Earthworks (band)
Encyclopedia
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.
Earthworks went through several line-ups: in addition to the band's accomplishments as a unit, Earthworks was a training ground for Django Bates
, Iain Ballamy
, Patrick Clahar, Mark Hodgson, Steve Hamilton and Gwilym Simcock
. The final band line-up featured previously established jazz musicians in the form of Chick Corea
sideman Tim Garland
and veteran bass player Laurence Cottle
.In interviews during the band's earlier years, Bruford sometimes compared his responsibilities within it as being similar to those of Art Blakey
with the Jazz Messengers, in that he was providing an environment for young British jazz players to gain attention and experience before going on to become well-known players and bandleaders in their own right.
The initial version of Earthworks strongly stressed an acoustic/electronic jazz fusion
style, balancing Bruford's electronic Simmons drums
(frequently used for melodic or chordal parts) and Bates' synthesizer work against the traditional acoustic elements of Ballamy's saxophones and Bates' tenor horn. Although the band's initial formation featured double bass
, the band subsequently used electric bass guitar
until 1993. From 1998 onwards, Earthworks was predominantly an acoustic band, with double bass and piano rather than electric instruments and with Bruford returning to an acoustic drumkit. The band was formally retired in January 2009 when Bruford himself retired from active music.
movement. Initially becoming famous with the band Yes
(with whom he spent five years), he recorded the landmark albums Fragile and Close To The Edge before quitting the band in 1972 on the verge of huge financial success. He went on to join the less remunerative but more artistically challenging King Crimson
, with whom he cut several albums culminating in 1974's Red. By the late 1970s Bruford had also put in stints with Genesis
, Gong
, Roy Harper
, National Health
and UK
.
Bruford's drumming style and musical outlook had always strongly and sincerely referenced jazz. He began to explore this area more formally in Bruford, the jazz-rock fusion band he led between 1977 and 1980 and which (among others) featured future fusion superstars Allan Holdsworth
and Jeff Berlin
, as well as National Health
keyboardist Dave Stewart
. By 1984 (and while coming off the end of a four-year King Crimson reunion) Bruford's interest in playing jazz had been revived by his improvising piano-and-drums partnership with Patrick Moraz
. By now a firm advocate and endorser of the Simmons electronic drumkit
, Bruford began to explore how this instrument could be introduced into a creative jazz context.
, Django Bates
on keyboards
, tenor horn and trumpet
, Iain Ballamy
on saxophone
and Mick Hutton on double bass
. Both Ballamy and Bates were continuing members of the notorious British big band Loose Tubes
, while Hutton had previously collaborated with Bates in the latter’s band Humans (later Human Chain
) and was also playing with both Ballamy and Bates in the quartet First House (led by alto saxophonist Ken Stubbs). In 1986, all three had been playing together in a putative Ballamy-led band when Bruford got in touch. Ballamy would comment in 2003 that Bruford had in effect joined Ballamy's band rather than setting up his own from scratch, although admitting Bruford "(would) probably see it a different way.") Following a debut tour in Japan, the band formally changed their name to Bill Bruford’s Earthworks.
In summer 1988, Earthworks toured again. This tour was blighted by imminent tragedy (Ballamy’s girlfriend Jess had developed terminal cancer) and internal tension between Hutton and Ballamy, which culminated in the two men coming to blows backstage at a concert in Bergen University in Norway. The West Coast leg of the planned American tour was ultimately abandoned in order to allow Ballamy to fly home to marry Jess and spend the last few weeks of her life with her. One final concert was played as a trio, with Bates playing Ballamy's parts on tenor horn (while continuing to cover his main role as keyboard player).
). As well as double bass, Harries played electric bass guitar
and was an accomplished funk
player, further emphasising the "electric jazz" aspect of the band. This lineup recorded the second Earthworks album Dig? in Cornwall in November. The album was a far more unified band effort, without the sometimes excessive producer involvement displayed on the debut album.
During 1989, Bruford became involved with a rock music project headed by his former Yes
colleague Jon Anderson
(which soon revealed itself to be the all-but-in-name Yes reunion, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
). The resulting album and tour took up most of his time for the remaining year, although Earthworks played a 12-date European tour in June. Work on a second Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album took up most of 1990, especially when the band was drawn into an eight-man Yes
reunion. By now, Bruford had become disillusioned with his Yes-related work and welcomed the opportunity to escape on two Earthworks tours, one in June and the other in October.
onstage at Madison Square Gardens on 15 June, necessitating a quick return to a minimal acoustic kit.)
On its release All Heaven Broke Loose was greeted as Earthworks' most accomplished album to date. It featured the first appearance of the future Django Bates standard "Candles Still Flicker In Romania's Dark". In early 1992, Earthworks played more dates in Germany. Following Bruford's final commitments to the “Union” tour in March, the band reconvened in April and July for the trans-Canada jazz festivals.
An equally pressing problem was the fact that Django Bates had now outgrown Earthworks. With the release of his second album Summer Fruits (And Unrest) his own career as a bandleader was beginning to take off. As both composer and performer Bates was a key part of the band, and his imminent and inevitable departure would irrevocably change it. Following a "last, stiff, uncomfortable date" in September 1993, the first lineup of Earthworks came to an end and all four musicians went their separate ways. The band would be commemorated with a live album (1994’s Live – Stamping Ground, taken mostly from American dates) and the subsequent compilation Heavenly Bodies. Ballamy would continue to work with Bates and to develop his own solo career, while Harries continued with Steeleye Span and session work.
Big Band and with his fusion group B.L.U.E (Bruford Levin Upper Extremities) which also featured Tony Levin
, Chris Botti
and David Torn
. Most notably, in 1997 Bruford recorded a fully-fledged jazz album with American jazz stars Ralph Towner
and Eddie Gomez
, called If Summer Had Its Ghosts.
Having retreated from the soured King Crimson situation in late 1997, Bruford met the young Scottish pianist Steve Hamilton, whose musicianship inspired him to launch a new version of Earthworks. With Hamilton on board, Bruford recruited double bass player Geoff Gascoigne and former Incognito
saxophonist Patrick Clahar (the latter a former acid jazz and funk musician intent on pursuing and developing his jazz roots). In comparison to the electro-acoustic experimentation of the original band, the second version of Earthworks was an almost entirely acoustic band with Bruford now having abandoned electronic drums altogether and returned to an acoustic kit. The only electronic instrumentation in the band was the infrequent use of a digital keyboard synthesizer by Hamilton.
In January 1999 the new Earthworks played in the United States, visiting California and the East Coast. Reviews were encouraging to fair (and certainly better than the review of the subsequent London gig) and encouraged a return trip to America in October, during which the band played up and down the East Coast. The tour included Earthworks’ first gig at New York's legendary Birdland club. During the same year, A Part, And Yet Apart was released on Earthworks' new record label (the King Crimson
associated Discipline Global Mobile
) and the band played at jazz festivals in Eastern Europe.
By this point (and in spite of financial incentives to do otherwise), Bruford had firmly ditched the rock music past which had dogged him since his first jazz-related projects in the late 1970s. He was now concentrating entirely on a jazz approach. As part of this he had become not only the bandleader and main composer for Earthworks, but also (in true cottage industry fashion) the band’s manager, booking agent and publicist.
, who subsequently covered for Patrick Clahar for an Spanish tour which the saxophonist had to miss due to illness. In October, the band embarked on a 19-date British tour and began recording their next album in the last months of the year, with Bruford producing in addition to his other duties.
Earthworks toured Japan, Spain, South Africa and the western UK prior to the May 2001 release of the band’s fifth studio album The Sound of Surprise. Once again, the music had been predominantly composed by Bruford, but in future he would pass all compositional duties over to other members in order to concentrate on running the band. From a business perspective this worked well, as Earthworks were now finally making money on tour and were the only British jazz quartet to regularly tour the United States. This was reflected by the year’s successful sixteen-date tour across America, during which the band made live recordings for future release. In the autumn, the band made a “disappointing” appearance at the Cork Jazz Festival.
, a British saxophonist and composer who’d become a valued sideman for Chick Corea
, and whom Bruford thought would help to revive Earthworks’ creative fortunes. Clahar’s time with the band would be further represented on 2002’s double live album Footloose and Fancy Free (and on the companion DVD Footloose in NYC) both of which had been recorded at the Bottom Line, New York City during the 2001 American tour.
, In September the band toured South America, visiting four countries in five days. Despite these efforts and successes the band was beginning to suffer as concert opportunities diminished. An exception was a UK tour in the spring of 2003 which enabled the band to practise new Tim Garland-composed material and culminated in a headlining season at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. In the autumn, a new live album was recorded in Oakland, California. This would be released in March 2004 as Random Acts of Happiness.
Also in 2004, Bruford ended his business relationship with Discipline Global Mobile
and set up two small interrelated record labels of his own, Summerfold and Winterfold. The former of these was to become Earthworks’ home for both new and archive releases (including the brand new Random Acts of Happiness).
, an outstanding young musician who was already being widely talked about and who now needed to build the foundations of a career. At around this time, Bruford was losing patience with the economic and bureaucratic nature of a transatlantic music career which constantly created obstacles with visas and musicians union demands. Although he would use his regular musicians when he could (including for studio recording dates), future Earthworks performances in the United States would use local musicians as and where required.
Earthworks toured the UK between April and July 2004, during which period the band teamed up with the Tim Garland-led nonet
The Underground Orchestra for several dates. The combined band took the name of Earthworks Underground Orchestra. A New York version of the band was recorded in concert and the results were eventually released in 2006 as the album Earthworks Underground Orchestra (credited to Bruford/Garland).
(who had replaced Hodgson). However, Bruford has subsequently confessed to having been uncertain about Earthworks’ artistic future during this particular year.
In 2006, the band travelled to South East Asia, during which time Bruford noticed that drum clinic appearances now appeared to be more popular than live band shows. Nonetheless more concerts followed in Spain, Poland and Scandinavia. Bruford was also determined to take the full British version of Earthworks to New York regardless of the financial risk. He did so in November 2006, balancing the budget with the money he was now getting from clinic work and solo appearances. There were no Earthworks gigs in 2007, although Summerfold released two Video Anthology DVDs.
. McKean is also a jazz pianist
, having worked with former Earthworks saxophonist Iain Ballamy
on a number of musical projects.
(as Bruford/Garland)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
band led by drummer Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford 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...
. The band recorded several albums for Editions EG, Discipline Global Mobile
Discipline Global Mobile
If you were looking for the Italian Prog-Power Metal band, see DGM .Discipline Global Mobile, alias DGM, is a small independent record label company started in 1992 by Robert Fripp of King Crimson. In addition to running a mail-order music shop, it has offered Crimson/Fripp and related live...
and Summerfold Records.
Earthworks went through several line-ups: in addition to the band's accomplishments as a unit, Earthworks was a training ground for 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,...
, 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...
, Patrick Clahar, Mark Hodgson, Steve Hamilton and Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock is a British pianist and composer working in both jazz and classical music, and often blurring the boundaries of the two....
. The final band line-up featured previously established jazz musicians in the form of Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
sideman 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...
and veteran bass player Laurence Cottle
Laurence Cottle
Laurence Cottle is an electric bass guitarist and composer.-Career:His solo recordings have been mostly in the jazz and jazz-fusion vein, with such notable releases as Five Seasons, Laurence Cottle Quintet Live and others....
.In interviews during the band's earlier years, Bruford sometimes compared his responsibilities within it as being similar to those of Art Blakey
Art Blakey
Arthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
with the Jazz Messengers, in that he was providing an environment for young British jazz players to gain attention and experience before going on to become well-known players and bandleaders in their own right.
The initial version of Earthworks strongly stressed an acoustic/electronic jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
style, balancing Bruford's electronic Simmons 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....
(frequently used for melodic or chordal parts) and Bates' synthesizer work against the traditional acoustic elements of Ballamy's saxophones and Bates' tenor horn. Although the band's initial formation featured double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, the band subsequently used electric bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
until 1993. From 1998 onwards, Earthworks was predominantly an acoustic band, with double bass and piano rather than electric instruments and with Bruford returning to an acoustic drumkit. The band was formally retired in January 2009 when Bruford himself retired from active music.
Background
A professional musician since 1968, Bill Bruford had originally been a drum superstar in the British progressive rockProgressive 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...
movement. Initially becoming famous with the band 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...
(with whom he spent five years), he recorded the landmark albums Fragile and Close To The Edge before quitting the band in 1972 on the verge of huge financial success. He went on to join the less remunerative but more artistically challenging 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...
, with whom he cut several albums culminating in 1974's Red. By the late 1970s Bruford had also put in stints with 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...
, Gong
Gong (band)
Gong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
, Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Roy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
, National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
and 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...
.
Bruford's drumming style and musical outlook had always strongly and sincerely referenced jazz. He began to explore this area more formally in Bruford, the jazz-rock fusion band he led between 1977 and 1980 and which (among others) featured future fusion superstars 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...
and Jeff Berlin
Jeff 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...
, as well as National Health
National Health
National Health were a progressive rock band associated with the Canterbury scene. Founded in 1975, the band included members of keyboardist Dave Stewart's band Hatfield and the North and Alan Gowen's band Gilgamesh, the band also included guitarists Phil Miller and Phil Lee and bassist Mont...
keyboardist Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart may refer to:* Dave Stewart , former pitcher in Major League Baseball and 1989 World Series MVP* David A. Stewart , English musician and record producer best known for his work with Eurythmics...
. By 1984 (and while coming off the end of a four-year King Crimson reunion) Bruford's interest in playing jazz had been revived by his improvising piano-and-drums partnership with 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...
. By now a firm advocate and endorser of the Simmons electronic drumkit
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....
, Bruford began to explore how this instrument could be introduced into a creative jazz context.
Foundation (1986)
Bruford initially established Earthworks in 1986 as The Bill Bruford Quartet with a line-up of himself on acoustic and Simmons drumsSimmons (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....
, 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
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
, tenor horn and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, 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 saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and Mick Hutton on double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
. Both Ballamy and Bates were continuing members of the notorious British big band Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes was a British jazz big band/orchestra active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to bethe focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz...
, while Hutton had previously collaborated with Bates in the latter’s band Humans (later Human Chain
Human Chain
Human Chain is a British jazz quartet led by composer and keyboard virtuoso Django Bates. The band has been Bates’s main musical outlet since 1990 and has performed on most of his albums....
) and was also playing with both Ballamy and Bates in the quartet First House (led by alto saxophonist Ken Stubbs). In 1986, all three had been playing together in a putative Ballamy-led band when Bruford got in touch. Ballamy would comment in 2003 that Bruford had in effect joined Ballamy's band rather than setting up his own from scratch, although admitting Bruford "(would) probably see it a different way.") Following a debut tour in Japan, the band formally changed their name to Bill Bruford’s Earthworks.
Debut album, early tours (1986-1988)
In October 1986, the band recorded their debut album, Earthworks, with frequent Bruford collaborator Dave Stewart in the producer’s chair. Stewart also contributed bass synthesizer and “very occasional” keyboards (most notably on “Making A Song And Dance” and “Pressure”) while his wife and musical partner Barbara Gaskin added sampled vocals to Ballamy’s ballad “It Needn’t End In Tears”. The album also featured the first outing for Bates’ composition “Emotional Shirt”. Live work continued in 1987 around Bruford’s work with David Torn and others, and Bates and Ballamy’s commitments to Loose Tubes. Gigs in Britain and the USA were generally well received, and the band completed the year with a 22-date German tour.In summer 1988, Earthworks toured again. This tour was blighted by imminent tragedy (Ballamy’s girlfriend Jess had developed terminal cancer) and internal tension between Hutton and Ballamy, which culminated in the two men coming to blows backstage at a concert in Bergen University in Norway. The West Coast leg of the planned American tour was ultimately abandoned in order to allow Ballamy to fly home to marry Jess and spend the last few weeks of her life with her. One final concert was played as a trio, with Bates playing Ballamy's parts on tenor horn (while continuing to cover his main role as keyboard player).
Tim Harries replaces Mick Hutton; Dig? album; interruptions (late 1988-1990)
Having given Ballamy some time to mourn and with Mick Hutton having left the band following the American tour, Earthworks reconvened in autumn 1988 with a new bass player, Tim Harries (another former Bates collaborator who’d also played with Steeleye SpanSteeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
). As well as double bass, Harries played electric bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and was an accomplished funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
player, further emphasising the "electric jazz" aspect of the band. This lineup recorded the second Earthworks album Dig? in Cornwall in November. The album was a far more unified band effort, without the sometimes excessive producer involvement displayed on the debut album.
During 1989, Bruford became involved with a rock music project headed by his former 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...
colleague 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...
(which soon revealed itself to be the all-but-in-name Yes reunion, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson 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...
). The resulting album and tour took up most of his time for the remaining year, although Earthworks played a 12-date European tour in June. Work on a second Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album took up most of 1990, especially when the band was drawn into an eight-man 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...
reunion. By now, Bruford had become disillusioned with his Yes-related work and welcomed the opportunity to escape on two Earthworks tours, one in June and the other in October.
All Heaven Broke Loose album; further touring (1991-1992)
Earthworks reconvened in January 1991 to record their third album All Heaven Broke Loose in Germany. The album recording - set against the background of the First Gulf War - was “difficult” (according to Bruford). The Earthworks situation was not improved by Bruford’s involvement with the Yes "Union" tour during the first half of the year, although Earthworks did manage concerts in Europe and Japan in the autumn. (Another warning of changes to come had already arrived on the Yes tour with the humiliating breakdown of Bruford’s Simmons drumkitSimmons (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....
onstage at Madison Square Gardens on 15 June, necessitating a quick return to a minimal acoustic kit.)
On its release All Heaven Broke Loose was greeted as Earthworks' most accomplished album to date. It featured the first appearance of the future Django Bates standard "Candles Still Flicker In Romania's Dark". In early 1992, Earthworks played more dates in Germany. Following Bruford's final commitments to the “Union” tour in March, the band reconvened in April and July for the trans-Canada jazz festivals.
End of Earthworks mark 1 (1993)
In 1993, Earthworks played an eighteen date German tour culminated by an “excellent” and well-received concert at the Jazz Café, London. Despite Earthworks’ revived musical opportunities, practical problems were beginning to dog the band. By this point, Bruford was increasingly aware of the technical limitations of the electronic Simmons drums he had once championed. Although arguably the most advanced electronic percussion set in existence, the Simmons kit's pioneering technology meant that it was difficult to service, fragile (as evidenced by frequent damage at airport baggage reclaim), unpredictable and unreliable (as had been humiliatingly demonstrated at the Yes concert in Madison Square Gardens). Furthermore, it enforced a rigidity of playing style that handicapped both Bruford and the musicians he worked with. Bruford now realised that the nature of the Simmons drums worked against "the suppleness and flexibility required for jazz performance" and concluded (with regret) that Earthworks had "reverted to being a rock group with some jazz musicians in it."An equally pressing problem was the fact that Django Bates had now outgrown Earthworks. With the release of his second album Summer Fruits (And Unrest) his own career as a bandleader was beginning to take off. As both composer and performer Bates was a key part of the band, and his imminent and inevitable departure would irrevocably change it. Following a "last, stiff, uncomfortable date" in September 1993, the first lineup of Earthworks came to an end and all four musicians went their separate ways. The band would be commemorated with a live album (1994’s Live – Stamping Ground, taken mostly from American dates) and the subsequent compilation Heavenly Bodies. Ballamy would continue to work with Bates and to develop his own solo career, while Harries continued with Steeleye Span and session work.
Foundation (late 1997-early 1998)
Between 1994 and 1997, Bruford returned to his progressive rock career, this time with a revived King Crimson. He had however, managed to continue to do jazz-related work with the Buddy RichBuddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
Big Band and with his fusion group B.L.U.E (Bruford Levin Upper Extremities) which also featured Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
, Chris Botti
Chris Botti
Christopher Stephen "Chris" Botti , is an American trumpeter and composer. In 2007, Botti was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album. On December 4, 2009, he was nominated for three more Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Long Form Music Video...
and David Torn
David Torn
David Torn is an American composer and guitarist.He is known for the organic blending/manipulation of electronic and acoustic instruments and performance techniques that have an atmospheric or textural quality and effect, along with a particular harmonic richness...
. Most notably, in 1997 Bruford recorded a fully-fledged jazz album with American jazz stars Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion and trumpet.-Biography:...
and Eddie Gomez
Eddie Gomez
Edgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
, called If Summer Had Its Ghosts.
Having retreated from the soured King Crimson situation in late 1997, Bruford met the young Scottish pianist Steve Hamilton, whose musicianship inspired him to launch a new version of Earthworks. With Hamilton on board, Bruford recruited double bass player Geoff Gascoigne and former Incognito
Incognito (band)
Incognito is a British band, as well as one of the members of the United Kingdom's acid jazz movement. Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with thirteen more albums following, the last of which, Transatlantic RPM, was released in 2010....
saxophonist Patrick Clahar (the latter a former acid jazz and funk musician intent on pursuing and developing his jazz roots). In comparison to the electro-acoustic experimentation of the original band, the second version of Earthworks was an almost entirely acoustic band with Bruford now having abandoned electronic drums altogether and returned to an acoustic kit. The only electronic instrumentation in the band was the infrequent use of a digital keyboard synthesizer by Hamilton.
Renewed touring; A Part, and Yet Apart (1998-1999)
In late 1998, following initial UK concerts, the band (now featuring a new double bass player, Mark Hodgson) began recording the fourth Earthworks album, A Part, and Yet Apart. The album featured a set of new tunes, almost entirely written by a revitalised and confident Bruford. This was in contrast to the previous Earthworks lineup, in which Bates and Ballamy had written a much greater proportion of the material.In January 1999 the new Earthworks played in the United States, visiting California and the East Coast. Reviews were encouraging to fair (and certainly better than the review of the subsequent London gig) and encouraged a return trip to America in October, during which the band played up and down the East Coast. The tour included Earthworks’ first gig at New York's legendary Birdland club. During the same year, A Part, And Yet Apart was released on Earthworks' new record label (the 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...
associated Discipline Global Mobile
Discipline Global Mobile
If you were looking for the Italian Prog-Power Metal band, see DGM .Discipline Global Mobile, alias DGM, is a small independent record label company started in 1992 by Robert Fripp of King Crimson. In addition to running a mail-order music shop, it has offered Crimson/Fripp and related live...
) and the band played at jazz festivals in Eastern Europe.
By this point (and in spite of financial incentives to do otherwise), Bruford had firmly ditched the rock music past which had dogged him since his first jazz-related projects in the late 1970s. He was now concentrating entirely on a jazz approach. As part of this he had become not only the bandleader and main composer for Earthworks, but also (in true cottage industry fashion) the band’s manager, booking agent and publicist.
Work with Larry Coryell; The Sound of Surprise (2000-2001)
During 2000, Earthworks played several London dates with veteran jazz guitar star Larry CoryellLarry Coryell
Larry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
, who subsequently covered for Patrick Clahar for an Spanish tour which the saxophonist had to miss due to illness. In October, the band embarked on a 19-date British tour and began recording their next album in the last months of the year, with Bruford producing in addition to his other duties.
Earthworks toured Japan, Spain, South Africa and the western UK prior to the May 2001 release of the band’s fifth studio album The Sound of Surprise. Once again, the music had been predominantly composed by Bruford, but in future he would pass all compositional duties over to other members in order to concentrate on running the band. From a business perspective this worked well, as Earthworks were now finally making money on tour and were the only British jazz quartet to regularly tour the United States. This was reflected by the year’s successful sixteen-date tour across America, during which the band made live recordings for future release. In the autumn, the band made a “disappointing” appearance at the Cork Jazz Festival.
Tim Garland replaces Patrick Clahar (late 2001)
At the end of 2001, the band went through another lineup change when Patrick Clahar was asked to leave the band. This was to enable Bruford to replace him with Tim GarlandTim 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...
, a British saxophonist and composer who’d become a valued sideman for Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, and whom Bruford thought would help to revive Earthworks’ creative fortunes. Clahar’s time with the band would be further represented on 2002’s double live album Footloose and Fancy Free (and on the companion DVD Footloose in NYC) both of which had been recorded at the Bottom Line, New York City during the 2001 American tour.
First years with Garland; Random Acts of Happiness (2002-mid-2004)
Revitalised by Garland’s arrival, Earthworks played a series of gigs in Germany and Japan, followed by more American dates on the East Coast and in the Mid-West plus (back in the UK) a concert date with former Police drummer Stewart CopelandStewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
, In September the band toured South America, visiting four countries in five days. Despite these efforts and successes the band was beginning to suffer as concert opportunities diminished. An exception was a UK tour in the spring of 2003 which enabled the band to practise new Tim Garland-composed material and culminated in a headlining season at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. In the autumn, a new live album was recorded in Oakland, California. This would be released in March 2004 as Random Acts of Happiness.
Also in 2004, Bruford ended his business relationship with Discipline Global Mobile
Discipline Global Mobile
If you were looking for the Italian Prog-Power Metal band, see DGM .Discipline Global Mobile, alias DGM, is a small independent record label company started in 1992 by Robert Fripp of King Crimson. In addition to running a mail-order music shop, it has offered Crimson/Fripp and related live...
and set up two small interrelated record labels of his own, Summerfold and Winterfold. The former of these was to become Earthworks’ home for both new and archive releases (including the brand new Random Acts of Happiness).
Gwilym Simcock replaces Steve Hamilton; more changes including work with The Underground Orchestra (2004)
In April 2004 Steve Hamilton was replaced as Earthworks pianist by Gwilym SimcockGwilym Simcock
Gwilym Simcock is a British pianist and composer working in both jazz and classical music, and often blurring the boundaries of the two....
, an outstanding young musician who was already being widely talked about and who now needed to build the foundations of a career. At around this time, Bruford was losing patience with the economic and bureaucratic nature of a transatlantic music career which constantly created obstacles with visas and musicians union demands. Although he would use his regular musicians when he could (including for studio recording dates), future Earthworks performances in the United States would use local musicians as and where required.
Earthworks toured the UK between April and July 2004, during which period the band teamed up with the Tim Garland-led nonet
Nonet
A nonet refers to a group of nine.*In music, a nonet is a composition which requires nine musicians for a performance. Spohr and Martinu composed nonets....
The Underground Orchestra for several dates. The combined band took the name of Earthworks Underground Orchestra. A New York version of the band was recorded in concert and the results were eventually released in 2006 as the album Earthworks Underground Orchestra (credited to Bruford/Garland).
Last working years (2005-2007)
During 2005, Bruford mostly sidelined Earthworks to concentrate on running the increasing reissue programme on Summerfold and Winterfold. Bruford performed with various versions of the band for occasional concerts around the world, and more Earthworks recordings were made with a lineup of Bruford, Garland, Simcock and bass guitarist Laurence CottleLaurence Cottle
Laurence Cottle is an electric bass guitarist and composer.-Career:His solo recordings have been mostly in the jazz and jazz-fusion vein, with such notable releases as Five Seasons, Laurence Cottle Quintet Live and others....
(who had replaced Hodgson). However, Bruford has subsequently confessed to having been uncertain about Earthworks’ artistic future during this particular year.
In 2006, the band travelled to South East Asia, during which time Bruford noticed that drum clinic appearances now appeared to be more popular than live band shows. Nonetheless more concerts followed in Spain, Poland and Scandinavia. Bruford was also determined to take the full British version of Earthworks to New York regardless of the financial risk. He did so in November 2006, balancing the budget with the money he was now getting from clinic work and solo appearances. There were no Earthworks gigs in 2007, although Summerfold released two Video Anthology DVDs.
Final split (2008)
In the summer of 2008, Earthworks played a concert at Ronnie Scott’s in London which proved to be the band’s final appearance. Following twenty-two years of effort, Bruford had concluded that music business economics and the relationship of work to reward (and even to the practical business of survival) would no longer support either the band or himself. Although the reissue programme on Summerfold continued, Earthworks as an ongoing project was finally and formally closed down on January 1, 2009 (along with all of Bruford’s other live and studio projects) when the drummer announced his retirement from playing music at anything other than a teaching level. Cottle returned to various sessions and sideman work, Garland to his other projects, and Simcock (who was now attracting a great deal of critical and music industry attention) to a burgeoning cross-disciplinary career in both jazz and classical music.Album covers
All of Earthworks’ album covers were created by illustrator and designer Dave McKeanDave McKean
David McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician....
. McKean is also a jazz pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, having worked with former Earthworks saxophonist 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 a number of musical projects.
Full band members
- Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford 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...
- acoustic and electronic drums & percussion - Iain BallamyIain BallamyIain 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...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s (1986–1993) - Django BatesDjango BatesDjango 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,...
- keyboards, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, tenor horn, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, pocket trumpetPocket trumpetthumb|250px|Pocket trumpet in B-flat, with a 5-inch standard size bell and medium-large boreThe pocket trumpet is a compact size B trumpet, with the same playing range as the regular trumpet. The tubing is wound more tightly than that of a standard trumpet in order to reduce its size while...
(1986–1993) - Mick Hutton - double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
(1986–1988) - Tim HarriesTim HarriesTim Harries is a British bass player.Harries studied music at the University of York, graduating in 1981 before going on to study Double Bass with Tom Martin at the Guildhall School of Music...
- double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
& bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1988–1993) - Steve Hamilton - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
& keyboard (1997–2004) - Patrick Clahar - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s (1997–2001) - Geoff Gascoigne - double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
(1997–1998) - Mark Hodgson - double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
(1998–2005) - Gwilym SimcockGwilym SimcockGwilym Simcock is a British pianist and composer working in both jazz and classical music, and often blurring the boundaries of the two....
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
& keyboard (2004–2008) - Tim GarlandTim GarlandTim 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...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, bass clarinetBass clarinetThe bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
(2001–2008) - Laurence CottleLaurence CottleLaurence Cottle is an electric bass guitarist and composer.-Career:His solo recordings have been mostly in the jazz and jazz-fusion vein, with such notable releases as Five Seasons, Laurence Cottle Quintet Live and others....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–2008)
Guests
- Dave Stewart - synthesizers & synth bass (1986 - studio only)
- Julian ArgüellesJulian ArgüellesJulian Argüelles is a saxophonist. He is currently a member of the HR Big Band in Frankfurt am Main, Germany....
- saxophone (occasional depping) - Larry CoryellLarry CoryellLarry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
- guitar (2000 - tour only) - Various American musicians (2004-2006 - American live dates only)
Discography
(as Bill Bruford's Earthworks)- EarthworksEarthworks (album)Earthworks is the debut album by Bill Bruford's Earthworks, a jazz band led by drummer Bill Bruford and featuring Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and Mick Hutton...
(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 GroundStamping 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...
(live) (1994) - Heavenly Bodies (compilation) (1997)
- A Part, and 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 (live) (2002)
- Random Acts of Happiness (2004)
(as Bruford/Garland)
- Earthworks Underground Orchestra (2006)