Damian Erskine Archives - Page 3

Gruv Gear has introduced the Duostrap Signature, a genuine leather strap backed by bassist (and No Treble columnist) Damian Erskine. The new strap features a pair of over-the-shoulder straps for balanced weight distribution to reduce shoulder strain while keeping a comfortable playing position. By design, the right shoulder strap loops around the upper horn of your bass for support, though...

Damian Erskine‘s “Ask Damian” column is our longest running here on No Treble, and for good reason. Readers ask great questions (hint: send Damian your questions), readers love reading Damian’s responses, and Damian has a way of breaking things down that makes it all come together. Damian is touring the globe this month, so we’re giving him a break during...

Damian Erskine has released Live at Portland State University, a new album featuring a performance of his band, The Damian Erskine Project. The quartet, made up of Erskine on bass, Reinhardt Melz on drums, Ben Darwish on piano and John Nastos on tenor sax, performed the set for students of the university, in what they classify as “Weird Jazz”. “This...

Here’s a nice inside look at the Peter Erskine New Trio performing “Every Tomorrow” from their new album, Joy Luck. This is the first project between uncle (Peter) and nephew, bassist (and No Treble contributor) Damian Erskine. “Every Tomorrow” was written by the other member of the trio, pianist Vardan Ovsepian. Also cool: bassist Janek Gwizdala filmed this video.

Keyboardist Mike Prigodich has released his debut album, A Stitch in Time, featuring bassist (and No Treble contributor) Damian Erskine. The album’s intriguing melodies, odd time signatures, and ear-bending harmonies make it a stand-out album in the world of fusion. Prigodich got a wake-up call in 2008 when he was diagnosed with cancer, leading him pursue his dream of being...

Peter Erskine’s latest album, Joy Luck, showcases the drummer’s new trio, and a family connection. Peter’s nephew [and No Treble columnist] Damian Erskine joins his uncle for the first time on an album. Dubbed the Peter Erskine New Trio, the group also includes pianist Vardan Ovsepian. “I’ve waited for the right time to form a group with my talented nephew,...

First, thanks to all of you who write in with comments about this column. I get a lot of great feedback from you, and I appreciate it very much. Please keep it coming! This column starts with reader questions, and at the moment, I’ve run out. Here’s where you come in! Send me your questions. They can be strictly about...

Here’s No Treble columnist Damian Erskine taking a solo with Tony Furtado in 2005, at the Hatch Fest in Bozeman, Montana.

So, I had a night off and decided to go see some music at a local club here in Portland, Oregon. It was early in the night when I was faced with one of my biggest musical pet peeves: noodling on stage before your set. In short: please, don’t do it! This was a friend’s pop band and although they...

Q: I often hear people speak of music as a language but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how to relate to that idea and make it useful. Any thoughts? A: You’re not alone. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and I’ve been in the same boat you’re in. I have chosen to think of...

Q: I have wanted to really get to know the fretboard inside out for a long time but have always struggled with visualizing a scale or the notes of a chord over the full range of my instrument. So I often find I’m playing in the same familiar patterns and am not really able to move freely over the fretboard....

Q: I’d like to explore some ear training to improve my ability to hear intervallic relationships. Any good ideas? A: Simply put, ear training is exactly that: better training your ears to understand what you’re hearing. I find transcription to be the most entertaining way to develop my ears. I like to listen to what I want to transcribe over...