Peter Erskine Quotes

I've wanted to play the drums as far back as I can recall. The first music that I can remember listening to included recordings my father had of Art Blakey, Henry Mancini, Tito Puente, Esquivel (!), Julie London, Les Baxter, Martin Denny (!) and the Stan Kenton Orchestra. I began taking drum lessons at the age of five, and my teacher introduced me to the drumming of Philly Joe Jones, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Gene Krupa, and then (later) Elvin Jones, Charlie Persip, Don Lamond, Mel Lewis, and Grady Tate. I then discovered Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Marty Morrell, Donald MacDonald, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie ... and the list goes on and on from there. I also studied piano, organ, and the trumpet, plus "legit" percussion. I was fortunate enough to be told at an early age to "always listen to every kind of music." Good advice. 
Peter Erskine

It's really fun. I never knew how much fun it could be to play a bass drum on 1 and 3 and a snare drum on 2 and 4. Geez, I felt that years have gone by and I've missed something that a lot of other drummers have known. And, it's not easy to do ... to get it lay right. But it's just as satisfying as the interactive Jazz drumming that I like to do. And in some ways it's more satisfying. It just really feels good. I started playing professionally when I was pretty young. I was 18 when I went on the road. I did my growing up in public. But right now, I feel like I'm going to the best school in the world.
Peter Erskine

Jaco was one of the most incredible musicians I've ever known. He could make music on any instrument. He WAS music ... a musical being. And, he was a lot of fun. His rhythmic, harmonic and melodic sense(s) were nothing short of phenomenal. His TIME was incredible. It was an honor to play with him ... and we all miss him. 
Peter Erskine

When it comes to certain kind of rhythm things, particularly like shaker or tambourine tracks. I like the way I can really lock up with my own Hi Hat or Ride Cymbal beat. So a lot of times in recording I'll be asked -- or even volunteer -- to put a shaker or tambourine track on. Just to give it something extra. And it always works great. I hate it when I'm in the studio and I don't have any shakers or tambourines with me. I've been on a few dates when we didn't have anything and tried to improvise shakers out of some uncooked rice in soda cans. It sounded horrible.
Peter Erskine