This newly-arrived box set reissues four albums made in sequence some twenty years ago by veteran American drummer Peter Erksine (born 1954, New Jersey) in collaboration with the much-revered British pianist and composer, John Taylor (1942-2015) and the Swedish bassist, Palle Danielsson (born 1956).
Erskine is a legend in jazz drumming, having performed and recorded with artists as various as Kenny Wheeler, Weather Report and John Martyn in the course of a long and varied career.
Erskine was undisputed leader for these ECM projects - it was his trio and he laid down the ground rules of what they should sound like. However, Taylor composed most of the material on the four albums, which are You Never Know, As it Is, Time Being and Juni, all of which were recorded between 1992 and 1997 in Oslo.
The much sought-after drummer had an unusual expectation of his audiences on these pieces, but one that may become clearer as one listens, as the tracks tend to the quiet - his declared goal was “to get audiences to lean forward in their seats to hear us.“ (Hope none of them had sore necks after it all.)
Speaking for his two pals, he further observed that the trio consider solos “to be non-events.” Moreover, he declared that everyone was polite enough to listen to each other and to what the music had to say.”
One thing we can therefore write with some certainty – the bould Peter will not be called for the Spinal Tap re-make or sequel. Notwithstanding, the material on show here is tactile, sensual and mellifluous music that will gently beguile you.
Paddy Kehoe
