Vinca is a thug here. Impossible to curtail once it takes hold.

Since you want a stunning garden, I would talk to several nursery people to avoid future headaches. I would also double check on any recommendations from them!! Remember that fast growers can need more maintenance after they establish. You want to check mature size. Erosian cloth is often used with new plantings. It helps control weeds too.

Ajuga, Asarun caudatum - needs water, Alchemilla, Epimedium, Galium odoratum - can become a pest, hardy Geranium, Gaultheria procumbens, Lamium, Pachysandra terminalis 'Green Carpet', Phlox divaricata, Ranunculus repens 'Pleniflorus' - can be invasive, Sarcococca hookerana humilis, Vaccinium vitis-idaea ~~~~ these are some suggestions from Sunset's garden book. You might consider ferns.

For a very mat surface, I use Baby Tears. Poor stuff needs more water than I allot. Some Ajugas have good bronze tones and will take some sun. The ones I use send out runners to establish new plants. About 8" high.

asiatic jasmine is a standard ground cover around here - also monkey grass. It really sort of depends on how quickly you want it to fill in, and what you want to do with it in the future. for now, why not just throw down a layer of newspaper and mulch, so if decide to plant and prettify in the future, your soil will be great??? As for erosion control, I have a slope in my yard and fter trying several different ground covers, the best thing has just been installing some edging along the edge of the slope... I use the green plastic stuff you get at discount stores. it will help hold the dirt until the ground cover can do so...