MJF's Interview with
PETER ERSKINE
Artists Who Influenced
Elvin Jones
"If we understand the melody, then we can understand how that rhythmic phrase should be developed." - Elvin Jones
Bernard Purdie
"You have to remember that songs, have to groove." - Bernard Purdie
Mel Lewis
“How much you stick-in depends on how much you can hear, and if you're really hearing, you'll put in only what's necessary.” - Mel Lewis
Shelly Manne
“We never play anything the same way once.” - Shelly Manne
Tito Puente
"In the '50s you had to work hard, because the competition was so good. Plus, you had to look good and put make-up on. Usually, the pretty boys were the worst musicians and the ugly ones were really good, like Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. The geniuses." - Tito Puente
Stan Kenton
“I don’t think you can replace great themes. But I think people do want to hear fresh arrangements of them. They don’t want to hear them played the same way all the time.” - Stan Kenton
Roy Haynes
“This is my religion. I take long breaks now when I don’t perform and I am not myself when I am not performing.” - Roy Haynes
Art Blakey
“A name doesn’t make the music. It’s just called that to differentiate it from other types of music.” -Art Blakey
Recommended Recordings
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