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Damian Erskine

Rank #1 Portland, OR Jazz / Funk / Anything

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About

Members: Damian Erskine and friends

Sounds Like: Munir Hossn, Janek Gwizdala, Damian Erskine, Richard Bona, Avishai Cohen

Label: notneK Music

Bio: Bio:
Damian is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation, his extraordinary reading and improvising skills as well as being an educator and columnist. He has played in the studio or on the stage with the likes of • Gino Vannelli • Peter Erskine New Trio • The Jaco Pastorius Big Ban... See Full Bio

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Status

: Nother day, another session. Love it http://t.co/I9nIxvgo69

Press

“...The Pacific Northwest's secret weapon on bass. Well, not so secret. He is one serious cat (to use the parlance of our times) on bass. He has an instantly recognizable rhythmic and harmonic style that includes chords and some quantifiably viscous funkosity. He grooves is what I am telling you...”

— Bassist Ridiculoso, Basso Ridiculoso

“Good fusion is hard to come by, but thanks to people like bassist Erskine, it’s making a comeback...”

— Kyle O' Brian, Jazz Society of Oregon

“...Hard-hitting...fluent..”

— Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times

“despite his incredible technique, he never overplays and instead stays within service to the songs... ...I suspect with the talent he shows here, we will be hearing much more from this player/composer. ”

— Brad Walseth, Jazz Chicago

“The instrumental interplay is airtight and based on complex polyrhythms, like a cross between Return to Forever and the Fania All-Stars”

— Burning Ambulance, Burning Ambulance

“ANYONE WHO HEARS DAMIAN ERSKINE’S new album So To Speak is about to find out what both keyed-in locals and hardcore jazz/fusion bass enthusiasts already know: There’s a world-class virtuoso bassist living in Portland, Oregon, and most nights he’s out there hustling like the rest of us.”

— Bryan Beller, Bass Player Magazine

“A modern groove master with top notch tecnhique”

— Mike Flynn, Bass Guitar UK

“Bassist Erskine is an extraordinary talent...”

— Layla Macoran, NY Cultural Examiner

“bassist Damian Erskine’s new CD, So to Speak, is a supremely inspired effort, rendered by some of Portland’s best jazz, funk, Latin and soul musicians. His compositions are a master class in groovology, ridiculously strong meter, inventive melodies and a solid underlayment”

— Don Campbell, Oregon Music News

"Rhythmic mastery and the Erskine name continue to be synonymous with Damian Erskine's smoking performances on So To Speak."

— Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

“Damian Erskine leading a hip group with a Latin-fusion influence on a host of new tunes, all of them composed by Erskine. He’s the Man and proves it in his inventive compositions and in his imaginative ideas and performance. ”

— Bob Gish, Jazz Inside NY

“I gotta say this stuff sounds KILLIN, but you lied to me dude. You told me that you couldn't write tunes. LIES!!! These tunes are sounding great, all of the players are heavy, the mix is all up in your face the way it should be, and you sir are sounding better than ever. Your groove is deep, and the tone of that bass is amazing. I'll keep listening but right now my favs are Inside Out and Creep. Thanks for making an album for everyone to enjoy, not just us bass players. Very well done brother.”

— Rich Brown, Dapp Theory, Steve Coleman, Autorickshaw, RinseTheAlgorithm

“There is no denying his chops; the syncopated lines are fun to follow and keep your head moving constantly.”

— Joey Flores, MyOwnFm

“This stuff rocks pretty hard! Excellent compositions, playing, and an excellent drummer...very impressive. You have my vote! Can I have one when it's done? Please?”

— David Garibaldi, Tower of Power

“Erskine was in supreme command of his band and his music and his bass. The lightning fast runs we have come to expect from him were compounded by odd-meters, large orchestral statements, uncut funk, latin grooves and complex yet completely accessible… a powerfully enjoyable experience.”

— Tom D'Antoni, Oregon Music News

“Damian Erskine’s “So to Speak,” is simply flawless, rhythmically mesmerizing and underneath it all melodically transparent! “So to Speak,” by Erskine escapes the spoils of commercialism untarnished to unveil a musical gem that want disappoint even the hard to please music enthusiasts! ”

— Rob Young, The Urban Flux

“A high octane contemporary jazz fusillade that has it on the ball at every turn. In case you thought Victor Wooten is as good as it gets for jazz bass, you would be right, but now Wooten has a worthy, new bookend. Hot stuff.”

— Chris Spector, Midwest Record

“Damian Erskine's significant facility, big pocket and harmonic awareness are what comes when talent and hard work collide.”

— Johnathan Herrera, Bass PLayer Magazine

“Damian's book proves to be another well thought out text on presenting the fundamentals for any player to consider. A commendable array of scales, modes, chords, and their inversions are covered in depth, and presented in a well thought out manner”

— Jake Kot, Bass Musician Magazine

“....Damian has such a refreshing and individual bass style. I thought of Jaco, Linley Marthe, Richard Bona and others but he certainly has his own voice and is someone who, make no mistake, it’s time you checked out. But this is not just a record for bassists. This is simply a great record.”

— Phil Wain, NoTreble.com

“..Trios showcases Damian's musicality that does never gets overshadowed by his serious chops. Recommended !!”

— Abstract Logix

“...Great playing, and gorgeous tone throughout”

— Bill Murphy & J.D. Considine, Bass Guitar

“…this is a 21st century in the best sense of the word (words) excursion…forward thinking compositions, as well as musicianship, brought to the forefront. I would highly suggest checking this out.”

— Jake Kot, Bass Musician Magazine

All Press

Recent Blogs

So To Speak

Songs

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Play "Fif"

Fif

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Play "Inside Out"

Inside Out

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Play "Light"

Light

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Play "Aslant"

Aslant

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Play "American Gyro"

American Gyro

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All Songs

Videos

Damian Erskine - Fif at the Mission Theatre, Portland, OR

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Shows

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Sat
May 18

Meadows Lakes Golf Cour…
Prineville, OR, US | 7:00pm
Meadows Lakes Golf Course
Prineville, OR, US
Sat May 18 7:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Mon
May 20

The White Eagle Saloon
Portland, OR, US | 8:00pm
The White Eagle Saloon
Portland, OR, US
Mon May 20 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Mon
May 27

The White Eagle Saloon
Portland, OR, US | 8:00pm
The White Eagle Saloon
Portland, OR, US
Mon May 27 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Tue
May 28

TBA
White Sands, NM, US | 8:00pm
TBA
White Sands, NM, US
Tue May 28 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Wed
May 29

Highland Tap & Burger
Denver, CO, US | 9:30pm
Highland Tap & Burger
Denver, CO, US
Wed May 29 9:30pm
- Show Details
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Store

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So To Speak
MP3: $7.95
01 Inside Out.mp3
MP3: $0.99
02 Fif.mp3
MP3: $0.99

Comments

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David P. Reinen
Wow, Damian, this is what's great about being an Oregonian - we can get so thoroughly, musically rained upon with greatness by artists like you and those you work with - st...
Shaun Ritchie
.....you groove so hard man. such mastery of time...
SWINGBOOTY
Sticky grooves and great chops... this is truly good music.
Lenny Fleming
Dropped in to check the vibes!!!! Stayed to love the music!!!! Great Songs!!!! Great Sound!!!! Excellently Done!!!! PEACE & LOVE!!!!
Rich Pulin Musical F...
YOU SOUND FABULOUS! Rich Pulin Musical Family is ensconced in a picturesque tropical Swiss-Alps like setting in the foothills/mountains of Central America... Rich h...
David Namerow (Cong...
ASLANT ...clean, crisp grooves-- like the rest of your tracks-- which slice through the genre clutter with honest power to grab and hold my ears, heart and soul. (If you thi...