Peter Erskine


Peter Erskine is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

Early life and education

Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, US. He began playing the drums at the age of four. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, then studied percussion at Indiana University.

Career

His professional music career started in 1972 when he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra. After three years with Kenton, he joined Maynard Ferguson for two years. In 1978 he joined Weather Report, joining Jaco Pastorius in the rhythm section. After four years and five albums with Weather Report and the Jaco Pastorius big band Word of Mouth, he joined Steps Ahead.
In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83. He toured the US in 1992 with Chick Corea.
Erskine splits his time as a musician and a professor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.
He was featured on Kate Bush's 2005 album Aerial, where Erskine teamed with bass player Eberhard Weber. Diana Krall, Eliane Elias, Queen Latifah and Linda Ronstadt, as well as Scottish and Finnish classical orchestras, have had Erskine perform as a featured musician.
In 2011, he appeared on stage at the Royal Opera House, London in the new opera Anna Nicole.

Honors and awards

In 1992, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Personal life and family

Erskine is the father of actress and writer Maya Erskine.

Discography

As leader

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As co-leader

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As sideman

With Rez Abbasi
With John Abercrombie
With David Benoit
With Wayne Bergeron
With Warren Bernhardt
With Randy Bernsen
With Chris Botti
With Michael Brecker
With Michael Bublé
With Gary Burton
With Joey Calderazzo
With George Cables
With Alex Cline
With Eddie Daniels
With Al Di Meola
With Yelena Eckemoff
With Eliane Elias
With Maynard Ferguson
With Don Grolnick
With Bob James
With Marc Johnson
With Stan Kenton
With Diana Krall
With Chuck Loeb
With Mike Mainieri
With Vince Mendoza
With Bob Mintzer
With Alan Pasqua
With Jaco Pastorius
With John Patitucci
With John Scofield
With Steps Ahead
With Mike Stern
With Sadao Watanabe
With Weather Report
With Kenny Wheeler
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With others

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Books