Peter Erskine


Peter Clark Erskine is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.
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Early life and education

Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the drums at the age of four. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and then studied percussion at Indiana University.

Career

His professional music career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra. After four years with Kenton, he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years. In 1978, he joined Weather Report, joining Jaco Pastorius in the rhythm section. After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band's Word of Mouth, he joined Steps Ahead.
In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83. He toured the US in 1992 with Chick Corea.
Erskine splits his time as a musician and a professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.
He was featured on Kate Bush's 2005 album Aerial, where Erskine teamed with bass player Eberhard Weber. Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah and Linda Ronstadt, as well as Scottish and Finnish classical orchestras, have had Erskine perform as a featured musician.
In 2011, he appeared on stage at the Royal Opera House, London in the new opera Anna Nicole.

Honors and awards

In 1992, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Personal life

Erskine is married to Mutsuko Erskine. The two have two children, actress and writer Maya Erskine, and film editor and producer Taichi Erskine.

Discography

As leader

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As co-leader

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As a member

Steps AheadSteps Ahead Modern Times Magnetic Holding Together – live rec. 1999

As sideman

With Rez AbbasiThird Ear – rec. 1991–92Modern Memory
With John Abercrombie
With David BenoitWaiting for Spring Letter to Evan The Benoit/Freeman Project 2 with Russ Freeman
With Wayne BergeronYou Call This a Living? Full Circle – rec. 2012–15
With Warren BernhardtWarren Bernhardt Trio '83 Hands On Heat of the Moment Amelia's Song So Real
With Randy BernsenMusic for Planets People and Washing Machines Mo' Wasabi
With Chris BottiSlowing Down the World December
With Michael BubléCrazy Love Christmas Love
With Gary Burton
With Joey CalderazzoIn the Door The Traveler
With George CablesCables' Vision Whisper Not The Big Jazz Trio Circle Shared Secrets
With Alex ClineSparks Fly Upward The Constant Flame
With Pino DanieleMedina Passi D'Autore Il mio nome è Pino Daniele e vivo qui
With Eddie DanielsBenny Rides Again with Gary Burton Under the Influence The Five Seasons
With Yelena EckemoffCold Sun Flying Steps Glass Song Desert
With Eliane EliasCross Currents So Far So Close A Long Story Fantasia Paulistana Time and Again
With Maynard FergusonConquistador New Vintage Carnival
With Don GrolnickHearts and Numbers Weaver of Dreams
With Bob JamesFoxie The Genie: Themes & Variations From The TV Series "Taxi" The Swan
With Marc JohnsonBass Desires Second Sight
With Stan KentonNational Anthems of the World Birthday in Britain 7.5 on the Richter Scale Live at the London Hilton 1973 Vol. 2 – liveFire, Fury, and Fun Stan Kenton plays Chicago Street of Dreams – rec. 1970–76Live at Carthage College Vol. 1 – liveLive at the London Hilton 1973 Vol. 1 – live rec. 1973At Pavilion Hemel Hempstead England 1973 – live rec. 1973Live at Newport Jazz Festival – liveAt the Arcadia Theatre 1974 – live rec. 1974
With Diana KrallThe Look of Love The Girl in the Other Room
With Chuck LoebSimple Things Silhouette
With Mike MainieriWanderlust An American Diary An American Diary: The Dreamings
With Vince MendozaStart Here Jazzpaña Sketches
With Al Di MeolaOrange and Blue The Infinite Desire Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody
With Bob MintzerSource Papa Lips Incredible Journey Camouflage Spectrum Urban Contours Art of the Big Band Departure Hymn – rec. 1990I Remember Jaco The First Decade Quality Time Gently For the Moment, All L.A. Band
With Makoto OzoneNow You Know Walk Alone
With Alan PasquaMy New Old Friend Standards
With Jaco PastoriusWord of Mouth – rec. 1980–81Invitation – live rec. 1982The Birthday Concert – rec. 1981Twins Live in Japan 1982 – live rec. 1982Guitar & Bass Live in Japan Introducing: Jaco Pastorius The Word Is Out Live and Outrageous The Florida Concert Truth, Liberty & Soul – live rec. 1982
With John PatitucciJohn Patitucci Sketchbook Mistura Fina
With Lee RitenourRit's House Rhythm Sessions
With John ScofieldSummertime with Pat Metheny Shortcuts - Jazzpar Combo 1999 with Hans Ulrik – rec. 1999
With Mike SternTime in Place Jigsaw
With Sadao WatanabeSweet Deal A Night with Strings I'm with you
With Weather ReportMr. Gone 8:30 Night Passage Weather Report This is This! Live and Unreleased Forecast: Tomorrow
With Kenny WheelerMusic for Large & Small Ensembles The Widow in the Window Kayak
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With others
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Books

Time AwarenessThe Erskine Method for DrumsetMy BookThe Drum PerspectiveDrum Concepts and Techniques
  • ''No Beethoven: An Autobiography and Chronicle of Weather Report''

DVD

  • ''The Erskine Method for Drumset''