Live at Rocco [LIVE]

Peter Erskine

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2000)
• Original Release Date: July 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Fuzzy Music
• ASIN: B00004TUVC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,556 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
2-CD set was recorded during 2 evenings at L.A.'s hippest new jazz club; the trio takes advantage of the hard swing of bassist Carpenter, the folk-Americana sensibilities of pianist Pasqua & drummer Erskine's embrace of all things rhythmic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trio music at its finest!, July 27, 2000

By	Erik Werkman (Utrecht, Netherlands) - See all my reviews

After having been available through Peter Erskine's own website (petererskine.com), released on his label Fuzzy Music, finally those who were not aware of this are able to get a taste of some of the best trio music of recent and, being an Erskine fan, of all times I would say.

As the title indicates it is a live recording in a small venue in L.A. The most versatile drummer around Peter Erskine co-leads this wonderful warm recording with the sometimes understimated pianist Alan Pasqua, accompanied by the very strong bass playing qualities of Dave Carpenter.

The program is beautifully varied: most of the compositions are by Pasqua and it shows once more that he is a terrific composer (check out his albums "Milagro" and "Dedications" as well), but there are also strong originals from Erskine and Carpenter, as well as two standards and a John Taylor composition (the pianist in his European Trio). This American Trio, as it was called in the tour in March 2000, has a warmer sound than the European Trio in my opinion and the Pasqua compositions are a big plus.

Overall it is a very lyrical recording, superbly engineered on top, to give it the atmosphere and sound quality it deserves and to give proof of why these three musicians are among the most in-demand of their profession. The sound quality is so real as a matter of fact, that it really feels as if one is present at the concert.

It is difficult to name the highlights of this recording, as both discs (what a bargain!) are equally impressive. Just to name a few: on disc one the here recorded version of Erskine's "Bulgaria" in almost 10 minutes is breathtaking and is a showcase for his melodic drumming. The same goes for a lengthy version of almost 14 minutes of Pasqua's "Caribe", with a long piano solo as an intro. On disc two, apart from lovely swinging versions of the standards "How About You?" and "All Of You", the Pasqua compositions "Milagro" (truly a miracle of beauty) ask for special mention (with beautiful mallet and brushes work by Erskine) and the disc's closing Pasqua piece "Taiowa" (listen to the differences in drumming between Peter Erskine here and Paul Motian on Pasqua's "Dedications" album, which reminds on the other hand of the fact that listening to "Live At Rocco's" made me think of the legendary Sunday At The Village Vanguard sessions of the late great Bill Evans - what better compliment could one give to this album?).

All in all a must-have for any serious music collection, because it goes far beyond the average piano trio recording: this is sheer Beauty.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Working Jazz Trio, April 25, 2002

By	"toones" (Hampton Cove, AL United States) - See all my reviews

Peter Erskine and Alan Pasqua and Dave Carpenter have created a masterpiece, one that reflects some of Peter's best playing to date (!), and perfectly showcases the soulful talents of Pasqua and Carpenter's elegant, energetic underpinning. I saw this trio in January at the new Rocco's in LA, and they played before an awestruck, perfectly silent packed house. This recording captures the essence of what a jazz trio can be, and everything that was great about listening to them that night. Buy several copies, because you're going to have to give one to anybody you play it for...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just one problem, December 6, 2005

By	Arthur Hampton "Aging gym rat" (Rohnert Park, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

That problem is that I'm so in love with the rendition of 'How About You' on the second cd of this incredible set that it's difficult for me to play the rest of the songs, let alone any of my other cds. I have many fine cds of piano trio recordings, but this is my current favorite. I echo the sentiment 'What a bargain'!

This trio plays with so much restrained intensity that it just sizzles. It reminds me of the feeling I used to get from the MJQ - a feeling that there was much more in reserve, but that we were listening to something very special.

If you like trios, do yourself a favor and get this. I defy you to listen to 'How About You' only once. It is a wonderfully memorable performance.

Erskine never fails to astound me with his exquisite taste, and he is in the company of giants with Carpenter and Pasqua.