''Glass Song'' (L&H, 2013)
* ''Desert'' (L&H, 2018)

With Eliane Elias
* ''Cross Currents (Eliane Elias album), Cross Currents'' (Denon, 1987)
* ''So Far So Close'' (Blue Note, 1989)
* ''A Long Story (Eliane Elias album), A Long Story'' (Manhattan, 1991)
* ''Fantasia (Eliane Elias album), Fantasia'' (Blue Note, 1992)
* ''Paulistana (Eliane Elias album), Paulistana'' (Blue Note, 1993)
* ''Time and Again (Eliane Elias album), Time and Again'' (Candid, 2024)

With Maynard Ferguson
* ''Conquistador (Maynard Ferguson album), Conquistador'' (Columbia, 1977)
* ''New Vintage (Maynard Ferguson album), New Vintage'' (Columbia, 1977)
* ''Carnival (Maynard Ferguson album), Carnival'' (Columbia, 1978)

With Don Grolnick
* ''Hearts and Numbers'' (Hip Pocket, 1985)
* ''Weaver of Dreams'' (Blue Note, 1990)

With Bob James (musician), Bob James
* ''Foxie'' (Tappan Zee, 1983)
* ''The Genie: Themes & Variations From The TV Series "Taxi"'' (Columbia, 1983)
* ''The Swan'' (CBS/Sony, 1984)

With Marc Johnson (musician), Marc Johnson
* ''Bass Desires (album), Bass Desires'' (ECM, 1985)
* ''Second Sight (Marc Johnson album), Second Sight'' (ECM, 1987)

With Stan Kenton
* ''National Anthems Of The World (album), National Anthems of the World'' (Creative World, 1972)
* ''Birthday in Britain'' (Creative World, 1973)
* ''7.5 on the Richter Scale'' (Creative World, 1973)
* ''Live at the London Hilton 1973 Vol. 2'' (Status, 1973) – live
* ''Fire, Fury and Fun, Fire, Fury, and Fun'' (Creative World, 1974)
* ''Stan Kenton plays Chicago'' (Creative World, 1974)
* ''Street of Dreams'' (Creative World, 1992) – rec. 1970–76
* ''Live at Carthage College Vol. 1'' (Magic, 1994) – live
* ''Live at the London Hilton 1973 Vol. 1'' (Status, 1994) – live rec. 1973
* ''At Pavilion Hemel Hempstead England 1973'' (Status, 1996) – live rec. 1973
* ''Live at Newport Jazz Festival'' (Jazz Band, 1999) – live
* ''At the Arcadia Theatre 1974'' (Magic, 2000) – live rec. 1974

With Diana Krall
* ''The Look of Love (Diana Krall album), The Look of Love'' (Verve, 2001)
* ''The Girl in the Other Room'' (Verve, 2004)

With Chuck Loeb
* ''Simple Things'' (DMP, 1994)
* ''Silhouette'' (Shanachie, 2013)

With Mike Mainieri
* ''Wanderlust'' (Warner Bros., 1981)
* ''An American Diary'' (NYC, 1995)
* ''An American Diary: The Dreamings'' (NYC, 1997)

With Vince Mendoza
* ''Start Here'' (World Pacific, 1990)
* ''Jazzpaña'' (Atlantic, 1993)
* ''Sketches'' (ACT, 1994)
* WDR Big Band Köln, ''Caribbean Night'' (BHM Productions, 1997)

With Al Di Meola
* ''Orange and Blue (album), Orange and Blue'' (Tomato, 1994)
* ''The Infinite Desire'' (Telarc, 1998)
* ''Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody'' (Concord, 2011)

With Bob Mintzer
* ''Source'' (Agharta, 1982)
* ''Papa Lips'' (Eastworld , 1983)
* ''Incredible Journey'' (DMP Digital Music Products, DMP, 1985)
* ''Camouflage'' (DMP, 1986)
* ''Spectrum'' (DMP, 1988)
* ''Urban Contours'' (DMP, 1989)
* ''Art of the Big Band'' (DMP, 1991)
* ''Departure'' (DMP, 1993)
* ''Hymn'' (Owl, 1991) – rec. 1990
* ''I Remember Jaco'' (Novus Records, Novus, 1992)
* ''The First Decade'' (DMP, 1995)
* ''Quality Time'' (TVT, 1998)
* ''Gently'' (DMP, 2002)
* ''For the Moment'', (MCG Jazz, 2012)
* ''All L.A. Band'' (Fuzzy, 2016)

With Makoto Ozone
* ''Now You Know'' (Columbia, 1987)
* ''Walk Alone'' (JVC Victor, 1992)

With Alan Pasqua
* ''My New Old Friend'' (Cryptogramophone, 2005)
* ''Standards'' (Fuzzy Music, 2007)

With Jaco Pastorius
* ''Word of Mouth (Jaco Pastorius album), Word of Mouth'' (Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros., 1981) – rec. 1980–81
* ''Invitation (Jaco Pastorius album), Invitation'' (Warner Bros., 1983) – live rec. 1982
* ''The Birthday Concert'' (Warner Bros., 1995) – rec. 1981
* ''Twins Live in Japan 1982'' (1999) – live rec. 1982
* ''Guitar & Bass'' (2004)
* ''Live in Japan'' (2005)
* ''Introducing: Jaco Pastorius'' (2006)
* ''The Word Is Out'' (2006)
* ''Live and Outrageous'' (2007)
* ''The Florida Concert'' (2008)
* ''Truth, Liberty & Soul'' (Resonance Records, Resonance, 2017) – live rec. 1982

With John Patitucci
* ''John Patitucci (album), John Patitucci'' (GRP, 1987)
* ''Sketchbook'' (GRP, 1990)
* ''Mistura Fina'' (GRP, 1995)

With Lee Ritenour
* ''Rit's House'' (GRP, 2002)
* ''Rhythm Sessions'' (Concord, 2012)

With John Scofield
* ''Summertime'' with Pat Metheny (Bugsy, 1994)[2CD]
* ''Shortcuts - Jazzpar Combo 1999'' with Hans Ulrik (Stunt, 2000) – rec. 1999

With Mike Stern
* ''Time in Place (Mike Stern album), Time in Place'' (Atlantic, 1988)
* ''Jigsaw (Mike Stern album), Jigsaw'' (Atlantic, 1989)

With Sadao Watanabe (musician), Sadao Watanabe
* ''Sweet Deal'' (Elektra, 1991)
* ''A Night with Strings'' (Elektra, 1992)
* ''I'm with you'' (Victor, 2014)

With Weather Report
* ''Mr. Gone (album), Mr. Gone'' (Columbia, 1978)
* ''8:30'' (Columbia, 1979)
* ''Night Passage (Weather Report album), Night Passage'' (Columbia, 1980)
* ''Weather Report (1982 album), Weather Report'' (Columbia, 1982)
* ''This is This!'' (Columbia, 1986)
* ''Live and Unreleased (album), Live and Unreleased'' (Columbia, 2002)
* ''Forecast: Tomorrow'' (Columbia, 2006)

With Kenny Wheeler
* ''Music for Large & Small Ensembles'' (ECM, 1990)
* ''The Widow in the Window'' (ECM, 1990)
* ''Kayak'' (Ah Um, 1992)
Source:

With others
* Joni Mitchell, ''Mingus (Joni Mitchell album), Mingus'' (Asylum, 1979)
* Bobby Hutcherson, ''Un Poco Loco (album), Un Poco Loco'' (Columbia, 1979) – rec. 1979
* Joe Farrell, ''Sonic Text'' (Contemporary, 1980) - rec. 1979
* Kazumi Watanabe, ''To Chi Ka'' (Nippon Columbia, 1980)
* Joe Henderson, ''Relaxin' at Camarillo (album), Relaxin' at Camarillo'' (Contemporary, 1981) – rec. 1979
* Various Artists, ''Swingrass '83'' (Antilles, 1983)
* Ben Sidran, ''Bop City'' (Antilles, 1984)
* Andy LaVerne, ''Liquid Silver'' (DMP, 1984)
* Bill Reichenbach Jr., ''Bill Reichenbach Quartet'' (Silver Seven, 1984)
* Stanley Jordan, ''Magic Touch (Stanley Jordan album), Magic Touch'' (Blue Note, 1985)
* Peter Sprague, ''Na Pali Coast'' (Concord Jazz, 1985)
* Mitchel Forman, ''Train of Thought'' (Magenta, 1985)
* Gary Peacock, ''Guamba'' (ECM, 1987)
* Bob Berg, ''Short Stories'' (Denon, 1987)
* Michael Brecker, ''Don't Try This at Home (Michael Brecker album), Don't Try This at Home'' (Impulse!, 1988)
* Doc Severinsen, ''Facets'' (Amherst, 1988)
* Lyle Mays, ''Street Dreams'' (Geffen, 1988)
* Rickie Lee Jones, ''Flying Cowboys'' (Geffen, 1989)
* Joe Diorio, ''Minor Elegance'' (MGI, 1989)
* Michael Franks (musician), Michael Franks, ''Blue Pacific (album), Blue Pacific'' (Reprise, 1990)
* Wolfgang Muthspiel, ''The Promise'' (Amadeo, 1990)
* Rick Margitza, ''Hope'' (Blue Note, 1991)
* Bob Sheppard (musician), Bob Sheppard, ''Tell Tale Signs'' (Windham Hill Jazz, 1991)
* Ralph Towner, ''Open Letter (Ralph Towner album), Open Letter'' (ECM, 1992)
* John Beasley (musician), John Beasley, ''Cauldron'' (Windham Hill Jazz, 1992)
* Randy Crawford, ''Through the Eyes of Love (Randy Crawford album), Through the Eyes of Love'' (Warner Bros., 1992)
* Jimmy Haslip, ''Arc'' (GRP, 1993)
* Arturo Sandoval, ''Dream Come True'' (GRP, 1993)
* Tiger Okoshi, ''Echoes of a Note'' (JVC, 1993)
* Michel Legrand, ''Michel Plays Legrand'' (LaserLight, 1993)
* Jon Herington, ''The Complete Rhyming Dictionary'' (Glass House, 1993)
* Toots Thielemans, ''East Coast West Coast'' (Reprise, 1994)
* Hubert Laws, ''Storm Then the Calm'' (Jazz Heritage, 1994)
* Michael Franks (musician), Michael Franks, ''Abandoned Garden'' (Warner Bros., 1995)
* Steely Dan, ''Alive in America'' (Giant, 1995) – live rec. 1993–94
* Didier Lockwood, ''New York Rendez-Vous'' (JMS., 1995)
* Martial Solal, ''Triangle'' (JMS., 1995)
* Kyle Eastwood, ''From There to Here'' (Columbia, 1998)
* Steve Tyrell, ''A New Standard'' (Atlantic, 1999)
* Brandon Fields (musician), Brandon Fields, ''Fields & Strings'' (Paras Recordings, 1999)
* Andy Summers, ''Green Chimneys'' (BMG, 1999)
* Rolf Kühn, ''Internal Eyes'' (Intuition, 1999)
* Rickie Lee Jones, ''It's Like This'' (Artemis, 2000)
* Don Grolnick, ''London Concert'' (Fuzzy Music, 2000) – live rec. 1995
* Joni Mitchell, ''Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell album), Both Sides Now'' (Reprise, 2000) – rec. 1999
* Marc Antoine (musician), Marc Antoine, ''Cruisin (GRP, 2001)
* Laurence Juber, ''Different Times'' (Solid Air, 2001)
* Kurt Elling, ''Flirting with Twilight'' (Blue Note, 2001)
* Barbra Streisand, ''Christmas Memories'' (Columbia, 2001)
* Diane Schuur, ''Midnight (Diane Schuur album), Midnight'' (Concord, 2003)
* Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, ''XXL (album), XXL'' (Silverline, 2003)
* Al Jarreau, ''Accentuate the Positive (Al Jarreau album), Accentuate the Positive'' (GRP, 2004)
* Linda Ronstadt, ''Hummin' to Myself (Linda Ronstadt album), Hummin' to Myself'' (Verve, 2004)
* Kate Bush, ''Aerial (album), Aerial'' (EMI, 2005)
* Eric Marienthal, ''Got You Covered'' (Peak, 2005)
* Chris Walden Big Band, ''Home of My Heart'' (Origin, 2005)
* Joe Zawinul, ''Weather Update'' (Geneon, 2005)[DVD-Video]
* Randy Brecker, ''Some Skunk Funk'' (Telarc, 2005) – rec. 2003
* Matt Dusk, ''Back in Town (Matt Dusk album), Back in Town'' (Decca, 2006)
* Bob Florence, ''Eternal Licks and Grooves'' (Mama, 2007)
* Lynda Carter, ''At Last (Lynda Carter album), At Last'' (Potomac Productions, 2009)
* Michael Bublé, ''Crazy Love (Michael Bublé album), Crazy Love'' (Reprise, 2009)
* Dado Moroni, ''Live in Beverly Hills'' (Resonance, 2010)[CD + DVD-Video]
* Barbra Streisand, ''What Matters Most (Barbra Streisand album), What Matters Most'' (Columbia, 2011)
* Rod Stewart, ''Merry Christmas, Baby (album), Merry Christmas Baby'' (Verve, 2012)
* Melody Gardot, ''The Absence (Melody Gardot album), The Absence'' (Decca, 2012)
* Tierney Sutton, ''After Blue'' (BFM Jazz, 2013)
* Janis Siegel, ''Nightsongs'' (Palmetto, 2013)
* Andrea Bocelli, ''Passione (Andrea Bocelli album), Passione'' (Verve, 2013)
* Barbra Streisand, ''Partners (Barbra Streisand album), Partners'' (Columbia, 2014)
* Sara Niemietz, ''Fountain & Vine'' (Levi Snuff Music, 2015)
* Laura Pausini, ''Laura Xmas'' (Warner Music Latina, 2016)
* Katharine McPhee, ''I Fall in Love Too Easily (album), I Fall in Love Too Easily'' (BMG, 2017)
* Martina McBride, ''It's the Holiday Season'' (Broken Bow, 2018)
Source:

Books

* ''Time Awareness''
* ''The Erskine Method for Drumset''
* ''My Book''
* ''The Drum Perspective''
* ''Drum Concepts and Techniques''
* ''No Beethoven: An Autobiography and Chronicle of Weather Report''

DVD

*''The Erskine Method for Drumset'' (Alfred Publishing Company)

References

External links

*

Podcast
featuring "Joy Luck" by Peter Erskine
Peter Erskine Interview
at NAMM Oral History Program, NAMM Oral History Collection (2011)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Erskine, Peter
1954 births
Living people
Interlochen Center for the Arts alumni
Jacobs School of Music alumni
USC Thornton School of Music faculty
People from Somers Point, New Jersey
Musicians from Atlantic County, New Jersey
American jazz drummers
American session musicians
Academics of the Royal Academy of Music
Grammy Award winners
ECM Records artists
Weather Report members
Contemporary Records artists
20th-century American drummers
American male drummers
American male jazz musicians
Steps Ahead members
Yellowjackets (band) members
Free Flight (band) members
20th-century American male musicians
Steely Dan members
Drummers from New Jersey