''The Bruford Tapes'' is a live 1979
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...
by the British band
Bruford, only issued in the United States, Canada and Japan. It was recorded on July 12, 1979 in Roslyn, New York State and originally broadcast on WLIR radio. Shortly before the tour, guitarist
Allan Holdsworth left the band and was replaced by his student John Clark (appearing as "the unknown John Clark" on the album sleeve), who had played with the prog group
Quasar. The show features extended performances of material from the group's previous two albums ''
Feels Good to Me'' and ''
One of a Kind''.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
, Paul Collins wrote: "This is one of the best Bruford albums of this period; those who found the studio releases of these songs to be too cold will be won over by the improvisational intensity of this live show."
The authors of ''
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled ...
'' called the music "strongly melodic, freewheeling and built round Bruford's ringing percussion."
John Kelman of
All About Jazz
''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
commented: "''The Bruford Tapes'', with its combination of high volume intensity, detailed long-form writing and reckless improvisational abandon, does nothing to assuage those looking for easy categorization. It is, however, as fine an example as you're apt to find of the kind of unrestricted exploration and cross-pollination once seen on major labels, but now more often relegated to the small independents."
Track listing
;Side one
#"Hell's Bells"
(Alan Gowen
Alan Gowen (19 August 1947 – 17 May 1981) was an English fusion/progressive rock keyboardist, best known for his work in Gilgamesh and National Health.
History
Gowen was born in North Hampstead, northwest London. He joined Assagai in 1971 ...
, Dave Stewart) - 4:02
#"Sample and Hold"
(Bruford, Stewart) - 6:18
#"Fainting in Coils , Back to the Beginning , Fainting in Coils"
(Bruford) - 6:34
#"Travels with Myself – And Someone Else"
(Bruford) - 4:37
;Side two
#"Beelzebub"
(Bruford) - 3:28
#"The Sahara of Snow - part one"
(Bruford) - 4:46
#"The Sahara of Snow - part two"
(Bruford, Eddie Jobson
Edwin "Eddie" Jobson (born 28 April 1955) is an English musician 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 Zap ...
) - 3:07
#"One of a Kind - part two"
(Bruford, Stewart) - 8:06
#"5G"
(Berlin, Bruford, Stewart) - 2:39
2005 CD bonus cut
10. "The Age of Information"
(Bruford, Stewart)
Personnel
*
Bill Bruford
William Scott Bruford (born 17 May 1949) is an English former drummer and percussionist who first gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock band Yes. After leaving Yes in 1972, Bruford spent the rest of the 1970s recording ...
– drums & percussions
*
Dave Stewart – electric piano, synthesizer, electronics
*
Jeff Berlin
Jeffrey Arthur Berlin (born January 17, 1953) is an American jazz fusion bassist. He first came to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the band Bruford led by drummer Bill Bruford.
Musical career
Berlin was born on January 17, 1953, in Quee ...
– bass guitar, vocal on 10
* John Clark – electric guitar
References
External links
* http://www.billbruford.com/ (Bill Bruford's website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruford Tapes
1979 live albums
Bill Bruford live albums
E.G. Records live albums