|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBRUFORD, Bill(b 17 May '49, Sevenoaks, Kent) UK art-rock drummer become composer, musician's musician, leading highly rated fusion groups. Played jazz as an amateur '60s; turned pro '68, toured the world with King Crimson, Yes; also with Gong, Genesis, National Health; made Feels Good To Me '78 with Dave Stewart on keyboards, bassist Jeff Berlin, Allan Holdsworth on guitar; with bassist/vocalist John Wetton (ex-Family, King Crimson) he formed group UK for LPs UK, Danger Money, Night After Night '78--9, but experiment in leaderless democracy was ultimately unsuccessful; formed quartet Bruford, toured, made LPs One Of A Kind '79, The Bruford Tapes and Gradually Going Tornado '80 (John Clark replacing Holdsworth on some tracks; Berlin vocals on Tornado); also compilation Masterstrokes '86. Duo with Patrick Moraz made Music For Piano And Drums '84, Flags '85; new group Earthworks co-led by Bruford and Django Bates with Iain Ballamy (both from Loose Tubes) has eponymous LP '87 (entered Billboard jazz chart USA at no. 23), all on EG/Editions EG labels UK. Also recorded with Al Di Meola, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Akira Inoue, guitarist David Torn (Cloud About Mercury '87 on ECM), etc. Earthworks' Dig? '89 had Tim Harries replacing Mick Hutton on bass, a suave, relaxed album. Further efforts: All Heaven Broke Loose and Stamping Ground (Earthworks live). Heavenly Bodies '97 was a compilation of Earthworks work from '87 onwards. If Summer Had its Ghosts '97 on Discipline was a trio with Eddie Gomez and Ralph Towner (on piano and electric keyboard as well as guitar), Bruford's most sophisticated outing yet: there is life after prog rock. |