McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1: The Peter Erskine Quartet Album

Welcome to McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1, an album crafted with attention to every detail in pursuit of sonic excellence. Recorded and mastered with utmost precision on analog tape, it promises a rich, high-fidelity vinyl listening experience that will transport you into the studio to hear the musicians’ captivating performance and original sound.

Produced for McIntosh by iconic mastering studio Sterling Sound, the entire production and engineering process was meticulously managed by an expert team of producers and engineers. Every aspect of making this album, from recording and mixing in legendary studios, to mastering and cutting, to test playbacks on McIntosh systems, was undertaken with the single goal of creating the best sounding record possible while retaining the artistry and passion from the studio session. This unique collaboration between McIntosh and Sterling Sound results in an album worthy of the world’s most discerning listeners – McIntosh customers.

We invite you to sit back, relax, and experience the sonic richness of this live recording as if you were there. Welcome to McIntosh SESSIONS Volume 1: The Peter Erskine Quartet.

• Jazz album featuring 8 original compositions from The Peter Erskine Quartet
• All songs specially recorded for release on McIntosh SESSIONS
• AAA production
• Recorded live in Studio A at the famous Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles
• Mastered at Sterling Sound in Nashville
• HQ-180 Gram Premium Vinyl Pressing by RTI
• Includes a 12" 33-1/3 RPM LP with all 8 songs plus a 12" 45 RPM EP with 4 of the 8 songs
• Packaged in an Old Style® Tip-On Gatefold Jacket from Stoughton Printing

33-1/3 – Side A

1. Leaving LA (from the film Sacramento) (Peter Erskine, Erko Music, BMI) 3:23
2. Blues For Old Friends (Darek Oles, LA Jazz Quartet Music, BMI) 6:43
3. Chilipso (Alan Pasqua, Itsall Music, BMI) 4:48
4. Gumbo Time (Alan Pasqua, Itsall Music, BMI) 3:39

33-1/3 – Side B

1. Into The Dark (Darek Oles, HNH and Buster Ann Music, ASCAP) 5:14
2. A Few Good Notes (Bob Mintzer, Mintzer Music, ASCAP) 4:16
3. David’s Blues (Peter Erskine, Erko Music, BMI) 6:07
4. The Folks (Alan Pasqua, Itsall Music, BMI) 4:22

45 – Side A

1. Leaving LA (from the film Sacramento) (Peter Erskine, Erko Music, BMI) 3:23
2. Blues For Old Friends (Darek Oles, LA Jazz Quartet Music, BMI) 6:43

45 – Side B

1. Into The Dark (Darek Oles, HNH and Buster Ann Music, ASCAP) 5:14
2. A Few Good Notes (Bob Mintzer, Mintzer Music, ASCAP) 4:16

Speaking about the musical marriage of drummer Peter Erskine, pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles, journalist Jim Worsley from All About Jazz said, “The trio could be considered the perfect melting pot of creativity, complexity, and rhythm, pollinated with spontaneous interplay and intelligent conversation.” That’s quite a summary of these top-tier jazzmen who, after playing together for decades, find themselves at the top of their game. Their Live In Italy recording, which garnered a Grammy nomination in 2022, is evidence of their primacy.

What makes the meeting of minds extra special now is the addition of saxophonist Bob Mintzer, acclaimed composer, arranger, and founding member of the Yellowjackets. A long-time associate to all, Mintzer elevates the group’s collective mastery in a new project, McIntosh SESSIONS, a direct-to-tape recording representing the partnership between hi-end audio giants McIntosh and Sterling Sound. At the heart of this captured performance is a vibrant intimacy that speaks volumes about the singular power of jazz and pure, reproduced sound.

Erskine and company revealed this immediacy in the studio. But, in fact, they bring it to the stage each time they play.

Peter Erskine: Peter Erskine has played the drums since the age of four and is known for his versatility and love of working in different musical contexts. He appears on 700 albums and film scores, and has won two Grammy Awards, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music (1992). Fifty albums have been released under his own name or as co-leader. He has played with the Stan Kenton and Maynard Ferguson Big Bands, Weather Report, Steps Ahead, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Kenny Wheeler, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Brecker Brothers, The Yellowjackets, Pat Metheny and Gary Burton, John Scofield, et al, and has appeared as a soloist with the London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Frankfurt Radio, Scottish Chamber, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Royal Opera House, BBC Symphony, Oslo and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras. Peter is Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset Studies at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.

Alan Pasqua: Alan Pasqua is a Steinway Piano artist, Grammy® Nominee and Professor of Jazz Studies at USC Thornton School of Music. He has played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Motian, Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Gary Burton, James Moody, Gary Peacock, Gary Bartz, Reggie Workman, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Sheila Jordan and Joe Williams.

Darek Oles: Darek Oles (Oleszkiewicz) was born on February 20, 1963 in Wroclaw, Poland. By the time he reached his early 20s he had become an award-winning and highly coveted acoustic bass player. In 1988 he arrived in Los Angeles and received a full scholarship from California Institute of The Arts and began studies with the legendary bassist Charlie Haden. Since 2002, Oles has been a jazz faculty member at the University of California in Irvine. Aside from his teaching duties, Darek Oles has been very active as a performer and became one of the most sought-after bass players on the West Coast, and has had the opportunity to perform and record with the greatest masters in jazz.

Bob Mintzer: Bob Mintzer is a saxophonist/arranger/educator who resides in Los Angeles. He is currently holds the Barbara and Buzz McCoy endowed chair at the USC Thornton School of Music. Bob is a 30 year member as saxophonist with the Yellowjackets. He is also the chief conductor of the WDR Big Band in Cologne Germany. Bob has written over 500 big band arrangements, several jazz study books, orchestral and chamber works. He has played on over 1000 recordings and has performed with Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band, Eddie Palmieri, Jaco Pastorius, Mike Manieri, Randy Brecker, and the New York Philharmonic.

AAA Production

Musicians:
Peter Erskine – Drums
Bob Mintzer – Saxophone
Alan Pasqua – Piano
Darek Oles – Bass

McIntosh SESSIONS Producers: Murat Aktar, Scott Burnett
Album Produced by Jeff Levenson

RECORDING
Recording Studio: Henson Recording Studios – Studio A, Hollywood, CA, September 14 – 18, 2023
Recorded & Mixed by Rich Breen
Assistant Engineers: Jacob Spitzer, Mark Kraus, Noah Rastegar
Technical Engineer: John Molino
Recorded & Mixed to Ampex ATR 102 1/2-inch 2 Track at 30 IPS and Studer A800 MKIII 2-inch 24 Track at 30 IPS
Tape Formulation: RTM SM900
McIntosh Playback System: MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifiers, C2700 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, and ML1 Loudspeakers Mk II

MASTERING
Mastering Studio: Sterling Sound, Nashville, TN, October 30 – 31, 2023
Mastered by Ryan Smith
McIntosh Playback System: MC830 Solid State Amplifiers, C8 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier, MT5 and MT10 Precision Turntables, and XR50 Loudspeakers

CREATIVE
Creative Director: Larry Hampel, Charlie Randall, Mark Christensen
Art Director: John Doyle
Photography: Alessandro Gentile, Heather Flores

PRODUCTION
Pressing: 180 Gram Vinyl, Record Technology, Inc.
Album Jacket: Stoughton Printing Company

LEGAL
George Regis

Peter Erskine plays Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo Drum Heads
Peter Erskine appears courtesy of Fuzzy Music LLC
Bob Mintzer plays Eastman Saxophones
Alan Pasqua is a Steinway Piano artist