Peter Erskine Playing With Intent Former Modern Drummer senior editor Rick Mattingly has probably spent more time in the legendary drummer’s presence than any other journalist. To this day, their conversations are illuminating, surprising, and, above all, inspiring.Peter Erskine’s career has been like a highway that is constantly under construction, with numerous detours, side roads, bridges, sharp curves, hills, and intersections. That road has traversed a wide, scenic landscape, and while jazz has always been the primary itinerary, Erskine has traveled into other areas as well, reflected by his discography of more than 700 albums also encompassing pop, film scores, and classical projects. He’s savored every twist and turn, and for those of us who’ve been following that journey for over forty years, it’s been a fascinating ride.Consider some of the landmarks. After studying at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Erskine began his professional career at age eighteen, when he joined […]

June 2016 Issue