Customer Reviews

Earthwords

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I, too, think the online reviewer is too uptight. Bruford's Earthworks work convincingly in several different musical languages: traditional jazz, free jazz, and a sort of world-music based fusion. No rock fusion here. That they can make these three idioms coexist and provide internal (albeit demanding) structure to each composition is a tribute to their musicianship. The real star is Django Bates--a virtuoso pianist and E flat horn player. He's up and coming, recently won the Vadpar Prize in Norway for best European jazz composer and arranger. Here's your chance to see what he's up to early on--and it'll knock your socks off.

I first heard this album 12 or so years ago. It was thrilling then, the ensemble playing is beautifully thought out and executed,and the solo playing is of the highest order. It remains as impressive now;the textural quality of the music is quite unlike any other at that time or since,and the flow of harmonic and rhythmic ideas is fascinatingly explored and resolved by some of the most gifted musicians on the planet.However , it is music first and last, and messrs Bruford,Ballamy and Bates would themselves not be keen on comparisons with, and reference to, rock, jazz, trad{are you sure?]etc by other reviewers.This great music stands up all by itself.

If you are a mainstream music fan, chances are you haven't heard of the name Bill Bruford. However, if you have followed Progressive Rock - Drummer Bill Bruford is one of the legendary names of the Progressive Rock movement. Bruford was associated with three of the greatest bands in Progressive Rock History: Yes (two tours of duty: 1968-1972 and 1991) , King Crimson (three tours of duty: 1972-1974, 1980-1984, and 1994-1997), and Genesis (provided drums when Phil Collins took over vocals 1976-1977). If you are a fan of Modern Jazz, chances are you have heard of Bill Bruford as well. It was in 1987 when Bill Bruford's Jazz Project "Earthworks" got off the ground. The debut album by Earthworks entitled "Bill Bruford's Earthworks" might seem like Bruford took a quantum leap from Progressive Rock to Modern Jazz, but when you closely examine things you discover this really isn't such a big jump. In a lot of ways, Progressive Rock is the true "Alternative Rock". Progressive Rock started when Rock artists wanted to move beyond the parameters of standard Rock and Roll. Progressive Rock artists also add a high level of sophistication to their music. Jazz, being a very sophisticated form a music is therefore not a quantum leap for the Progressive Rock artists. On "Bill Bruford's Earthworks", not only does Bruford make the leap from Progressive Rock to Jazz, but he makes a mark of epic proportions. I don't think it's unfair to say that this is one of the great Modern Jazz albums of all time.

It's worth noting that there are actually two incarnations of Bill Bruford's Earthworks. This collection represents the debut work of the first incarnation. The first incarnation consistsed of Bruford on Drums and Percussion, Iain Bellamy on Sax, Django Bates on Keyboard and Bass, and Mick Hutton on Acoustic Bass. This first incarnation would be together from 1986 through 1993. After that, Bruford went back for a tour of duty with King Crimson. Following that tour of duty, Bruford would form a new lineup for Earthworks.

I don't think Modern Jazz should be confused with Smooth Jazz. "Bill Bruford's Earthworks" was released in 1987 which many consider the time where the Smooth Jazz movement began to get off the ground. However,I don't think it's Smooth Jazz. Many may argue whether Smooth Jazz is really Jazz or not. Whether you believe the term "Jazz" belongs in Smooth Jazz or not, I do believe this genre has established itself on the music scene. I look at Smooth Jazz as primarily an instrumental music style that is an incorporation and fusion of several instrumental styles. Some of the fusion may be classic Jazz brass sounds, but others may be modern music styles of electric guitar or synthesizers. Because of the wide range that this genre can encompass, I feel many artists fall into this category. Although some simularities to Smooth Jazz, I don't feel that "Bill Bruford's Earthworks" falls into this category.

As you listen to "Earthworks", the core of the music you will hear is Jazz - complete with polyrhythms and all. Yes, there is some fusion of other elements - after all, Bruford does come from a Rock background. However, unlike the latter Smooth Jazz artists that would follow, this work still remains true to Jazz. Good examples of this are found in the third and fourth tracks. The third track "Up North" has a progressive rock feel in many parts of the song. The horn work even reminds me of some of the horn work found in Phil Collins' solo work. At the same time, "Up North" does have a solid Jazz feel to it. The fourth track "Pressure" also has a progressive rock feel - particularly in the opening. But the Sax work shows that the Jazz factor is alive and well.

The first two tracks of the collection show how Bruford and Earthworks remind me that it is Jazz I am listening to. The first track, "Thud" is probably the most catchy track of the collection. This was an Iain Bellamy penned tune - and it has a very lively Jazz feel to it. This isn't going to be a 1940s Jazz tune - it is a very modern sounding tune. However, there isn't a point when I felt that this wasn't Jazz. The second track "Making a Song and Dance" isn't quite as catchy - this is going to be one of those tracks that grow on you. The first 2 1/2+ minutes of the song start out with a soft intro with almost a light African sounding percussion to it. It then goes into a more uptempo bridge that sounds a lot like John Tesh's work. That bridge will be followed with some nice horn work that once again makes me realize that it's Jazz I'm listening to. The fifth track, "My Heart Declares a Holiday" also has some great horn work (as well as percussion) that also spell out Jazz.

Finally, the 8th and 9th tracks are worth mentioning. These are terrific tracks. The 8th track "The Shepherd is Eternal" is a short two minute number that is a very soft track. It is probably the least Jazz sounding track on the album, but it is a perfect segue into the 9th track "Bridge of Inhibition". "Bridge of Inhibition" starts as a very bold track. It makes some use of electronic keyboards, but then it mellows down- and much like the story above, you will hear Jazz sounding horn and percussion in it.

One thing to note is that the co-producer of is Dave Stewart (Bruford himself is the other co-producer). This is not to be confused with the Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. The liner notes of this collection have a very nice writeup by Simon Puxley who discusses how Bruford and Earthworks launch into the world of Jazz. Overall, this is a great collection of modern Jazz music. I highly recommend it.

These guys were very committed to ambitiously mixing and matching musical styles into a unique stew, in a good-humored way. They also used unusual instrumentation - Bruford playing chordal backing on his electronic drums at times, and Django Bates moving from keyboards to harmonizing on his "peck horn" when appropriate.

The album is slightly tentative as compared to what this band became in concert. And it uses overdubs and processed sound more than later efforts - which undercuts the band's whole raison d'ete I think. They're at their best when they play live music on the spot. It's a good if not great listen but I prefer their subsequent albums which are a bit more idiosynchratic. The only track here that sounds as if it were recorded for maximum artistic effect is "Bridge of Inhibition".

i have the original album i purchased in 89 love it then and know

If the established players of today listened to this, Jazz would be in better shape. This disc is spectacular. There is no other way to describe this. First of all, Bruford. The name of the first song, "Thud", describes his drumming on this disc. Hard driving and deep, but in the background, and not alot of use of cymbals. Not fancy. Sturdy, rock drumming in a Jazz context. Django Bates, Iain Ballamay, and Mick Hutton are tremendous Jazz players. Tremendous. These songs are a the following: Rock, Mainstream, Avant-Garde, Hard, and Soft all in the same song. "Making A Song And Dance", is the highlight of this disc, and could be of any disc it were on. Moving along Mainstream quietly, blasts into a synth driven Rock trance that is truly unsettling, and then turns on a dime to a quiet Free Jazz little tirade that ends with a quiet Mainstream trance again. This music goes on this way, stops on a dime, goes to another school, stops on a dime, goes to another school. The improvisers are first rate, tops. I've listened to alot of Jazz. This stuff is better than everyone else. Oh, by the way. These guys are Rockers. Rockers putting out a better Jazz disc than the Jazzers. You know why? They have no preconceived notions and are experimenting; and they are good. The solos are perfect. Every note on this is perfect. Where is Bruford. Driving the whole thing, but you don't know it. Remarkable. His drumming is very heavy, and you don't know it. The sonics on this disc are also perfect for Jazz. Dull, meaning there isn't also of treble, which makes the music sit still. Really good Jazz is profuced this way. If the Jazz guys listen to this, it has to make them think. I wish the state of Jazz was all like this. The Jazz tradition is experimentation and improvisation. Oh, by the way, the ballads are absolutely gorgeous. "It Needn't End In Tears" brought me to them. This is real Jazz in a Rock context and a Mainstream context, and a Free context. Remarkable.

Well, I'm a huge jazz fan & have music in my collection ranging from the 1920s to the 2000s, from Ellington to Miles Davis (all phases: bop to modal to fusion) to Sun Ra to Erik Truffaz to Toshinori Kondo & everything & everyone in between. I like it all. I'm also a huge fan of Yes & King Crimson. Unfortunately, the combination of the two doesn't work for me for this album. The overly polished & slightly dated sound of 1980s jazz production tends to turn me off. There are some great moments on this disk, though, provided by the obviously gifted musicians. "Pressure" might be the best track on the album; though, again, its sound gets marred by the synth & "smooth jazz" sound. "My Heart Declares a Holiday" has got some great warbling saxo-mo-phone on it. "It needn't end in tears" is a lovely ballad--though much in the vein of 80s smooth jazz (i.e. Kenny G).The live track "A stone's throw" confirms my suspicion that the production hinders more than it helps the studio tracks. If these guys are still touring, I'd go see them in a heartbeat.

As for my dislike of the album overall: it's not just a matter of disliking 80s production values. One of my favorite Miles Davis records, "Aura", hails from the same time period as Earthworks, and is strikingly original & masterful despite being a bit over-produced & dated in its sound. "The Shepherd is Eternal" reminds me a lot of Davis' "Aura" and a soundscape by Brian Eno, but doesn't quite reach the mark. I suppose most of my criticism stems from the fact that the music seems to be too much of its time rather than beyond its time--something I attribute to great music of any genre (including the best jazz & rock). Nice effort, but I won't be going back to this record that often, unlike favorites such as "In a Silent Way", "Jack Johnson", "Fragile", and so on.

In the end, I gave the record 3 stars (though 2.5 is more accurate)for the moments when the music shines through beyond the synthy sounds, revealing great solos, excellent group work & nice percussion.

The person reviewing this record on-line missed the boat. Yes, it might be irritatiting to some who expect th eold Bruford of YES and UK or solo fame. But as the band's name suggests and is pointed out in the linernotes, Earthworks are new, groundbreaking and meant to confound people from time to time. This is unlike anyhting Bruford did previous. A definite addition to anyone's collection, even a non-jazz person such as myself.

I have had this one for 4-5 years and find the music challenging, I think the Amazon reviewer is way too uptight. These guys do great rhythm such that I can include this CD in the stack to play as I read for the afternoon and also in the stack when I want a party to wake up. And best of all, sipping a good scotch and listening to the music wash over me.

First, let me wholeheartedly agree with the other reviewers here who praise Bruford's musicianship; he is one of the greatest drummers who has ever played, regardless of what genre you're talking about. However, having said that, this record was very disappointing to me. It is way overly slick and overly produced and sounds more like a Spyro Gyra or Kenny G record than real jazz. If you like slick, shiny synthesized perfection with very little excitement or vibe, this disc is for you. For me it was a big letdown.