Where Conversation Becomes Music
ELP—drummer Peter Erskine, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and bassist Scott Petito—is a trio built on the idea that deep listening is the highest form of virtuosity.
What happens when three musicians with a combined century of experience strip away everything but the essentials? ELP exists to find out. Vibes, bass, and drums—a format with a rich lineage from Milt Jackson through Bobby Hutcherson—reimagined through the lens of three artists who have spent decades at the highest levels of jazz, fusion, and studio craft.
THE PLAYERS
Peter Erskine — Drums
Peter Erskine needs little introduction to anyone who has followed jazz over the past five decades. From his foundational years with Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson to his legendary tenure with Weather Report alongside Jaco Pastorius, Erskine has helped define modern jazz drumming. A two-time Grammy winner who has appeared on over 700 recordings, he brings to ELP an unparalleled sense of color, texture, and dynamic control.
His work with Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, and Diana Krall—not to mention his acclaimed solo recordings on Fuzzy Music—has established him as perhaps the most versatile drummer of his generation. Currently Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset Studies at USC’s Thornton School of Music, Erskine continues to shape the next generation of drummers while maintaining an active touring and recording schedule that spans the globe.
Joe Locke — Vibraphone, Piano
Joe Locke has emerged as one of the most compelling vibraphonists of the modern era. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Locke built his reputation through work with Kenny Barron, Eddie Henderson, Grover Washington Jr., and Chick Corea before establishing himself as a bandleader of remarkable vision. His albums for SteepleChase, Motéma, and Origin Records have earned him multiple Jazz Journalists Association “Mallet Player of the Year” awards.
What sets Locke apart is his ability to generate both stunning physical power and profound emotional depth from the vibraphone. His 2016 induction into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame and his appointment as International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music in London speak to his standing in the international jazz community.
Scott Petito — Bass, Piccolo Bass, Synth
Scott Petito is a Berklee-trained bassist, composer, and producer whose credits read like a who’s who of American music. He has performed with James Taylor, Pete Seeger, The Band, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, John Scofield, and countless others. His NRS Recording studio in Catskill, NY—where he has engineered Grammy-nominated albums—has hosted everyone from Mercury Rev to the jazz supergroup Hudson.
As a leader, Petito’s albums Rainbow Gravity and Many Worlds brought together an extraordinary roster of musicians including DeJohnette, Erskine, Omar Hakim, Simon Phillips, Bob Mintzer, and Mike Mainieri. His piccolo bass work and compositional voice have established him as a distinctive presence in contemporary jazz. He is also the current bassist and producer for the legendary Blues Project and a member of The Fugs.
The Genesis of ELP
The seeds of ELP were planted during the Rainbow Gravity sessions at NRS Recording. Erskine and Petito had collaborated on several tracks, and the musical chemistry was undeniable. Around the same time, Petito was engineering sessions that featured Joe Locke, and the idea of a new trio began to take shape.
The vibes-bass-drums configuration invites a particular kind of openness. Without a chordal instrument dominating the harmony, every note carries weight. Locke’s shimmering voicings, Erskine’s painterly dynamics, and Petito’s melodic bass lines occupy a shared sonic space where the boundaries between accompanist and soloist dissolve entirely.
The trio convenes at NRS for sessions that emphasize spontaneity and real-time interaction—three musicians at the height of their powers, engaged in genuine musical conversation.
