The Master. I had the good fortune to meet Mr Erskine when I worked in TV. He was playing with Joni Mitchell (1999 or 2000 or so). So modest about his awesome talent and very willing to share his knowledge. I'm just a weekend gigger who loves to play yet he spoke with me as a fellow member of the drummer brotherhood when we were talking backstage before he went on. He gave me a pair of Peter Erskine Sticks (Still Have)...they were very tapered with hardly a bead at the tip. Perfect for light ride work. 5 years later he played on another show I was working backing someone else. I said hello and he said "I remember you. How did you like the sticks?" I'm a fan.
Nice story. I always took him to be both extremely skilled and extremely humble and honest, which is even more intimidating/inspiring in a way - he knows how to play AND he knows how to live. Let it be known from this day forth that nice guys don't necessarily finish last!!!
I have had a pretty cool experience with Erskine, he was in my town performing with Norrbotten Big Band, the first couple of songs they played with their original drummer, a great drummer, I mean I dabble a bit with drums and cant even understand stuff that drummer does. Then Peter steps up and replaces the drummer and there is not words to describe what happened. I mean the first drummer is a true pro but mr Erskine just lifts the whole band to something otherworldly, it was just such an amazing experience to hear, feel see that difference and it humbled me in what these legends actually do with their instrument, amazing.
This lesson has remained etched in my mind since 1986, when I attended a short three-day course in Ravenna (Italy), with Mr. Erskine as a teacher. He used the same words to best explain the importance of quarter note pulsation to improve the swing. Great teacher as well as a great musician. I still have all the notes he gave us
I was lucky enough to meet Peter and join his clinic in Sandviken, Sweden in 1998. Peter is a true gentleman and one of the greatest drummers of all time and he encouraged me as an amateur drummer. A very fond memory indeed!
Peter, your ride cymbal “touch” is among my all-time favorites. Your playing on “Talking to Myself” on Micheal Brecker’s “Don’t Try This at Home” record is absolutely beautiful and how you approach the ride is the centerpiece for me.
Some years ago I went to a drum clinic here in the UK, Peter Erskine stepped in for Steve Gadd who was unwell and couldn't do the clinic. Well the wonderful Mr Erskine gave an absolute master class in time keeping, technique and swing, his ride cymbal playing was a joy to behold, and a true gentleman.
What a great teacher and gentleman. I've had the pleasure of witnessing his genius many times with many different artist. Listen and learn folks for there is no one as skilled in Jazz technique as Mr. Erskine.
A wonderful player…a wonderful teacher. He teaches as clean and pure as he plays. Watched him with Dianne Krall and he is just terrific. If Diane was looking for the perfect trio swinger, she found him. I’ve seen Peters brush lessons and they are….yes!
One of my favorite drummers....From his work with Bob Mintzer Steps ahead, Steely dan.Jaco...A great, flexible drummer....Great in all styles of drumming...Thanx Peter.
I had the honor of holding a drum while you signed it during a PASIC convention; it's the closest my hands came to the hands of a world class drumming great!
Such a great lesson. Stick placement makes a huge difference to cymbal sounds, and consistent placement concentrates the overtones and wash so the cymbal is more focused. It’s so easy to ignore, I curse myself for the gigs I’ve ignored this and the sound is messy as an effect.
Nice! Peter, I've followed you since your big band days days, and of course you've done a gigantic amount of great playing in your career. I've recently revisited the Diana Krall recordings, and especially love what you did for her on the 2004 Montreal Jazz Festival. You made the whole band smile many times, and my favorite is probably the solid blues feel on "Love Me Like A Man". Awesome to see you at the drums, with your eyes often closed, swaying back and forth, supporting and driving the band like crazy. Beautiful... :)
Thanks for the Public Service Announcement ; - ) Saw you play in Wellington, NZ, recently with the Rodger Fox band. You totally ran the big band with just brushes.
Pete, you are so cool, a great teacher. What you did on “Blue Skies” with Al, John and Bob was the best fast bop I have ever heard. How some people can go that fast and COOK at that...was truly incredible, incredible in that hard to believe. How...HOW?
wow. Peter thank THANK YOU I play more congas and had percussion.. but At 50 I'm playing more drum set I have been a big fan ....back to weather report days thank again for the tips.....
I attended a drum clinic with Peter way back when he was still with Stan Kenton. It was me and a number of numbskull high school drummers. Peter started the clinic by teaching us how to snap our fingets, but with a GROOVE. It was so elementary, yet so fundamental (just like this ride pattern tutorial). All I can say is we all walked out of there swinging a little bit harder!
I knew of the 'public service announcement' as far as what was to be properly played, but I had never actually heard it said before. Those are the nuggets that you cannot get from just any drummer.
His trio recordings with John Taylor and Palle Danielsson, esp. ‘You Never Know’ opened up a world of music for me, and are still among my all-time favorite albums. Check them out if you haven’t already!
Two short questions by a beginner: 1. how do you prevent kick "wanting" to sync with syncopated note instead of regular quarter note (kick too early)? and 2. how do you make a syncopated note nicely "swung" (played a bit sooner, as in a triplet feel) instead of more like a last 16th note of the straight beat? Thank you.
Short answer: practice. You’re already aware of those things so just focus on them during your sessions. The tips in the video will help you a lot. Quarter notes first then add the swing note, then just zero in.
Play a 1/4 note on the ride cymbal, on the second beat, let it bounce, and listen to where the next note falls. That will be your natural feel. The 3rd. note is a 1/4 note, then it starts over again.
I got taught to accent the 2 and 4 and play across the cymbal when playing the jazz ride pattern. Is that wrong or is it just a different variation and If it is when do I use which one
Play until you feel comfortable with the motion, whatever the motion is. One of the purposes of staying in one place is the evenness of sound. Also, at up tempos, it takes less effort to maintain the tempo because there's less motion to perform.
Thank you Peter for sharing your wisdom, I love the importance of simplicity as the foundation of a great swing feel. BUT! I am never sure about a statement that finishes with "period, no argument" Its a philosophical question creativity within objectivity. Love your work Bro.
Hehe, here we have Peter emphasising that he is not playing the jazz ride pattern as a three note grouping, and just below we have a video from Greg Hutchinson, teaching 'walk-the-dog. Both are great drummers, but with Peter closer to mastery? I am convinced by Peter on this one.
The Master. I had the good fortune to meet Mr Erskine when I worked in TV. He was playing with Joni Mitchell (1999 or 2000 or so). So modest about his awesome talent and very willing to share his knowledge. I'm just a weekend gigger who loves to play yet he spoke with me as a fellow member of the drummer brotherhood when we were talking backstage before he went on. He gave me a pair of Peter Erskine Sticks (Still Have)...they were very tapered with hardly a bead at the tip. Perfect for light ride work. 5 years later he played on another show I was working backing someone else. I said hello and he said "I remember you. How did you like the sticks?" I'm a fan.
The best teachers are the most generous...
@@bigfootpegrande How right you have ...
@@bigfootpegrande And the most generous are often the best teachers
Great story and reveals Peter’s warmth and humility
Nice story. I always took him to be both extremely skilled and extremely humble and honest, which is even more intimidating/inspiring in a way - he knows how to play AND he knows how to live. Let it be known from this day forth that nice guys don't necessarily finish last!!!
Is no one going to mention how good his upright bass impression was?!!
dom19119 You beat me to it. In some ways it was better than %50 of the bass players out there! LOL
Thanks for speaking what I was thinking!
Indeed-it was cathartic, at least for me.
I was thinking that too haha
He got the timbre just right!
Now this is what being a drum teacher is about: useful information, easy demonstration and objectiveness.
couldn't have said it better myself. I teach my students the same technique.
I appreciate him pulling the curtain back to explain his approach. So wise and inclusive.
Pete, you calm me down way better than my therapist...thank you, good sir 🙏🙏🙏
Peter is a legend. Saw him live a few years ago and it was an amazing concert!
It's great when a drummer of his caliber breaks it down so far that EVERYONE can understand it!!! 😎😎😎
When your favorite drummer is actually the Bob Ross of drumming.
It's just a happy accident mate.
Ina Garten
happy little flams
I have had a pretty cool experience with Erskine, he was in my town performing with Norrbotten Big Band, the first couple of songs they played with their original drummer, a great drummer, I mean I dabble a bit with drums and cant even understand stuff that drummer does. Then Peter steps up and replaces the drummer and there is not words to describe what happened. I mean the first drummer is a true pro but mr Erskine just lifts the whole band to something otherworldly, it was just such an amazing experience to hear, feel see that difference and it humbled me in what these legends actually do with their instrument, amazing.
Came for the legend, stayed for the PSA. There is only one Erskine!!
How amazing is it to get a lesson from a renowned drummer! Thanks for the lesson.
He's such a great teacher!
This lesson has remained etched in my mind since 1986, when I attended a short three-day course in Ravenna (Italy), with Mr. Erskine as a teacher. He used the same words to best explain the importance of quarter note pulsation to improve the swing. Great teacher as well as a great musician.
I still have all the notes he gave us
I was lucky enough to meet Peter and join his clinic in Sandviken, Sweden in 1998. Peter is a true gentleman and one of the greatest drummers of all time and he encouraged me as an amateur drummer. A very fond memory indeed!
I’ve been a major fan of Peter when I first heard him play on Maynards Carnival album in 1980. He is just fantastic!
Carnival, a great album, is from 1978. In 1980 he had been with Weather Report for a couple of years already.
Peter, your ride cymbal “touch” is among my all-time favorites. Your playing on “Talking to Myself” on Micheal Brecker’s “Don’t Try This at Home” record is absolutely beautiful and how you approach the ride is the centerpiece for me.
Some years ago I went to a drum clinic here in the UK, Peter Erskine stepped in for Steve Gadd who was unwell and couldn't do the clinic. Well the wonderful Mr Erskine gave an absolute master class in time keeping, technique and swing, his ride cymbal playing was a joy to behold, and a true gentleman.
Great, Peter is so relaxed and calm showing some very important basics here - awesome!
Erskine and Kenny Aronoff studied at the Indiana University School of Music--at the same time! Imagine those rehearsals.
love it, great video guys. been looking for more swing ride tutorials, one of the world's best here in erskine
Fantastic video!!!! The roots of everything. Simple and deep. The essence of all drumming is here. Great Peter Erskine!
What a great teacher and gentleman. I've had the pleasure of witnessing his genius many times with many different artist. Listen and learn folks for there is no one as skilled in Jazz technique as Mr. Erskine.
Thank you Mr Erskine. I have lived your work for years. You are definitely one of favorites.
This is gold man. Thank you Peter.
A wonderful player…a wonderful teacher. He teaches as clean and pure as he plays. Watched him with Dianne Krall and he is just terrific. If Diane was looking for the perfect trio swinger, she found him. I’ve seen Peters brush lessons and they are….yes!
One of my favorite drummers....From his work with Bob Mintzer Steps ahead, Steely dan.Jaco...A great, flexible drummer....Great in all styles of drumming...Thanx Peter.
Outstanding teacher.
One of my all time favourite players. Very sweet and musical.
"If you can swing a band with 1 hand. You can swing a band." Ha! I love that.
Thank you so much Peter, I remember meeting you during a sound check in Toronto, Great stuff.
Absolute legend, great descriptions of the art of drumming
Thanks for the lesson, Peter, you 'da MAN!!!!
I had the honor of holding a drum while you signed it during a PASIC convention; it's the closest my hands came to the hands of a world class drumming great!
Such a great lesson. Stick placement makes a huge difference to cymbal sounds, and consistent placement concentrates the overtones and wash so the cymbal is more focused. It’s so easy to ignore, I curse myself for the gigs I’ve ignored this and the sound is messy as an effect.
Nice! Peter, I've followed you since your big band days days, and of course you've done a gigantic amount of great playing in your career. I've recently revisited the Diana Krall recordings, and especially love what you did for her on the 2004 Montreal Jazz Festival. You made the whole band smile many times, and my favorite is probably the solid blues feel on "Love Me Like A Man". Awesome to see you at the drums, with your eyes often closed, swaying back and forth, supporting and driving the band like crazy. Beautiful... :)
In a clip regarding the Ride Cymbal, Peter Erskine drops a hihat 'nugget of gold' at the end of the video.
Thank you My Erskine for this lesson! I play open-hand position.
OUTSTANDING! I am so happy i found this. Lol its like everytime i see or here this guy im a bigger fan.
Great HIGHHAT and ride cymbal lesson.
Very interesting! Where is part 2?
that is a really really really nice sounding ride
His walking bass line is pretty good!!!! Real master.
The Basics but The Gold of the feel. To many youngins. This could easily go over their heads. So AWESOME
Why bad rap young people, did you skip that era?
Excellent videos. Changed my view from bass/snare to hold the beat. To ride/high hat. Different hand different foot. Thanks
Always loved Erskine's playing with John Abercrombie and Mark Johnson!
Seen them in Bologna some ... (many🙄)... years ago 👍
just Love the Public service announcement ❤😂
Thanks for the Public Service Announcement ; - ) Saw you play in Wellington, NZ, recently with the Rodger Fox band. You totally ran the big band with just brushes.
Great teacher, great drummer👑
Pete, you are so cool, a great teacher. What you did on “Blue Skies” with Al, John and Bob was the best fast bop I have ever heard. How some people can go that fast and COOK at that...was truly incredible, incredible in that hard to believe. How...HOW?
Jerry Mammo what album?
@@mikehawk9461 ....not ON an album...soundtrack to “Glengarry Glen Ross”...
ruclips.net/video/hZD_d6xo1UQ/видео.html
Practice...PRACTICE! (with a metronome. Start at 60 bpm and work your way up.)
wow. Peter thank THANK YOU I play more congas and had percussion.. but At 50 I'm playing more drum set I have been a big fan ....back to weather report days thank again for the tips.....
Still one of my favorites.....
This lesson is a treasure!
Thank you.
Such an underrated drummer in my opinion...his playing with Weather Report is truly genius
Just one of 10 drummers in a survival kit.
He is certainly not underrated. He has been an authority in jazz drumming for going on 5 decades.
Thank you very much, master! :)
Loved every sec of it 👏👏👏👏🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
I attended a drum clinic with Peter way back when he was still with Stan Kenton. It was me and a number of numbskull high school drummers. Peter started the clinic by teaching us how to snap our fingets, but with a GROOVE. It was so elementary, yet so fundamental (just like this ride pattern tutorial). All I can say is we all walked out of there swinging a little bit harder!
Great Workshop ! THX !!!
Neil Peart wrote a number of years ago, this is like the lesson he started Neil off on learn to swing and improvise, start and practice on the hi-hat.
Neil never did learn to swing.
Erm, forgive my ignorance but what was the difference with how he played he hi hats at the end? Seems exactly the same to me?
1:18 « If you can swing a band with one hand, you can swing a band. »
Umm ok
Is it a quote from Anchorman?
@Willis Arnez You obviously don't get the joke. "60% of the time it works everytime."
@@Heyemeyohsts In other words, if that's all you got you can swing the band. Everything else is icing on the cake.
@@farshimelt wow I forgot i wrote that. Lol. But really? A ride cymbal is enough in jazz? Definitely not in rock or Pop lol
Love that guy
Thanks Pete
Great lesson.
Anyone know what main ride that is??
Your the best - and your from somers point! -i am lbi dude but thanks for that lesson. My jazz playing sucks and it needs to get better
shame that puppy
Ringo: butter that bread
Great lesson!
What a legend.
Coo lesson. Peter. I was lucky my father gave me your publis service announcement 🥁😁
I knew of the 'public service announcement' as far as what was to be properly played, but I had never actually heard it said before. Those are the nuggets that you cannot get from just any drummer.
🥁👍🏻
His trio recordings with John Taylor and Palle Danielsson, esp. ‘You Never Know’ opened up a world of music for me, and are still among my all-time favorite albums. Check them out if you haven’t already!
How well does it sound? So nice.
Woah, I always wondered why I couldn’t swing on the HH.
Two short questions by a beginner: 1. how do you prevent kick "wanting" to sync with syncopated note instead of regular quarter note (kick too early)? and 2. how do you make a syncopated note nicely "swung" (played a bit sooner, as in a triplet feel) instead of more like a last 16th note of the straight beat? Thank you.
Short answer: practice. You’re already aware of those things so just focus on them during your sessions. The tips in the video will help you a lot. Quarter notes first then add the swing note, then just zero in.
Play a 1/4 note on the ride cymbal, on the second beat, let it bounce, and listen to where the next note falls. That will be your natural feel. The 3rd. note is a 1/4 note, then it starts over again.
Thanks Peter . The public announcment regarding the hi-hat is understood and accepted : )
Just look at that delicious technique. The freakin stick moves on its own
I love that he’s playing Craviotto drums here.
Im a guitarrist, but i liked a lot your video!
Cheers from Portugal 🍺🤘🇵🇹
He is a real master of drums!
Sensei, arigato
ah man i need a drum kit pronto
he is so good.
Thank you Peter for the PSA. 😢🐶
I got taught to accent the 2 and 4 and play across the cymbal when playing the jazz ride pattern. Is that wrong or is it just a different variation and If it is when do I use which one
@Andrew Bennett what a great reply. Cheers for putting in that much detail I’ll defiantly try and listen out for the difference!
Play until you feel comfortable with the motion, whatever the motion is. One of the purposes of staying in one place is the evenness of sound. Also, at up tempos, it takes less effort to maintain the tempo because there's less motion to perform.
Thank you Peter for sharing your wisdom, I love the importance of simplicity as the foundation of a great swing feel. BUT! I am never sure about a statement that finishes with "period, no argument" Its a philosophical question creativity within objectivity. Love your work Bro.
But nothing- it's Peter Erskine!
Haha, yes the one and only :)
Saw him as a kid with Kenton and in 1999 twitch Yellowjackets.
Amazing learning is great isn’t it
I'm confused. How would you count that ride beat. Is it 1 an a 2 and a 3 and a 4 and a?
1 - 2 ta - 3 - 4 ta
Yes, stay with the triplet feel.
@@irafair3015 That's a straight up and down feel and doesn't swing. It works for some types of Jazz.
Master, master!
Yes, it's those little things that count.
Hehe, here we have Peter emphasising that he is not playing the jazz ride pattern as a three note grouping, and just below we have a video from Greg Hutchinson, teaching 'walk-the-dog. Both are great drummers, but with Peter closer to mastery? I am convinced by Peter on this one.
The bassline he just scatted, was better than most bass players playing an actual bass line.
Wait was he the same madman drummer in Weather Report ?
Wow
Grazie
Thanks a lot
He was Jaco Pastorius' friend.
Thank you legend (and you really are :)
I remember a workshop in France (Orléans), where you asked two drummers to play the ride, and stay even... And then you played....
ups..."it's wrong! Period, no debate !"...love it ;-)
this is ASMR