Bill Bruford
Encyclopedia
William Scott "Bill" Bruford (born 17 May 1949 in Sevenoaks
, Kent
) is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock
group Yes
, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring drummer for Genesis
in 1976. Following his departure from Yes and at various times until 1997, Bruford was the drummer for progressive rock band King Crimson
. Bruford moved away from progressive rock
to concentrate on jazz
, leading his own jazz group, Earthworks
, for several years. He retired from public performance in 2009, but continues to run his two record labels and to speak about music. His autobiography, Bill Bruford: The Autobiography, was published in early 2009.
He began playing the drums when he was thirteen, and was influenced by jazz drumming, which would manifest itself on early Yes albums and would remain an influence on his style throughout his career. He had success in the early seventies during his time with Yes playing on their first five albums including the LPs
The Yes Album
, Fragile
, and Close to the Edge. He left Yes in 1972, returning briefly for the Union album which was released in 1991.
TV on Saturday evenings. These programmes turned the head of the thirteen-year-old Bruford. He found all the instrumentalists to be fascinating and mysterious, but particularly the drummers. His sister then gave him his first pair of brushes as a present. He was educated at Tonbridge School
. He later took a few lessons - while still attending Public School - from Lou Pocock of the Royal Philharmonic, but after that he picked up other techniques wherever he found them.
He said that he never acquired drum technique for the sake of acquiring it, but as a solution to a particular problem, and if he heard something that he couldn't do, he would learn how to do it. Bruford applied this way of learning to other instruments as well, although acknowledging that he has the 'classic amateur's technique'; meaning that he knows some very difficult bits and that he has some large gaping holes in his knowledge, but his amateurism can sometimes be helpful in forging a style, because he has to work around his weaknesses.
Bruford's pre-Yes bands included The Breed (1966–67), a Sevenoaks-based r'n'b/soul band which included future Flash
bassist Ray Bennett, future Canned Rock singer/guitarist Doug Kennard and guitarist Stu Murray (since Bruford was at boarding school and not available for all gigs, the band occasionally used another drummer, Pete Skinner, and sometimes both), a short-lived band named The Noise (1967) with whom he gigged in Italy, and Savoy Brown
(1968), his first professional engagement - which lasted all of three gigs.
Although seemingly a close-knit band, Bruford remembers the whole era as being very argumentative, and hot blooded. There was a constant state of friction between Bruford, Chris Squire
, and Jon Anderson
, all three of whom were from totally different social backgrounds. Bruford admitted that he found it hard to understand Anderson's northern English accent, and Anderson's penchant for speaking in strange sentences that nobody could understand, which later influenced Yes' lyrics. Bruford also had to contend with Squire's slow and deliberate style of writing his bass lines, being on time for recording sessions, or just getting ready to leave for shows. These personality traits amongst the three would be a foundation for Bill's eventual exit from the group in 1972.
The band members were no strangers to alcohol, but Bruford doesn't remember a lot of "sex, drugs and rock n' roll". The whole band used to drink a lot of alcohol, and they often visited a club in London called the Speakeasy
that the band's manager, Roy Flynn, also managed. The Speakeasy stayed open until two or three in the morning, so Yes could play a gig in England within a hundred-and-fifty mile radius and still make it back to the Speakeasy at about two o'clock, where they drank "large amounts" of whisky and Coke.
Bruford, by 1972, had felt that Yes had come as far as it could, or at least as far as he could contribute to it. He didn't want to spend what he felt was an inordinate amount of time in the studio debating chords and producing records that he felt would only be in the shadow of Close To The Edge. In addition, his relationship with bassist Chris Squire
was strained. He later commented, "Chris is, I'm sure, a wonderful guy. But in those days he also very, very late. For all appointments and departures and arrivals and sound checks and anything. That, in a way, is the most grievous form of offense that one musician can visit upon another... I was a hot-blooded guy back then and I'd had enough of waiting for him, really." He also once had a fist-fight with Squire after a concert, because they had violently disagreed about who had played badly. Despite these personal issues, Bruford played all the drums on Squire's 1975 solo album, Fish Out of Water.
to join King Crimson, a band he had wanted to join for quite some time. He later compared this to "going over the Berlin Wall
into East Germany" - Bruford stated that "In Yes, there was an endless debate about should it be F natural in the bass with G sharp on top by the organ. In King Crimson...you were just supposed to know". His instinct to remember complicated drum parts was shown when he learned how to play the long percussion and guitar part in the middle of "21st Century Schizoid Man
", "by listening to it and just learning it".
He admits that his note-reading skills are slower than he would like: "I learned how to read the horizontal lines, but not the vertical notes." Despite this, he has successfully written lots of compositions over the years, albeit slowly.
Bruford was more interested in artistic pursuits, and the framework of King Crimson appealed to that sensibility in him. He cites the six months that the group contained avant-garde percussionist Jamie Muir
as tremendously influential on him as a player, opening him up to "musical worlds I had only vaguely suspected existed". Violin, viola and keyboard player David Cross
was selected to flesh out the sound of the new band. Rehearsals began in September 1972, followed by an extensive UK tour. Larks' Tongues in Aspic
was released early the next year, and the group spent the remainder of 1973 touring Britain, Europe, and America.
Two albums were released with the four-member line-up (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Cross), Starless and Bible Black
, and the posthumous live album USA
, recorded on some of Cross's final dates with the band. Finally, as a 3-piece (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford) King Crimson recorded Red
in July 1974. After the release of Red in September, Fripp decided to disband King Crimson.
in 1976, recordings from which appeared on the Genesis live albums Seconds Out
and Three Sides Live
, as well as the theatrical release of Genesis: In Concert
. Bruford, who was rehearsing (as guest percussionist) with Phil Collins
' side project Brand X
, suggested drumming while Collins sang until they found a permanent live drummer (this would be Chester Thompson
, in 1977). Collins, a big Bruford fan going back to his early Genesis days, approved of the suggestion.
(bass), Allan Holdsworth
(guitar) and Bruford (drums).
The first album Feels Good to Me
(recorded as a solo project) also had Annette Peacock
on vocals, Kenny Wheeler
on flugelhorn and John Goodsall
on rhythm guitar. The second album, One of a Kind, was entirely instrumental, except for some spoken lines during the introduction to "Fainting In Coils". There were two live albums from this period. Bruford - Rock Goes To College
is a 2006 DVD release from the eponymous BBC Television
series and The Bruford Tapes, compiled from live shows at My Father's Place in Roslyn, Long Island, in 1979 (including one broadcast on radio station WLIR
-- most, but not all, of the tracks on the album are from that show), with John Clark replacing Holdsworth on guitar.
The group's final studio album Gradually Going Tornado
continued this lineup with bass player Berlin providing vocals on some songs.
in the progressive rock group UK
. During his time in the band, from 1977 to 1978, the band released its eponymous debut album
and conducted one UK tour and a couple of North American tours. After this he was dismissed from the band, due to his disagreement with Wetton and keyboardist Eddie Jobson
's decision to fire guitarist Allan Holdsworth
, whom he'd brought into the band. He subsequently turned his focus on his own band, Bruford.
In 1983 he joined up with former Yes pianist Patrick Moraz, who had played on the Relayer
album; the duo released Music for Piano and Drums that year and Flags
in 1985, followed by a short string of live shows.
on bass and Chapman Stick
, and Adrian Belew
on guitars and vocals. He recorded Discipline, Beat
, and Three of a Perfect Pair
with them, moving to a kit of both acoustic and electronic drums and using his renowned polyrhythmic style, before they disbanded again in 1984.
(sometimes referred to by the acronym ABWH) was a permutation of the progressive rock band Yes. The group consisted of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman
, and guitarist Steve Howe
, with Tony Levin providing the bass duties since Yes bassist Chris Squire
was involved with the official Yes. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe recorded one self-titled studio album
in 1989. A live recording
from their subsequent concert tour was released in 1993.
Bruford would rejoin Yes
briefly in 1991 and 1992 for the Union album and tour, so titled because it brought together ABWH and the members of Yes prior to the union as an eight-member band. His comments about the album and tour:
About the tour:
Bruford and Steve Howe would later undertake a recording project together in 1992/1993 to have an orchestra reinterpret some of Yes' works. The resulting album, titled Symphonic Music of Yes
, was released on RCA records in 1993.
on Warr guitars and Pat Mastelotto
sharing the drumming duties with Bruford. This so-called 'double trio' configuration recorded one full-length album, 1995's
THRAK
, as well as experimenting with the ProjeKcts
, before Levin and Bruford left the band. Bruford's reason for abandoning the double trio was his frustration with rehearsals, which he felt weren't going anywhere.
was formed in December 1985 and its original line-up (which lasted until 1993) featured two up-and-coming UK jazz musicians and composers, Django Bates
on keyboards and tenor horn, and Iain Ballamy
on saxes. The band reemerged in the 1990s with an acoustic line-up, notably featuring Tim Garland
for a period, before splitting up in 2009 due to Bruford's retirement.
Bruford used Simmons electronic drums
and his melodic drumming, though in the later years of his career he returned to using a primarily acoustic drum set. While Bruford has creative freedom with Earthworks, he continues to collaborate with many musicians, including one-time Yes
keyboardist Patrick Moraz
(with whom he recorded two albums in the 1980s) and bassist Tony Levin
. Earthworks has been his primary focus in recent years, particularly after his departure from the latest incarnation of King Crimson.
In an interview for The San Diego Union-Tribune
(15 May 2003) he said, "I have this image that I might be a 'rock guy on vacation'. That idea is anathema to me—and I've cured it by making eight albums with Earthworks."
He described Earthworks as "seeing music as a social encounter, where you look another guy in the eyes across the room, say 'one-two-three-four' and the music begins. That's where my pleasure lies, for sure" (Los Angeles Times
, 16 May 2003).
; and with contemporary composer Colin Riley and collective pianocircus—and drum clinics.
He retired from public performance on 1 January 2009, although he has since played live with Ann Bailey's Soul House. He retired from studio recording at the same time, although his studio work, Skin & Wire, was released later that year. His autobiography was released in early 2009.
which made the headlines of Melody Maker
in October 1976; Bruford has also told of "an abortive and late rehearsal/audition with bass player Jack Bruce
out at his mansion in Essex
, once, but nothing came of that". He was also approached in 1985 by ex-Led Zeppelin
guitarist Jimmy Page
to be the drummer for his new band with Paul Rodgers
, The Firm, along with bass player Pino Palladino
. "We rehearsed briefly, but I think decided we were mutually unsuited..!".
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
) is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring drummer for Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
in 1976. Following his departure from Yes and at various times until 1997, Bruford was the drummer for progressive rock band King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
. Bruford moved away from progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
to concentrate on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, leading his own jazz group, Earthworks
Earthworks (band)
Bill Bruford's Earthworks was a British jazz band led by drummer Bill Bruford. The band recorded several albums for Editions EG, Discipline Global Mobile and Summerfold Records....
, for several years. He retired from public performance in 2009, but continues to run his two record labels and to speak about music. His autobiography, Bill Bruford: The Autobiography, was published in early 2009.
He began playing the drums when he was thirteen, and was influenced by jazz drumming, which would manifest itself on early Yes albums and would remain an influence on his style throughout his career. He had success in the early seventies during his time with Yes playing on their first five albums including the LPs
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
The Yes Album
The Yes Album
The Yes Album is the third studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the last record to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye until 1983, and the first to feature guitarist Steve Howe, who replaced Peter Banks in 1970...
, Fragile
Fragile (Yes album)
Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...
, and Close to the Edge. He left Yes in 1972, returning briefly for the Union album which was released in 1991.
Early life
Bruford explained that he chose to play drums because he watched American jazz drummers of the 1960s on BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV on Saturday evenings. These programmes turned the head of the thirteen-year-old Bruford. He found all the instrumentalists to be fascinating and mysterious, but particularly the drummers. His sister then gave him his first pair of brushes as a present. He was educated at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
. He later took a few lessons - while still attending Public School - from Lou Pocock of the Royal Philharmonic, but after that he picked up other techniques wherever he found them.
He said that he never acquired drum technique for the sake of acquiring it, but as a solution to a particular problem, and if he heard something that he couldn't do, he would learn how to do it. Bruford applied this way of learning to other instruments as well, although acknowledging that he has the 'classic amateur's technique'; meaning that he knows some very difficult bits and that he has some large gaping holes in his knowledge, but his amateurism can sometimes be helpful in forging a style, because he has to work around his weaknesses.
Bruford's pre-Yes bands included The Breed (1966–67), a Sevenoaks-based r'n'b/soul band which included future Flash
Flash (band)
-Flash:Flash was an English progressive rock group, formed by former Yes guitarist Peter Banks and vocalist Colin Carter in August 1971. Bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough completed the line-up....
bassist Ray Bennett, future Canned Rock singer/guitarist Doug Kennard and guitarist Stu Murray (since Bruford was at boarding school and not available for all gigs, the band occasionally used another drummer, Pete Skinner, and sometimes both), a short-lived band named The Noise (1967) with whom he gigged in Italy, and Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown
Savoy Brown, originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, are a British blues rock band, formed in 1965, in Battersea, South West London...
(1968), his first professional engagement - which lasted all of three gigs.
Yes
Most of the early members of Yes all lived in the same house. They were almost confined to the property, because concert bookings came at short notice, so leaving the house for a few hours was their only freedom from the confines of the band. Bruford likened the lifestyle to that of a fireman.Although seemingly a close-knit band, Bruford remembers the whole era as being very argumentative, and hot blooded. There was a constant state of friction between Bruford, Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, and Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, all three of whom were from totally different social backgrounds. Bruford admitted that he found it hard to understand Anderson's northern English accent, and Anderson's penchant for speaking in strange sentences that nobody could understand, which later influenced Yes' lyrics. Bruford also had to contend with Squire's slow and deliberate style of writing his bass lines, being on time for recording sessions, or just getting ready to leave for shows. These personality traits amongst the three would be a foundation for Bill's eventual exit from the group in 1972.
The band members were no strangers to alcohol, but Bruford doesn't remember a lot of "sex, drugs and rock n' roll". The whole band used to drink a lot of alcohol, and they often visited a club in London called the Speakeasy
Speakeasy Club
The Speakeasy Club, 48 Margaret Street, London, England, was a late-night haunt for the music industry from 1966 to the late 1970s. The club was first managed Roy Flynn, who then became the manager of Yes. Tony Howard then became manager, having previously been the main artist booker from The Bryan...
that the band's manager, Roy Flynn, also managed. The Speakeasy stayed open until two or three in the morning, so Yes could play a gig in England within a hundred-and-fifty mile radius and still make it back to the Speakeasy at about two o'clock, where they drank "large amounts" of whisky and Coke.
Bruford, by 1972, had felt that Yes had come as far as it could, or at least as far as he could contribute to it. He didn't want to spend what he felt was an inordinate amount of time in the studio debating chords and producing records that he felt would only be in the shadow of Close To The Edge. In addition, his relationship with bassist Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
was strained. He later commented, "Chris is, I'm sure, a wonderful guy. But in those days he also very, very late. For all appointments and departures and arrivals and sound checks and anything. That, in a way, is the most grievous form of offense that one musician can visit upon another... I was a hot-blooded guy back then and I'd had enough of waiting for him, really." He also once had a fist-fight with Squire after a concert, because they had violently disagreed about who had played badly. Despite these personal issues, Bruford played all the drums on Squire's 1975 solo album, Fish Out of Water.
King Crimson
Bruford accepted an invitation from Robert FrippRobert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
to join King Crimson, a band he had wanted to join for quite some time. He later compared this to "going over the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
into East Germany" - Bruford stated that "In Yes, there was an endless debate about should it be F natural in the bass with G sharp on top by the organ. In King Crimson...you were just supposed to know". His instinct to remember complicated drum parts was shown when he learned how to play the long percussion and guitar part in the middle of "21st Century Schizoid Man
21st Century Schizoid Man
"21st Century Schizoid Man" is a song by progressive rock band King Crimson from their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King.-Personnel:* Greg Lake – Vocals, bass guitar* Ian McDonald – saxophone* Robert Fripp – guitars* Michael Giles – drums...
", "by listening to it and just learning it".
He admits that his note-reading skills are slower than he would like: "I learned how to read the horizontal lines, but not the vertical notes." Despite this, he has successfully written lots of compositions over the years, albeit slowly.
Bruford was more interested in artistic pursuits, and the framework of King Crimson appealed to that sensibility in him. He cites the six months that the group contained avant-garde percussionist Jamie Muir
Jamie Muir
Jamie Muir is a UK painter and former percussionist, best known for his work in King Crimson.-Biography:Muir attended Edinburgh College of Art during the 1960s and began playing jazz on trombone before settling on percussion....
as tremendously influential on him as a player, opening him up to "musical worlds I had only vaguely suspected existed". Violin, viola and keyboard player David Cross
David Cross (musician)
David Cross is an electric violinist born in Turnchapel near Plymouth, England, best known for playing with progressive rock band King Crimson during the 1970s...
was selected to flesh out the sound of the new band. Rehearsals began in September 1972, followed by an extensive UK tour. Larks' Tongues in Aspic
Larks' Tongues in Aspic
Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, originally released in 1973. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation - arguably their most forward-thinking thinking version yet, featuring original member and guitarist Robert...
was released early the next year, and the group spent the remainder of 1973 touring Britain, Europe, and America.
Two albums were released with the four-member line-up (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Cross), Starless and Bible Black
Starless and Bible Black
Starless and Bible Black is an album released by the British progressive rock band King Crimson in 1974. Most of the vocal pieces on the album are satires and commentaries on the sleaziness and materialism of society...
, and the posthumous live album USA
USA (album)
USA is a live album by the English band King Crimson, released in 1975.*Tracks 1-6 and 8-9 recorded at the Casino, Asbury Park, June 28, 1974*Track 7 recorded at the Palace Theatre, Providence, USA, June 30, 1974...
, recorded on some of Cross's final dates with the band. Finally, as a 3-piece (Fripp, Wetton, Bruford) King Crimson recorded Red
Red (King Crimson album)
Red is a 1974 album by progressive rock group King Crimson.It was their last studio recording of the 1970s and the last before the lead member Robert Fripp temporarily disbanded the group....
in July 1974. After the release of Red in September, Fripp decided to disband King Crimson.
Genesis live
Bruford also spent six months touring with GenesisGenesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
in 1976, recordings from which appeared on the Genesis live albums Seconds Out
Seconds Out
Seconds Out is a live double album by Genesis, released in October 1977. It reached No.4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for 17 weeks. The performances were recorded in Paris in 1976 and 1977 on their tours in support of A Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering...
and Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live is the third live album by British Progressive Rock band Genesis, released in 1982.-History:The title for this album comes from the original world release, which contained three sides of live material from the band's 1981-82 tour, and a fourth side of studio tracks, three of which...
, as well as the theatrical release of Genesis: In Concert
Genesis: In Concert
Genesis In Concert is a concert film directed and produced by Tony Maylam for the English progressive rock band Genesis. The recording of the film took place during concerts in Glasgow, Scotland and Stafford, England in 1976...
. Bruford, who was rehearsing (as guest percussionist) with Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
' side project Brand X
Brand X
Brand X was a jazz fusion band active between 1975–1980 and 1992-1999. Noted members included Phil Collins , Percy Jones , John Goodsall and Robin Lumley ....
, suggested drumming while Collins sang until they found a permanent live drummer (this would be Chester Thompson
Chester Thompson
Chester Cortez Thompson is an American drummer and session musician.-Biography:Thompson made his name as a session drummer, going on to play in Frank Zappa's touring band and with Weather Report...
, in 1977). Collins, a big Bruford fan going back to his early Genesis days, approved of the suggestion.
Solo career
Bill Bruford led his own band in the late 1970s, called simply "Bruford". Members of the band were initially Dave Stewart (keyboards), Jeff BerlinJeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
(bass), Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
(guitar) and Bruford (drums).
The first album Feels Good to Me
Feels Good to Me
Feels Good to Me is the debut solo album by the British drummer Bill Bruford. The band Bruford grew out of the line-up assembled for this album, which was released in August 1978. Led by drummer Bill Bruford, the album also features guitarist Allan Holdsworth and John Goodsall, bassist Jeff Berlin,...
(recorded as a solo project) also had Annette Peacock
Annette Peacock
- Biography :Annette Peacock began composing at the age of four. Her mother was a violist in the San Diego and Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestras....
on vocals, Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC is a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. since the 1950s....
on flugelhorn and John Goodsall
John Goodsall
John Goodsall is a progressive rock & jazz fusion guitarist most noted for his work with Brand X, Atomic Rooster and Fire Merchants.Goodsall was born in Pennsylvania and has lived in Los Angeles, England, Milan and Minnesota. He began playing guitar at age 7...
on rhythm guitar. The second album, One of a Kind, was entirely instrumental, except for some spoken lines during the introduction to "Fainting In Coils". There were two live albums from this period. Bruford - Rock Goes To College
Rock goes to College
Rock Goes To College was a BBC series that ran between 1978 and 1981 on British television. A variety of up-coming rock oriented bands were showcased live from small venues and broadcast simultaneously on television and radio during a 40-50 minute live performance.It was a follow-on to the...
is a 2006 DVD release from the eponymous BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series and The Bruford Tapes, compiled from live shows at My Father's Place in Roslyn, Long Island, in 1979 (including one broadcast on radio station WLIR
WLIR
WLIR-FM is a Christian radio station as part of the WLIX Voice of Hope Radio Network. WLIR-FM broadcasts in the Hamptons-Riverhead area. Its transmitter is currently located near East Quogue, New York....
-- most, but not all, of the tracks on the album are from that show), with John Clark replacing Holdsworth on guitar.
The group's final studio album Gradually Going Tornado
Gradually Going Tornado
Gradually Going Tornado is the third and final studio album by Bruford. It was co-produced by Weather Report collaborator Ron Malo and released in 1980 . In contrast to the band's previous all-instrumental effort, several songs were sung by bassist Jeff Berlin...
continued this lineup with bass player Berlin providing vocals on some songs.
UK
Following his first solo album, he was reunited with King Crimson bassist/vocalist John WettonJohn Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
in the progressive rock group UK
UK (band)
U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 until 1980.The band was composed of Singer/Bassist John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson, Bryan Ferry's band and Uriah Heep, Keyboardist/Electric Violinist Eddie Jobson, formerly of Curved Air, Roxy Music and Frank Zappa's...
. During his time in the band, from 1977 to 1978, the band released its eponymous debut album
U.K. (album)
UK is the eponymous debut album by the progressive rock supergroup UK. It features John Wetton , Eddie Jobson , Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth . It was released in 1978 on E.G. Records / Polydor...
and conducted one UK tour and a couple of North American tours. After this he was dismissed from the band, due to his disagreement with Wetton and keyboardist Eddie Jobson
Eddie Jobson
Edwin "Eddie" Jobson is an English keyboardist and violinist noted for his use of synthesizers. He has been a member of several progressive rock bands, including Curved Air, Roxy Music, U.K., and Jethro Tull. He was also part of Frank Zappa's band in 1976-77...
's decision to fire guitarist Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
, whom he'd brought into the band. He subsequently turned his focus on his own band, Bruford.
In 1983 he joined up with former Yes pianist Patrick Moraz, who had played on the Relayer
Relayer
-Personnel:*Jon Anderson – lead vocals*Steve Howe – acoustic and electric guitars, vocals*Patrick Moraz – keyboards*Chris Squire – bass guitar and vocals*Alan White – drums, percussion-Production:*Produced By Yes & Eddie Offord...
album; the duo released Music for Piano and Drums that year and Flags
FLAGS
The FLAGS pipeline is a natural gas pipeline in the North Sea which is used to transport liquids and associated gas from the following fields:* Cormorant A* North Cormorant* North West Hutton...
in 1985, followed by a short string of live shows.
Return to King Crimson
Bruford was part of a newly formed King Crimson again in 1981 with a different lineup, consisting of Bruford, Robert Fripp on guitar, Tony LevinTony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
on bass and Chapman Stick
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
, and Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
on guitars and vocals. He recorded Discipline, Beat
Beat (King Crimson album)
Beat is an album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982.Of King Crimson's thirteen studio albums, this is the only album that does not have a title track, although its title is included in the name of the song "Heartbeat"....
, and Three of a Perfect Pair
Three of a Perfect Pair
Three of a Perfect Pair is an album by the band King Crimson, released in 1984. The album is the culmination of the band's 80s period and is a balance between the experimental sounds of the "Red" album, Discipline, and the accessibility of the "Blue" album, Beat. Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew took...
with them, moving to a kit of both acoustic and electronic drums and using his renowned polyrhythmic style, before they disbanded again in 1984.
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, and Yes again
Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
(sometimes referred to by the acronym ABWH) was a permutation of the progressive rock band Yes. The group consisted of vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, and guitarist Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
, with Tony Levin providing the bass duties since Yes bassist Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
was involved with the official Yes. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe recorded one self-titled studio album
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the self-titled album by four alumni of the progressive rock group Yes: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe.- History :The project began in 1988...
in 1989. A live recording
An Evening of Yes Music Plus
An Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
from their subsequent concert tour was released in 1993.
Bruford would rejoin Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
briefly in 1991 and 1992 for the Union album and tour, so titled because it brought together ABWH and the members of Yes prior to the union as an eight-member band. His comments about the album and tour:
Well, the more money you pay for a record, the more money you interfere with it – and this was a big budget record. So, they eventually decided that the guys in France (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe) needed the assistance of all the other Yes guys in California (Chris Squire, Tony KayeTony Kaye (musician)Tony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
, Trevor RabinTrevor RabinTrevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
and Alan WhiteAlan White (Yes drummer)Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
). So, our work was duly e-mailed, I guess, to them. They were then put on and found lacking. Then, also put on was a cast of a thousand studio musicians. So, the whole thing turned into the most God awful, auto-corrected mess you could possibly imagine! The worst record I’ve ever been on.
About the tour:
It was just a sort of a summer vacation. It was fun to do in the sense there were some 'old pals' and it was possible to do because we didn't have to give rise to any new music. So in as much as the band was just playing repertoire material, there was kind of a 'ticket buy' in the idea of all those, you know, the entire cast of Dallas on stage at once, kind of thing. And there was some kind of attraction to that. But that was really all it was, I think. And I think I was probably an unnecessary spare part. So I didn't enjoy it terribly. But those gigs can be quite fun as performing in huge stadiums can be quite fun on a kind of purely visceral level. Just kind of being there and enjoying it. I don't venture, however, you'd want to give up your day job to do it.
Bruford and Steve Howe would later undertake a recording project together in 1992/1993 to have an orchestra reinterpret some of Yes' works. The resulting album, titled Symphonic Music of Yes
Symphonic Music of Yes
Symphonic Music of Yes was a 1993 orchestral album covering songs of the progressive rock band Yes. The arrangements were by Dee Palmer . Playing on the album were two then-former Yes members, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Bill Bruford...
, was released on RCA records in 1993.
King Crimson, again
King Crimson re-emerged once more in 1994 as a six-piece band, consisting of its 1980s lineup along with Trey GunnTrey Gunn
Trey Gunn is an American musician, known for his membership in progressive rock band King Crimson from 1994 to 2003, playing Warr Guitar and Chapman Stick.-Biography:...
on Warr guitars and Pat Mastelotto
Pat Mastelotto
Pat Mastelotto is a rock drummer who has worked with Mr. Mister and King Crimson, amongst others. For King Crimson he initially formed part of the "double trio" lineup, joining Bill Bruford on drums...
sharing the drumming duties with Bruford. This so-called 'double trio' configuration recorded one full-length album, 1995's
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
THRAK
THRAK
THRAK is an album by the band King Crimson released in 1995, the successor to the preceding mini-album Vrooom . This album was recorded in the "double trio" format of King Crimson.-Track listing:...
, as well as experimenting with the ProjeKcts
ProjeKcts
The ProjeKcts are a succession of spin-off projects associated with the band King Crimson.Devoted to instrumental and heavily improvised music, the ProjeKcts were most active from 1997 to 1999, but have performed intermittently since...
, before Levin and Bruford left the band. Bruford's reason for abandoning the double trio was his frustration with rehearsals, which he felt weren't going anywhere.
Earthworks
EarthworksEarthworks (band)
Bill Bruford's Earthworks was a British jazz band led by drummer Bill Bruford. The band recorded several albums for Editions EG, Discipline Global Mobile and Summerfold Records....
was formed in December 1985 and its original line-up (which lasted until 1993) featured two up-and-coming UK jazz musicians and composers, Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
on keyboards and tenor horn, and Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
on saxes. The band reemerged in the 1990s with an acoustic line-up, notably featuring Tim Garland
Tim Garland
Tim Garland is a British jazz saxophonist, composer and band-leader. He is also known for his innovative bass clarinet playing and for his prolific output as composer, blurring the boundaries between modern jazz and classical concert music.As a performer, he has worked widely both in Britain and...
for a period, before splitting up in 2009 due to Bruford's retirement.
Bruford used Simmons electronic drums
Simmons (electronic drum company)
Simmons was a pioneering British manufacturer of electronic drums that supplied electronic kits from 1980 to 1994. The drums' distinctive, electronic sound can be found on countless albums from the 1980s....
and his melodic drumming, though in the later years of his career he returned to using a primarily acoustic drum set. While Bruford has creative freedom with Earthworks, he continues to collaborate with many musicians, including one-time Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
keyboardist Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
(with whom he recorded two albums in the 1980s) and bassist Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
. Earthworks has been his primary focus in recent years, particularly after his departure from the latest incarnation of King Crimson.
In an interview for The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
(15 May 2003) he said, "I have this image that I might be a 'rock guy on vacation'. That idea is anathema to me—and I've cured it by making eight albums with Earthworks."
He described Earthworks as "seeing music as a social encounter, where you look another guy in the eyes across the room, say 'one-two-three-four' and the music begins. That's where my pleasure lies, for sure" (Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, 16 May 2003).
Recent work
With Earthworks put on hold in 2007 (apart from a brief return in 2008), Bruford focused on new collaborations—including as a duo with pianist Michiel BorstlapMichiel Borstlap
Michiel Borstlap is a Dutch jazz pianist and composer.Borstlap started playing piano at the age of 5 years....
; and with contemporary composer Colin Riley and collective pianocircus—and drum clinics.
He retired from public performance on 1 January 2009, although he has since played live with Ann Bailey's Soul House. He retired from studio recording at the same time, although his studio work, Skin & Wire, was released later that year. His autobiography was released in early 2009.
Abortive projects
Bruford has been involved in a number of abortive projects, including a trio with Rick Wakeman and John WettonJohn Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
which made the headlines of Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
in October 1976; Bruford has also told of "an abortive and late rehearsal/audition with bass player Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
out at his mansion in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, once, but nothing came of that". He was also approached in 1985 by ex-Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
to be the drummer for his new band with Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
, The Firm, along with bass player Pino Palladino
Pino Palladino
Pino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
. "We rehearsed briefly, but I think decided we were mutually unsuited..!".
Awards
In 1990, the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine voted him into that magazine's Hall of Fame.Yes
- Yes (1969)
- Time and a WordTime and a WordTime and a Word is the second album by progressive rock band Yes, released in mid-1970 in the UK and November 1970 in the US. This was the last Yes album to feature the group's original line-up, as Peter Banks was fired before the album's release....
(1970) - The Yes AlbumThe Yes AlbumThe Yes Album is the third studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the last record to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye until 1983, and the first to feature guitarist Steve Howe, who replaced Peter Banks in 1970...
(1971) - FragileFragile (Yes album)Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...
(1972) - Close to the Edge (1972)
- YessongsYessongsYessongs is the first live album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. The album is formed of recordings from their supporting world tours for their studio albums, Fragile and Close to the Edge, between February and December 1972...
(1973, live) - Union (1991)
King Crimson
- Larks' Tongues in AspicLarks' Tongues in AspicLarks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, originally released in 1973. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation - arguably their most forward-thinking thinking version yet, featuring original member and guitarist Robert...
(1973) - Starless and Bible BlackStarless and Bible BlackStarless and Bible Black is an album released by the British progressive rock band King Crimson in 1974. Most of the vocal pieces on the album are satires and commentaries on the sleaziness and materialism of society...
(1974) - RedRed (King Crimson album)Red is a 1974 album by progressive rock group King Crimson.It was their last studio recording of the 1970s and the last before the lead member Robert Fripp temporarily disbanded the group....
(1974) - USAUSA (album)USA is a live album by the English band King Crimson, released in 1975.*Tracks 1-6 and 8-9 recorded at the Casino, Asbury Park, June 28, 1974*Track 7 recorded at the Palace Theatre, Providence, USA, June 30, 1974...
(1975, recorded live 1974) - Discipline (1981)
- BeatBeat (King Crimson album)Beat is an album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982.Of King Crimson's thirteen studio albums, this is the only album that does not have a title track, although its title is included in the name of the song "Heartbeat"....
(1982) - Three of a Perfect PairThree of a Perfect PairThree of a Perfect Pair is an album by the band King Crimson, released in 1984. The album is the culmination of the band's 80s period and is a balance between the experimental sounds of the "Red" album, Discipline, and the accessibility of the "Blue" album, Beat. Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew took...
(1984) - The Great DeceiverThe Great Deceiver (King Crimson)The Great Deceiver is a live 4CD box set by the band King Crimson, released on Virgin Records in 1992. In 2007, it was reissued as two volumes of 2 CDs each...
(1992, recorded live 1973-1974) - VROOOMVROOOMVrooom is an EP by the band King Crimson released in 1994, a companion to the subsequent album Thrak .All of the tracks on Vrooom reappeared on Thrak as different recordings...
(1994) - THRAKTHRAKTHRAK is an album by the band King Crimson released in 1995, the successor to the preceding mini-album Vrooom . This album was recorded in the "double trio" format of King Crimson.-Track listing:...
(1995) - B'Boom: Live in ArgentinaB'Boom: Live in ArgentinaB'Boom: Live in Argentina is a live album by the band King Crimson, released in 1995. All songs were recorded between October 6 and October 16, 1994 at the Broadway in Buenos Aires, Argentina, except for "Heartbeat" which was recorded in Córdoba.King Crimson's Argentinian shows in late 1994 were...
(1995, recorded live 1994) - THRaKaTTaKTHRaKaTTaKThrakattak is a live album by the band King Crimson, released in 1996.*Compiled from performances of, and improvisations during, the piece "Thrak" in USA and Japan....
(1996, recorded live 1995) - The Night WatchThe Night Watch (album)The Night Watch is a live album by the English rock band King Crimson, released in 1997.This album contains an important performance in King Crimson's career, being the source of the improvisations "Trio" and "Starless and Bible Black", the Fripp instrumental "Fracture" and the intro to the song...
(1997, recorded live 1973) - Absent LoversAbsent Lovers: Live in MontrealAbsent Lovers: Live in Montreal is a live album by the band King Crimson, recorded July 11, 1984 and released in 1998. This was taken from the final night of their 1984 tour and would subsequently be King Crimson's last performance until the THRAK warm-up shows in Argentina ten years later.-Track...
(1998, recorded live 1984) - Live At The Jazz CaféLive At The Jazz CaféLive at the Jazz Café is a live album released in 1998 by ProjeKct One, a sub-group of King Crimson. Live at the Jazz Café was released as part of the 1999 box set The ProjeKcts.-Overview:...
(1999 as part of The ProjeKctsThe ProjeKctsThe ProjeKcts is a 1999 box set of four live albums recorded between 1997 and 1999 by four side projects of the band King Crimson, known as ProjeKcts.-Overview:...
sub-group box set, recorded live 1997) - VROOOM VROOOMVrooom VrooomVrooom Vrooom is a live album by the band King Crimson, released in 2001.Although it was released during the active lifespan of the 2000-2003 King Crimson "Double Duo" lineup , Vrooom Vrooom is compiled from recordings by the previous six-man line-up of...
(2001, recorded live 1995-1996)
Session work
- Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water (1975)
- Steve Howe - BeginningsBeginnings (Steve Howe album)Beginnings is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's first solo album. It was released in 1975.The five Yes band members each did a solo album in 1975/6 and then current Yes members Alan White and Patrick Moraz guest on Beginnings, while Howe guested on White's Ramshackled album...
(1975) - Pavlov's Dog - At the Sound of the Bell (1976)
- Absolute Elsewhere - In Search Of Ancient Gods (1976)
- Genesis - Seconds OutSeconds OutSeconds Out is a live double album by Genesis, released in October 1977. It reached No.4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for 17 weeks. The performances were recorded in Paris in 1976 and 1977 on their tours in support of A Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering...
(1977, live) - Annette Peacock - X Dreams (1978)
- Steve Howe - The Steve Howe AlbumThe Steve Howe AlbumThe Steve Howe Album is the title of Yes guitarist Steve Howe's second solo album. It was released in 1979. The album featured current and former Yes band members.-Side one:# "Pennants" – 4:35...
(1979) - Genesis - Three Sides LiveThree Sides LiveThree Sides Live is the third live album by British Progressive Rock band Genesis, released in 1982.-History:The title for this album comes from the original world release, which contained three sides of live material from the band's 1981-82 tour, and a fourth side of studio tracks, three of which...
(1982, live) (International edition only, until 1994 when the album was remastered with the US version being deleted.) - Annette Peacock - Been In The Streets Too Long (1983)
- David Torn - Cloud About MercuryCloud About MercuryCloud About Mercury is the second album by guitarist David Torn recorded in 1986 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Glenn Astarita awarded the album 5 stars stating "Simply put, Cloud About Mercury looms as one of the finest jazz fusion dates of the '80s, and should be...
(ECM, 1986) - Kazumi Watanabe - The Spice of Life (1987)
- Kazumi Watanabe - The Spice of Life TooThe Spice of Life TooThe Spice of Life Too is an album by the Japanese guitarist Kazumi Watanabe; featuring Bill Bruford, Jeff Berlin and Peter Vettese. It was released on the Gramavision record label in 1988...
(1988) - Steve Howe - Turbulence (1991)
- Genesis - Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992Genesis Archive #2: 1976–1992 is a 2000 boxed set by veteran progressive rock/pop band Genesis. This retrospective covers the band's history while Phil Collins was lead singer....
(2000, live) - Michiel Borstlap - Every Step a Word, Every Word a Song (2004)
- Michiel Borstlap - In Two Minds (2007)
UK
- U.K.U.K. (album)UK is the eponymous debut album by the progressive rock supergroup UK. It features John Wetton , Eddie Jobson , Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth . It was released in 1978 on E.G. Records / Polydor...
(1978) - Live in America (1978, live recording - released 2007)
Bruford
- Feels Good to MeFeels Good to MeFeels Good to Me is the debut solo album by the British drummer Bill Bruford. The band Bruford grew out of the line-up assembled for this album, which was released in August 1978. Led by drummer Bill Bruford, the album also features guitarist Allan Holdsworth and John Goodsall, bassist Jeff Berlin,...
(1978) - One of a Kind (1979)
- Bruford - Rock Goes To College (1979 - released 2006)
- Gradually Going TornadoGradually Going TornadoGradually Going Tornado is the third and final studio album by Bruford. It was co-produced by Weather Report collaborator Ron Malo and released in 1980 . In contrast to the band's previous all-instrumental effort, several songs were sung by bassist Jeff Berlin...
(1980) - The Bruford Tapes (1980, live recording)
- Master Strokes: 1978-1985 (1986, compilation)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
- Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the self-titled album by four alumni of the progressive rock group Yes: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe.- History :The project began in 1988...
(1989) - An Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
(1993)
Earthworks
- EarthworksEarthworks (band)Bill Bruford's Earthworks was a British jazz band led by drummer Bill Bruford. The band recorded several albums for Editions EG, Discipline Global Mobile and Summerfold Records....
(1987) - Dig?Dig?Dig? is the second album by Bill Bruford's Earthworks, featuring Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Tim Harries. It was released on EG Records in 1989....
(1989) - All Heaven Broke LooseAll Heaven Broke LooseAll Heaven Broke Loose is the third album by Bill Bruford's Earthworks, featuring Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Tim Harries. It was released on EG Records in 1991....
(1991) - Stamping Ground: Bill Bruford's Earthworks LiveStamping GroundStamping Ground is a live album by Bill Bruford's Earthworks, released on EG Records in 1994.The Allmusic review by Bill Meredith awards this album with 4.5 stars and states: "Bruford's chordal patterns sound practically symphonic amid his epic starts and stops — further proof of the originality of...
(1994, live) - Heavenly Bodies (1997, compilation)
- A Part & Yet Apart (1999)
- The Sound of SurpriseThe Sound of Surprise-Track listing:# "Revel Without a Pause"# "Triplicity"# "Shadow of a Doubt"# "Teaching Vera to Dance"# "Half Life"# "Come to Dust"# "Cloud Cuckoo Land"# "Never the Same Way Once"# "The Wooden Man Sings, and the Stone Woman Dances"# "Sound of Surprise"...
(2001) - Footloose and Fancy Free (2002, live)
- Random Acts of Happiness (2004, live)
- Earthworks Underground Orchestra (2006)
Bruford Levin Upper Extremities
- Bruford Levin Upper ExtremitiesBruford Levin Upper Extremities (album)This album is the debut album and the only studio album of the band Bruford Levin Upper Extremities.- Track listing :# "Cerulean Sea" – 7:03# "Interlude" – 0:23# "Original Sin" – 4:55# "Etude Revisited" – 4:57# "A Palace of Pearls" – 5:33...
(1998) - B.L.U.E. NightsB.L.U.E. NightsB.L.U.E. Nights is an album by Bruford Levin Upper Extremities, recorded live in Japan and the USA during 1998 and released in 2000.-Line-up:* Bill Bruford — drums* Tony Levin — bass guitars, Stick* Chris Botti — trumpet...
(2000, live)