May 2000

Peter Ecklund
Gigs: Reminiscing in Music

By Harvey Siders

The ghost of Bix Beiderbecke looms large over these sessions-and rightly so. Ecklund's latest book is devoted to Bix's solos, accounting for Peter's explosive cornet entrances on most of the tracks. Like Bix, Ecklund makes a rhythm section come alive. He almost makes you forget about the occasional support offered by celeste, mandolin and steel guitar.
True to the premise (memories of past gigs) the project is eclectic: pleasant, harmless "elevator jazz." But when the Dixieland button is pressed-with help from Howard Johnson, tuba, and Ken Peplowski, clarinet-the mood can be quite uplifting.