Peter Erskine: Juni

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The Peter Erskine trio's graceful European style is expertly captured on JUNI, their fourth release on Manfred Eicher's ECM label. Erskine, a drummer of international fame who hassuccessfully proven his superb musical abilities in a myriad of styles, is perfectly at home in this delicate, extremely expressive setting. His partners John Taylor (piano) and Pelle Danielsson (bass) are, of course, very adept at the complexities of the European jazz style that touches on the classical chamber music tradition. The three combine to producea recording of stunning beauty and sophistication. The very free-form "Prelude No. 2" begins the disc with Taylor's bell-like tones, which develop into a series of improvised duets between Erskine and his comrades. The trio's exploratory impulse is further expressed on the flowing "Windfall" and Erskine's simmering "The Ant and The Elk". Taylor's "Fable"is a delicate ballad that combines the pianist's soft touch with Erskine's tasteful use of brushes on his drums and cymbals. The disc's centrepiece, however, is the melodic "Twelve", which builds from a subtle beginning to a haunting melody that is stretched and pulled in every direction over a continuous current of Erskine's driving cymbal work.

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Peter Erskine drums
John Taylor piano
Palle Danielsson double-bass


Tracks:

Prelude Nr 2
Windfall
For Jan
The Ant & The Elk
Siri
Fable
Twelve