Veteran jazz drummer Peter Erksine has released a album that is a welcome return to the musical world he inhabited as a member of Weather Report(see the review of their new 4 Cd set posted elsewhere on these pages).Peter Erskine's Dr. Um updates the classic fusion sound for the 21st Century. Erskine has never sounded better and he leads a top notch band of players including keyboardist John Beasley, bassist Janek Gwizdala , saxophonist Bob Sheppard and others. Together the band presents a solid program of good tunes that remind the listener of Weather Report. "Bourges Buenos Aires" is a Zawinul composition which is played well here. While listening to "Speechless", another Zawinul song, this jazz fan is prompted to wonder if the song is a response to "A Remark You Made"from the Weather Report hit recording Heavy Weather. The upbeat "Hawaii Bathing Suit" and mellow groove of "Northern Cross" are also highlights to be relished which both have the Weather Report groove pulsing through them. As the liner notes say, the doctor will see you now!
"Dr. Um" is an alter ego for Peter Erskine, one of the most consistently innovative and reliable drummers in the business. Erskine has appeared on over 600 albums and film scores, more than 50 of those albums as a co-leader or leader. His collaborations read like a "Who's Who" of modern jazz--from the big bands of Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson to Steely Dan, Diana Krall, the Brecker Brothers, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton and of course Weather Report. Erskine is also an an author. His latest book is No Beethoven, an autobiography and chronicle of Weather Report, for whom he was a drummer and essential band member in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Additionally Erskine is an educator, presently serving as Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset studies at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.
For more information you may visit http://www.petererskine.com/
