A beautiful collection full of subtlety and nuance,
Juni is not the type of recording one would expect to be led by a drummer of
Peter Erskine's high-octane pedigree. In fact, this trio's music owes more to that of
Bill Evans and
Keith Jarrett's standards trio than to the work of
Weather Report,
Maynard Ferguson, or any of
Erskine's other aggregations. The playing on this, the group's fourth under
Erskine's name, is soft, spatial, melodic, and accessible. Pianist
John Taylor weaves an introspective spell with his lyrical touch, and bassist
Palle Danielsson is superb in support and when stepping into the solo spotlight.
Erskine himself is continuously inventive within the context of these balladic compositions. ~ Jim Newsom