One of the most skilled and versatile jazz drummers of his generation, Peter Erskine has anchored big bands, jazz-rock fusion ensembles, and his own small groups. As adept at sophisticated polyrhythms as he is at powerful, rippling solos, Erskine played with the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson big bands before gaining widespread acclaim as a member of the iconic fusion band Weather Report in the '70s and '80s. He was also a member of the Brecker Brothers' adjacent Steps Ahead before embarking on a vibrant solo career with 1982's post-bop-oriented Peter Erskine. He has recorded for ECM, including albums with John Abercrombie, as well as with his trio with pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Danielsson. Since founding his own Fuzzy Music, he has recorded regularly with his Dr. Um Band featuring keyboardist John Beasley, and collaborated on varied projects with Ron Carter, Alan Pasqua, and Danny Grissett, the latter of which joined him on 2024's Bernstein in Vienna.

Born in 1954 in Somers Point, New Jersey, Erskine began drumming at three, and participated in Stan Kenton's National Stage Band Camps from the age of six. He studied with Alan Dawson and Ed Soph, attending the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and Indiana University. He played with Kenton from 1972 to 1975, then from 1976 to 1978 with Maynard Ferguson. From 1978 to 1982, Erskine was the main drummer and percussionist with Weather Report, appearing on such albums as Mr. Gone, 8:30, and Night Passage. He also did several West Coast sessions in the late '70s, including playing on albums by Joni Mitchell, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, and Joe Farrell.

Returning to the East Coast, he joined Michael and Randy Brecker in the contemporary fusion group Steps and Steps Ahead, contributing to 1983's Steps Ahead, 1984's Modern Times, and 1986's Magnetic. During the '80s he also worked with John Scofield, Bob Mintzer, Lew Soloff, Mike Mandel, Kenny Werner, Stanley Jordan, and Ricki Lee Jones, among others.

As a leader, he debuted with Peter Erskine in 1982 on Contemporary, an engaging post-bop album that featured contributions by Michael and Randy Brecker, his fellow Steps Ahead bandmate Mike Mainieri, Kenny Kirkland, and others. He returned to a more fusion-informed style on 1986's Transition, the latter of which included his five-part, 22-minute "Suite: Music from Shakespeare's 'King Richard II'."

It was also during the late '80s that he developed a good relationship with ECM, collaborating on projects with Gary Peacock (Guamba), John Abercrombie (Getting There), and Marc Johnson (Bass Desires). Big Theatre, an album of percussion heavy music Erskine recorded for several theatrical productions of works by William Shakespeare arrived in 1990.

He made his ECM debut as leader with 1992's You Never Know, showcasing a trio with pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Danielsson. Several more ECM dates featuring the trio followed, including 1995's As It Is and 1998's Juni. Also during the '90s, Erskine founded his own Fuzzy Music label, delivering such albums as 1995's From Kenton to Now with tenor saxophonist Richard Torres and 1998's Lava Jazz.

In the 2000s, Erskine continued to release albums via Fuzzy Music with 2002's Badlands, 2005's The Lounge Art Ensemble: Music for Moderns, and 2016's Dr. Um, which introduced his Dr. Um Band featuring keyboardist John Beasley. In 2017, Erskine reunited Beasley and the Dr. Um Band for Second Opinion, followed again in 2018 by On Call. That same year, he joined Ron Carter and Airto Moreira for Sides Of: Jazz.

Another Collaboration, Accidental Tourists: The Alaska Sessions with Markus Burger and Bob Magnusson appeared in 2019, followed by Live in Italy with the Dr. Um Band and a second concert album also recorded in Italy with pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles. Bernstein in Vienna, an exploration of the music of composer Leonard Bernstein, arrived in 2024 and captured Erskine's live performance with Danny Grissett and members of the Vienna JAM Music Lab University during his 2021 artist in residency at the Austrian school. ~ Matt Collar

Keyboardist Alan Pasqua is an adept performer and educator, with a bent toward sophisticated post-bop jazz. Along with his own jazz trio recordings, Pasqua's gritty organ riffs and synth textures can be heard on hits by Eddie Money and Giant. He's also done sides with Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, Rick Springfield, Pat Benatar, and Sammy Hagar, among others.

Pasqua's musical roots run throughout his family tree. Growing up in New Jersey, Pasqua took classical piano lessons as a child. During his teens, he began playing in rock and jazz bands. When he graduated from high school, he attended Indiana University. During the early '70s, he continued his music studies with pianist Jaki Byard at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. Pasqua's roommate, drummer Peter Erskine, offered him a chance to stand in for an ailing Stan Kenton on a short tour. This was followed by a stint with another jazz legend, Joe Williams, who mentored the young musician. Pasqua's instructor, George Russell, recommended him for a recording date for jazz drummer great Tony Williams. After a New York performance at Carnegie Hall, Williams asked Pasqua to join his band Tony Williams' Lifetime, whose lineup included guitarist Alan Holdsworth and bassist Tony Newton. Pasqua's recording debut was on the quartet's Believe It LP.

Opting for the more lucrative genre of rock & roll, Pasqua moved to Los Angeles, where he was reunited with Tony Williams' producer Bruce Botnick, whose other credits included the Doors. Botnick, a staff producer at CBS Records, called Pasqua to do a session with a new artist named Eddie Money. Money had hits with "Two Tickets to Paradise" and "Baby Hold on to Me." Pasqua worked with the singer in the studio and on the road. Becoming an in-demand session musician, Pasqua can be heard on the movie soundtracks The Color Purple, Fatal Attraction, and An Officer and a Gentleman.

As a leader, Pasqua debuted in 1994 with Milagro alongside bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and saxophonist Michael Brecker. A year later, he delivered Dedications, which once again featured Holland, as well as legendary drummer Paul Motian. He returned in 2000 with Russian Peasant. The Music of Eric Von Essen, Vol. 1, which featured Alan Broadbent, Alex Cline, Nels Cline, and Peter Erskine, appeared that same year. A flurry of solo outings followed, including 2004's Body and Soul, 2005's New Old Friend, and 2007's Anti Social Club.

In 2008, Pasqua joined the faculty of USC Thorton School of Music as a Professor of Jazz Studies. Three years later, he returned to his solo work with Twin Bill: Two Piano Music of Bill Evans, followed by the live album The Interlochen Concert, which showcased the pianist at the famed Michigan arts academy, alongside drummer Erskine, and bassist Darek Oles. In 2017, he delivered the studio effort Northern Lights, with bassist Oles, drummer Conor Malloy, and percussionist Aaron Serfaty. ~ Ed Hogan