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Bill Bruford

Bill Bruford grew up with jazz. As an amateur drummer in the 1960s, and after a handful of lessons from Lou Pocock of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he began his professional career in 1968. He was a guiding light in the so-called British "Art Rock" movement, touring internationally with Yes and King Crimson from 1968-74. There then followed several years spent observing and participating in the music making processes of, among others, Gong, National Health, Genesis and U.K., until Bill felt ready to write and perform his own music with his own band Bruford, recording four albums from 1977-80.

It was, however, the reconstituted King Crimson of 1980-84 that provided the vehicle for his revolutionary use of electronics in developing the melodic side of percussion. Following an interim two year/two album stint improvising on acoustic piano and drums with Patrick Moraz, Bruford formed his electro-acoustic jazz group Earthworks in 1986, with Django Bates and Iain Ballamy, specifically to continue this work on melody from the drum set, but now in a jazz context. Earthworks, the group's first offering in 1987, was named the "third best jazz album of the year" by America's USA Today; then came Dig? (1989), All Heaven Broke Loose (1991), and the summer 1994 Live set, Stamping Ground.

King Crimson again proved itself a veritable percussion think-tank when it launched the double-rhythm team of Bruford and Pat Mastelotto in the 1994 double-trio incarnation. Through late 1994 and 1995, the band toured the world, giving 120 concerts, and producing studio and live CDs documenting its fresh and innovative use of two drummers. 1996 saw further King Crimson concerts, and the production of a CD Rom encapsulating Bruford's approach, in a tri-format combination of audio and MIDI/digital data, entitled Packet of 3.

In between all this, Bill also found time to record and/or tour with Kazumi Watanabe, David Torn, The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Akira Inoue, Al Di Meola, Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe, the Buddy Rich Orchestra, Tony Levin, Pete Lockett and his old firm Yes amongst others. He continued his work as an active clinician with a series of clinics in Europe and America in 1993, culminating in his highly acclaimed appearance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention at Columbus, Ohio in November. In 1990, the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine voted him into that magazine's Hall of Fame.

The late '90s saw Bruford underlining his commitment, and return, to jazz and 1997 saw two major releases. The Earthworks "best of" compilation, Heavenly Bodies, taken from all four albums and including previously unreleased material was released in May on Virgin Record, U.K. Then a late summer release of fresh material with jazz titans Ralph Towner (guitars and piano) and Eddie Gomez (bass) entitled If Summer had its Ghosts, appeared on King Crimson's Discipline Records in September.

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Liner Notes

Bill Bruford: The Summerfold Collection 1987-2008

Read "Bill Bruford: The Summerfold Collection 1987-2008" reviewed by John Kelman


Intrepid percussionist/composer/bandleader Bill Bruford began his career in the late '60s art-rock arena with Yes and, later, King Crimson, but jazz has always moved underneath, like an eddying current. His early recordings, well documented on the companion Winterfold Collection, may not speak the language of jazz, but they possess its spirit. By 1986, Bruford was looking for a new path. Crimson had again dissolved, the 1981-'84 incarnation having provided him with the opportunity to explore nascent electronic drum ...

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Liner Notes

Bill Bruford: The Winterfold Collection 1978-1986

Read "Bill Bruford: The Winterfold Collection 1978-1986" reviewed by John Kelman


It's often easy to judge artists based on where they are now, but when you have a recorded legacy as rich as that of Bill Bruford, it's far better to view the body of work as a whole. As divergent as the intrepid percussionist/composer/bandleader's career has been, there are common threads running through all his work, making the earlier, electrified and amplified material on this Winterfold Collection fit contextually as a logical antecedent to his more recent unplugged and improvisation-centric ...

4
Interview

Bill Bruford: In the Court of the Percussion King

Read "Bill Bruford: In the Court of the Percussion King" reviewed by Mike Brannon


From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in March 2001. A charmed life might be a good way of describing that of Bill Bruford. Always at the center of and driving vastly creative projects, including King Crimson, Yes, Earthworks, Genesis, Bruford, Gong and many other collaborations of like minds, Bruford continues to amaze and astound both audiences and the modern greats of drumming alike. Though at times self-effacing, tacit, enlightening and direct, he ...

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Album Review

Bill Bruford's Earthworks: Earthworks Complete

Read "Earthworks Complete" reviewed by John Kelman


Since retiring as a professional musician in 2009, progressive/art rock turned jazz drummer Bill Bruford has successfully managed to maintained a place in the public eye. Beyond his engaging, informative and successful Bill Bruford: The Autobiography (Jawbone Press, 2009), the drummer/percussionist has more recently released a second, equally captivating book, Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer (University of Michigan Press, 2018).Initially stemming from the success of his autobiography but since assuming a life of its own (and no ...

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Extended Analysis

Heaven & Earth: Live and in the Studio 1997-2008

Read "Heaven & Earth: Live and in the Studio 1997-2008" reviewed by John Kelman


Yet another year, yet another characteristically detailed and chronologically contextualized King Crimson mega-box set. Except that 2019 is no typical year. And Heaven & Earth is no typical King Crimson box set. While Heaven & Earth: Live and in the Studio 1997-2008 completes (well, almost) the series of box sets documenting King Crimson's original commercial recordings (and so much more), it's far from the group's first (or only) release to go along with the current three-drummer ...

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Album Review

Bruford-Borstlap: Sheer Reckless Abandon

Read "Sheer Reckless Abandon" reviewed by John Kelman


One of the great joys of music can be that of distance: coming back to a piece of music, a musician/group or a discography, even, years later to rediscover it anew. While returning to music after a break of months, years...even decades...is not always a revelation, it's likely true that, if the music was appealing the first time around, it will be just as compelling—maybe even more so—when a significant amount of time has passed since it was last experienced. ...

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Book Review

Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer

Read "Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer Bill Bruford 282 Pages ISBN: #9780472053780 University of Michigan Press 2018 Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer isn't the place to look for colorful, gossipy stories about Bill Bruford's celebrated years as a prog rock architect and drummer with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and U.K.; or, his tenure as a leader of highly regarded, if less commercially viable, electric and acoustic jazz units. The book is reminiscent ...

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Recording

Bill Bruford 'One Of A Kind' 12” Vinyl Edition Available on November 24, 2023

Bill Bruford 'One Of A Kind' 12” Vinyl Edition Available on November 24, 2023

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

This definitive vinyl re-release is re-issued on Bruford’s own Winterfold Records, was overseen personally by Bill Bruford and ,astered from the original tapes recorded and mixed by Stephen W Tayler in 1979. Bill Bruford is the original drummer in YES and was a long-term member of King Crimson. The band Bruford recorded this album in 1979 and it went on to achieve critical acclaim and commercial success. Bruford's One Of A Kind 12” vinyl reissue will be available November 24, ...

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Recording

Bill Bruford 'Making A Song And Dance: A Complete Career Collection' 6-CD Box Set Available For Pre-Order

Bill Bruford 'Making A Song And Dance: A Complete Career Collection' 6-CD Box Set Available For Pre-Order

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Over the past 50 years Bill Bruford has been one of the most original and innovative drummers across multiple genres. Making A Song and Dance: A Complete Career Collection is a 6-CD Box Set that charts some of the many highlights of Bruford’s incredible career and is released on April 29th through BMG. From early steps with progressive legends YES and a quarter of a century in King Crimson, to ground-breaking jazz fusion leading his own Bruford and Earthworks projects, ...

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Technology

Bill Bruford Announces The Availability Of His Whole Back Catalogue On Digital Platforms

Bill Bruford Announces The Availability Of His Whole Back Catalogue On Digital Platforms

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Legendary drummer Bill Bruford recorded numerous solo albums outside his commitments to YES and King Crimson that hold a treasured place in many fans’ rock and jazz collections. Bill’s first band was the eponymously-named Bruford (1977-80) following which he recorded two studio albums with Patrick Moraz. In 1986 he formed Earthworks as a deliberate return to his roots in jazz, encouraging the use of rock technology with jazz sensibility—the hallmark of Earthworks’ stylish approach. There have been further collaborations with ...

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Recording

Drum Legend Bill Bruford’s 'Rock Goes To College' Deluxe CD/DVD Edition Now Available

Drum Legend Bill Bruford’s 'Rock Goes To College' Deluxe CD/DVD Edition Now Available

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Bill Bruford was the original drummer in Yes and was a long-term member of King Crimson. His band Bruford recorded this BBC broadcast in 1979. The DVD in this package is the only officially released concert footage of the band that exists, and as such has achieved legendary status. The line-up on this album is: Bill Bruford (drums, percussion), Allan Holdsworth (guitar), Dave Stewart (keyboards), Jeff Berlin (bass) and Annette Peacock (voice). Bill says of the re-release: “This was a ...

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Recording

Bill Bruford’s Earthworks Announce The Release Of Heavenly Bodies - The Expanded Collection

Bill Bruford’s Earthworks Announce The Release Of Heavenly Bodies - The Expanded Collection

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Bill Bruford was the drummer with Yes and King Crimson before he moved to jazz with his band Earthworks. Heavenly Bodies – The Expanded Collection takes 23 tracks from the Earthworks Complete deluxe box set to present a tidy overview of the band’s 20-year history in a double CD. Bruford says: “Heavenly Bodies- The Expanded Collection serves as the ideal ‘beginners’ guide’ for newcomers to the band. Progressive Jazz isn’t a million miles from Progressive Rock: both genres prioritise change ...

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Recording

Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks Complete’ 20 CD / 4 DVD Deluxe Box Set Containing Earthworks' Entire Catalogue Spanning 20 Years Now Available

Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks Complete’ 20 CD / 4 DVD Deluxe Box Set Containing Earthworks' Entire Catalogue Spanning 20 Years Now Available

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

A Summerfold Records reissue, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks Complete is a spectacular 20CD/4DVD box set of the entire back catalogue across Earthworks' 20-year career. Includes previously unreleased and little known material. What's in the box? 15 titles on 20 CDs and 4 DVDs document the 20 year history from 1987 to 2006 of one of the UK's brightest, most travelled and best loved young jazz ensembles. Featuring Bill Bruford with Iain Ballamy, Django Bates, Patrick Clahar, Laurence Cottle, Tim Garland, Steve ...

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Award / Grant

Bill Bruford's Definitive Boxed Set Nominated For Progressive Music Awards Reissue Of The Year

Bill Bruford's Definitive Boxed Set Nominated For Progressive Music Awards Reissue Of The Year

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Drum legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford's recently released definitive boxed set Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago has been nominated for “Reissue of the Year” by Progressive Music Awards. Containing the collected works of the band on one extraordinary 6cd/2dvd-a box set, Seems Like A Lifetime Ago is a magnificent testament to one of the UK's most inventive and important Progressive Fusion bands. Featuring 2017 remastered versions of the albums Feels Good To ...

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Book / Magazine

Scholar And Drum Legend Bill Bruford Authors New Book, "Uncharted: Creativity And The Expert Drummer"

Scholar And Drum Legend Bill Bruford Authors New Book, "Uncharted: Creativity And The Expert Drummer"

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Scholar and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford, best known for his work with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and his prolific solo career, has authored a new book, to be Published by the University of Michigan Press on January 28th. Pre-orders are now being taken. What’s it about? The book is an exploration of the creativity involved in the way drummers make things work, make things matter, and make sense of both. It draws on interviews with ...

2

Recording

Drum Legend And Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Bill Bruford Releases Definitive Box Set, Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago

Drum Legend And Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Bill Bruford Releases Definitive Box Set, Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Drum legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford, best known for his work with YES, King Crimson, Genesis and his prolific solo career, is releasing the definitive boxed set Bruford 1977-1980: Seems Like A Lifetime Ago. Scheduled for release on Winterfold Records on October 28th, pre-orders are now being taken for the Limited Edition 8-disc set, which features unreleased, remixed or remastered material & a signed certificate. WATCH THE PREVIEWS Bill Bruford reflects on embarking on ...

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Book / Magazine

Foruli Publish Hand-bound Limited Edition Bill Bruford Autobiography

Foruli Publish Hand-bound Limited Edition Bill Bruford Autobiography

Source: Lori Hehr Public Relations

Drummer Bill Bruford of Yes, King Crimson and Earthworks has entered the bespoke Publishing market with a limited edition package of his best-selling autobiography. Each set is individually hand signed by Bill and includes an exclusive new double vinyl album, From Conception to Birth. Those ordering at foruli.co.uk before mid November will receive a 10% discount. Here are the details: Edition limited to 500 A hand signed and numbered hand bound limited edition book Hand printed book cover with ...

“Bill Bruford has consistently demonstrated an ability to bring rhythmic crispness and sophistication to some of the most complex and demanding arrangements in contemporary music” —— Michael Shore, Modern Drummer

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Larks' Tongues In...

Burning Shed
2023

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One Of A Kind

Winterfold Records
2023

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Double Time

Winterfold Records
2020

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Rock Goes To College

Winterfold Records
2020

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Temples of Joy

Winterfold Records
2020

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