Search - Peter Erskine :: You Never Know

The State of The Jazz Trio, c.1993

07/30/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though drummer Peter Erskine's name is at the top of this CD (purely for his name recognition, I'm sure), this is truly a trio outing that features the brilliant but little known pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Danielsson. Together, they have prodcued one of the most beautiful and satisfying jazz trio recordings in recent memory. From start to finish, there's not a clunker or a dull moment. Things start out with New Old Age, very much in the standard ECM style, but a fitting prelude. Things really kick in with Clapperclowe, a Taylor tune full of twists and turns. In terms of playing and composition, an amazing cut. Erskine displays his compositional flair on the next cut, On The Lake. It's a beautiful,contemplative piece with a great piano bridge. Next are two tunes by composer Vince Mendoza, Amber Waves and She Never Has A Window. Mendoza's tunes are rich in their harmonic content, but there's nothing off-putting about them. Instead, the listener bathes in the in! tricate melody and changes. Two more Taylor tunes (Evans Above, and Pure & Simple) and a final Mendoza tune (Heart Game) follow. But the album's finale is an amazing rendition of Cole Porter's Everything I Love. This cut is truly worth the price of admission alone, and is a wonderful closer to a fantastic album. One of ECM's best records of the 90's, and a rightful successor to the classic Bill Evans trio recordings."