Customer Reviews

You Never Know

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Peter Erskine embarked on a new road back in 1993 with the release of this album, his first of a series of four so far with his European trio. Stripping down his excellent playing and his drums to the basics and playing with just a (not referring to the undeniable qualities of John Taylor and Palle Danielsson) pianist and a double bass player. The results of this are best described by the title of one of the cuts: Pure & Simple. This is also thanks to the typical ECM "sound", which captures the haunting melodies like "On The Lake" and "Amber Waves", the highlights of this recording, perfectly. Unlike one would expect from a drummer's album, it is mostly pianist John Taylor's feature. He contributes most songs to the album, along with three wonderful pieces by Vince Mendoza (check out his recording "Epiphany" too). Peter Erskine restrains himself to supporting the music of this lovely recording, which is one of the most lyrical of the European Trio dates, together with the follow-up album "Time Being".

Goodness gracious. What an unexpected gift this is. I had heard John Taylor playing with Jan Garbarek and loved his sound, but on this CD he is featured and his playing is a revelation. His playing is spare, elegantly simple but has a hauntingly driving swing underneath. The drummer and bassist are simply suberb musicians and together the trio just cooks.

The CD 'As It Is' by the same group is equally fine.

This first disc from this trio, recorded in 1992 contains some very beautiful music (they recorded four albums at present day I believe). It's an ECM trio this one from Peter Erskine, so you know what to expect. It's not a swing album, or a "moving" one, instead it is a crepuscole, minimalistic, self analytic, intellectual, ghost-like kind of project. This not to say that it isn't good. On the contrary. It is an extraordinary album if you are in a reflective mood. Perfect theme for an autumn raining afternoon.. The english pianist John Taylor delivers some very nice compositions and top notch playing. Consider that he is very much influnced by Keith Jarrett.It's very clear. You can clearly hear it. I love Jarrett pianism so I'm glad to hear some interpretations of his concepts and style. The first tune here is the best in my opinion. Very haunting, great atmosphere, a nice minor pedal for the most part, it surely is the core of the tune (I believe it is a sort of minor chord with a major sixth, which is dorian, it creates a sort of ghost-like, remembrance type of feel.. ). Peter Erskine works a lot with the cymbal here, dncing on it with delicacy. The other tunes are very good ECM european kind of Jazz. Three musicians clearly able to hear each other and to react brilliantly. A very good album. Recorded extremely well as it is almost always been with Manfred Eicher projects (ECM label). If you want to to sit in front of your stereo system remembering things, calling back memories from the past, rethinking them this is the music to be perfectly in tune with. I would rate it 4.5 stars. It would be better only if the trio has been able to keep the initial mood of the album evolving it through the tunes, but manteining more coeherence in the atmosphere .. my taste.

3 1/2

Progressively lingering compositions capture an essence of sophisticatedly ephemeral synergy splendidly without leaving much to hold on to after the fact.