BILL BRUFORD / MAKING A SONG

Making a Song and Dance is a new 6CD box set highlighting the considerable career achievements of legendary drummer Bill Bruford.

A young Bruford came to prominence in the late ’60s with Yes, before joining King Crimson in the early 1970s and then going on to play live with a Gabriel-free Genesis in 1976. The period from 1975 to the early 80s saw albums by his band Bruford, a record with prog-rock supergroup U.K., and various collaborations, including with Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz and Chris Squire

Bill was back with King Crimson in the 1980s (he’d return for a third spell in the ’90s) and later in that same decade started the jazz fusion band Earthworks, who would go on to record five studio albums (three between 1987 and 1991).

There have been numerous appearances on other people’s records, including Roy Harper, Akira Inoue, Kazumi Watanabe, Steve Howe & many more.

The new box set tries to make sense of all this by offered themed CDs. So the first two are dubbed ‘The Collaborator’ and largely concern Bruford’s work with Yes and King Crimson. CDs 3 and 4 are titled ‘The Composing Leader’ (Bruford, Earthworks etc.) and CD 5 is called ‘The Special Guest’ and features some of those aforementioned appearances on other people’s albums. The sixth and final disc is ‘The Improviser’ and includes some of the Moraz-Bruford compositions and work with David Torn.

Bill Bruford himself has written a detailed biography which, along with rare photos, is featured in the booklet within the box. The outer box artwork, gatefold CDs and booklet have been designed by graphic designer Dave McKean.

Bill Bruford - Making a Song and Dance: A Complete-Career Collection