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Peter Erskine Trio: John Taylor/Palle Danielsson: As it Was
The box set release of the four Peter Erskine Trio albums takes its wordplay-title As It Was from the third of the previously mentioned albums and comes out under the ECM Old and New Masters Series banner. Taylor, the late, great British virtuoso, was the primary composer for the group though the dynamics reflected a categorically democratic rendering of the pieces as was the wish of the leader. Danielsson's previous trio experiences with
Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980
Keith Jarrett
pianob.1945
Jan Garbarek
saxophoneb.1947
Miroslav Vitous
bassb.1947
Kenny Wheeler
flugelhorn1930 - 2014
Each of the four discs in the box follows the chronology of the original releases. Of the thirty-seven tracks, Taylor had penned fifteen, Erskine, eight and Danielsson, two. The trio collaborated in the writing of "Terraces" (Time Being) and multi-genre composer
Vince Mendoza
composer / conductorb.1961
Kenny Wheeler
flugelhorn1930 - 2014
Cole Porter
composer / conductor1891 - 1964
The overall variations in material and style are subtle over the course of these albums, but there is clear progression, individually and collectively. You Never Know is dominated by Taylor's updated impression of
Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980
"For Ruth" (As It Is) exemplifies the more open feel to which the trio has moved. More angular and edgy, the piano and bass take a bolder stance toward each other especially on "The Lady In the Lake" and "Episode." Erskine allows himself to break out of the background with a short but dramatic solo on "Romeo & Juliet. Though Erskine is often content to take a nuanced approach to the kit, he can demonstrate both finesse and force as on the more minimal "Prelude No.2" (Juni). It is on this final trio album that Danielsson's voice is the most distinctive.
The trio took the most dramatic chances with Juni where Taylor seemingly threw caution to the wind on pieces like "The Ant & The Elk" and "Twelve." Still, tracks such as "Siri" and "Namasti" serve as reminders that his playing was often the embodiment of grace. There is no shortage of great piano trio albums in the ECM catalog what with
Keith Jarrett
pianob.1945
Tord Gustavsen
pianob.1970
Bobo Stenson
pianob.1944
Track Listing
CD1 (You Never Know): New Old Age; Clapperclowe; On The Lake; Amber Waves; She Never Has A Window; Evans Above; Pure & Simple; Heart Game; Everything I Love. CD2 (Time Being): Terraces; For The Time Being; If Only I Had Known; Evansong; Page 172; Liten Visa Till Karin; Bulgaria; Ambleside; Phrase One; Palle's Headache; Pieds-en-l’air. CD3 (As it Is): Glebe Ascending; The Lady In The Lake; Episode; Woodcocks; Esperan?a; Touch Her Soft Lips And Part; Au Contraire; For Ruth; Romeo & Juliet. CD4 (Juni): Prelude No.2; Windfall; For Jan; The Ant & The Elk; Siri; Fable; Twelve; Namasti.
Personnel
Album information
Title: As it Was | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: ECM Records
Tags
Peter Erskine Trio: John Taylor/Palle Danielsson
CD/LP/Track Review
Peter Erskine
Karl Ackermann
ECM Records
Bill Evans
Keith Jarrett
Jan Garbarek
Miroslav Vitous
Kenny Wheeler
Vince Mendoza
Cole Porter
Tord Gustavsen
Bobo Stenson
As it Was
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