Pianist/Composer YELENA ECKEMOFF Reflects Personal Evolution by Ushering Winter into Spring with Jazz Heavyweights Arild Andersen and Peter Erskine on New Album, “Glass Song”

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Arild Andersen, Composer, European Jazz, Moscow, Peter Erskine, Pianist, Yelena Eckemoff

“If Eckemoff demonstrates anything, it lies in her artistry as an inquisitive, slow-paced, and free-of-sentimentality pianist able to express special emotional qualities.” – DownBeat

Yelena Eckemoff, GLASS SONG

Stream “Cloud Break” from Glass Song

On her new album, Glass Song, Moscow-born pianist/composer Yelena Eckemoff celebrates the season of renewal that ushers winter into spring with a mesmerizing set of crystalline beauty, available February 19, 2013 on L & H Production. In crafting this, the latest expression of her gorgeously delicate blend of classical intricacy and jazz invention, Eckemoff brings together two of modern music’s greatest improvisers for the first time: bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Peter Erskine.

Bob Mintzer Big Band’s “For the Moment”: New MCG Jazz CD Due June 19

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Alex Acuna, Bob Mintzer, Chico Pinheiro, MCG Jazz, Peter Erskine, Russell Ferrante, Saxophonist

Big bands and the music of Brazil: For Bob Mintzer, these two limitless creative reservoirs have fed his musical imagination since he was emerging as a prodigiously gifted teenage saxophonist. His latest MCG Jazz album, “For the Moment,” combines these formative forces with an ingenious program of Brazilian jazz for the Grammy Award-winning Bob Mintzer Big Band.

Bob Mintzer Big Band, FOR THE MOMENT

Richmond, CA (PRWE May 29, 2012)- The Grammy Award–winning Bob Mintzer Big Band has explored diverse styles of music in its illustrious 25-year recording history—from New York and Afro-Cuban to Count Basie and John Coltrane. On the band’s new MCG Jazz CD, “For the Moment,” which is scheduled for release June 19, saxophonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Mintzer puts the spotlight on Brazilian music.

Vitello’s Jazz Club Hosts Jazz Relief for Japan/Concerts & Fundraiser Event with Support from Local Jazz Community

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Alan Pasqua, Darek Oles, Jazz, Peter Erskine, Wayne Bergeron Big Band, Yellowjackets

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) April 04, 2011: Vitellos’ Jazz Club in Studio City in association with the Los Angeles Jazz Society asks the Los Angeles jazz-loving community to come out and support the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Musicians and fans will be coming together on Saturday, April 9 for an all day / all night concert event that will raise funds for the Japanese Red Cross.

Music will be provided by Los Angeles’ finest, including the Yellowjackets featuring Russ Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, Bob Mintzer and Will Kennedy; the Grammy-nominated trio of Alan Pasqua and Peter Erskine with Darek Oles; the Wayne Bergeron Big Band; the POEM Quartet comprised of Alan Pasqua, Darek Oles, Peter Erskine and Bob Mintzer. Grammy-nominated vocalist Denise Donatelli will also be performing, as will the Vitello’s All Stars featuring Bob Sheppard, Larry Koonse, Tom Warrington and Joe La Barbara. Attendees will also be treated to “Jazzcomedian” Franklyn Ajaye; Japanese vocalist Takako Uemura; THE TRIO with pianist Terry Trotter and bassist Chuck Berghofer; cajon master & percussionist Alex Acuña; pianists Tamir Hendelman and David Arnay; guitarist Mitchell Long; bassists Larry Steen and Kevin Axt; drummers Aaron Serfaty and Ray Brinker; plus the top combo and big band from USC’s Thornton School of Music. Noted jazz radio personality Dick McGarvin will serve as host and emcee for the event.

Peter Erskine featuring Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles and Alan Pasqua -][- STANDARDS 2 (Movie Music) – [Fuzzy Music]

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Alan Pasqua, Bass, Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles, Drums, Jazz, Peter Erskine, Piano, Saxophone

Peter Erskine - Standards 2 (Movie Music)

Peter Erskine featuring Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles and Alan Pasqua -][- STANDARDS 2 (Movie Music) – [Fuzzy Music, 2010]

Music is often spoken of as forming the soundtrack of our lives. Movie score music compounds the effect, marrying melody with image, the exponential power of 24 frames per second combined with soaring tunes and magical counterpoint to provide all of us who love the movies a powerful emotional and cultural reference point, time and again. And who doesn’t love a good movie or song?

These songs are standards in both the jazz and cinematic sense.

Compiling any sort of list, however, risks sinning by omission. Nowhere does this seem more evident than in a collection of music from movies. Please forgive these sins. Each musician was invited to bring in a tune or two for the project. We played the music in concert the evening before the recording, and were encouraged by the audience’s delight in reliving these timeless melodies as told by the jazz quartet. We’re already looking forward to the next volume.

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orchester -][- Fast City: A Tribute To Joe Zawinul [Import]

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Alex Acuna, Amit Chatterjee, Jazz, Peter Erskine, Victor Bailey, Vince Mendoza

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orchester - FAST CITY

Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orchester -][- Fast City: A Tribute To Joe Zawinul [Import-Zyx Music, 2010]

I first came across these on youtube-they are great to watch, with a core group of Zawinul alumni, including Victor Bailey on bass, Alex Acuna percussion, Amit Chatterjee on guitar and vocals, and Peter Erskine drums, you know this is a smokin’ band. Jim Beard does the keyboard duties and an excellent job he does indeed. The Metropole Orchestra is one of the best around and with gorgeous and highly detailed arrangements by Vince Mendoza (who also conducts,) this is a superb homage to the master. Mr Z would’ve been very proud of this record. In many ways I prefer this set to the Absolute Ensemble’s Zawinul album, mostly because I just like the choice of tunes and the arrangements better.

Of course if Mr Z had been around to play on this as he did on the Absolute’s equally great CD, it would’ve been mind blowing. I own a copy of this concert on DVD and much of this is taken from the same live concert as the one from German TV-high energy, ridiculously tight and wonderfully recorded to boot. There are several tracks that were from a performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival which are just as great. Erskine and Bailey make it all feel good, so even with a large ensemble which could have been rather unwieldy, this set swings like a mofo. A must have for Zawinul and WR fans. —Brian Whistler | Amazon.com

Original Release Date: November, 9 2010

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Peter Erskine, Bob Sheppard, and Dave Carpenter -][- Music For Moderns [Fuzzy Music]

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Bass, Bob Sheppard, Drums, Peter Erskine, Saxophone

Lounge Art Ensemble - Music for Moderns

Peter Erskine, Bob Sheppard, and Dave Carpenter -][- Music For Moderns – [Fuzzy Music, 2005]

What a terrific CD! Peter Erskine (drums), Dave Carpenter (bass) and Bob Sheppard (brass and woodwinds) get their ya-yas out on this set of hard-swinging jazz, recorded in crystal-clear hi-fidelity chez Erskine. Some of the tunes simmer, some boil, but every one cooks with a playfulness and interplayfulness seldom heard in today’s jazz recordings. This trio’s been together for about ten years (hence the high degree of interplay), and needs to record more often (their last release dates from 1997).

My advice to you, gentle reader: buy a copy for yourself, five or six more for your family and close friends, then ask everyone to e-mail the band members to let them know how many fans they have who adore their music and would love a new CD ASAP! —R Fischer | Review | Amazon.com

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Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita -][- ELB

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Drums, Guitar, Jazz, Michel Benita, Nguyên Lê, Peter Erskine

Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita - ELB

Peter Erskine, Nguyên Lê, Michel Benita -][- ELB -[ACT Music, 2001]

The previous review summed it up well. But I can’t help chiming in. This is a democratic trio, but Le is certainly the attention getter. His style is so facile that I’m afraid he’ll be seen as constantly in some one else’s foot steps. To me he comes in some where between Frisell and Scofield (he can dial up that early Scofield tone with frightening ease). But that would be an unfair assessment. He has integrated much that has gone before him and made it his own. It’s beautiful guitar work..

But this is not just the guitar and when you look past Le you realize why Erskine is the titular headliner. The drummer’s vast experience and his restrained power give this music its depth and drive.

I wish I knew more about Benita. There is no room to hide in a trio. The bass has to stand up and be heard and Benita is doing some wonderful work here. Never overplaying, but bringing more force to the double bass than I’ve heard in quite a while without sacrificing that instrument’s grace and nuance.

This will probably be filed in the jazz rack for lack of a better location. The roots are somewhere between fusion, prog rock and late 20th century jazz. Hendrix influence, yes. Le is a unique voice that brings Terje Rypdal to mind. Taken as a group there is a tap root back to power trios like John Abercrombie’s Gateway (though Le and JA are miles apart)both in style, interplay and the level of musicianship. But these guys refine that tradition. Fair to say it represents a good step forward. —THX1138b | Amazon.com

..:: Source: Amazon.com ::..