Drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) and saxophonist Tim Garland are two leading individuals on the London jazz scene, who joined forces under the banner of the Earthworks Underground Orchestra. This little big band is a new version of the Earthworksjazz group formed by Bruford in the 80’s and the recording was captured live in the USA at Iridium, New York City.
What does it sound like?
This album shows the most purist jazz version of Bill Bruford’s music to the date and has been don in the best possible way, which is featuring a wonderful old traditional jazz orchestra. In 1969 Buddy Rich reviewed Yes‘ first single for the legendary Melody Maker magazine saying: "That’s a good drummer… Good hands!". A few weeks later Bruford was asked to interview the legendary drummer for the magazine. Now, almost 40 years later, Bruford gives back to classic jazz music all he has learnt from it and brings back the original spirit of Buddy Rich’s Big Band sound to his own contemporary music… it sounds like heaven.
Highlights:
The sound of this live recording is warm and clean, a real pleasure for people to enjoys the quality of good live music. The most interesting of this album is that it proves how wonderful are Bill Bruford songs, regardless of the band that interoperates them. In this case, I cannot think of any better way to play it rather than this. Pieces like "Libreville" and especially "It Didn’t Need to End In Tears" sound just like if they were made for this orchestra, which also proves that, leaving apart his famous career as a progressive rock drummer, Bill Bruford could be considered one of the most reputed jazz writers of our time. Of course, I also want to highlight the wonderful solo playing and improvisation by Tim Garland, one of the most remarkable things on the album.
Recommendations:
The fans of Bill Bruford’s more jazzy side will find the drummer in this album sounding at his best and all of the fans of good jazz big band sound will discover a top classic album of the genre.
