Search - Bill Bruford, Earthworks :: Sound of Surprise

Earthworks in the stratosphere

Johanna McKenna | North Bay, CA | 04/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became a diehard Earthworks fan after seeing them live for the first time in 1999, just prior to the release of "A Part, and Yet Apart. This is one of the few bands I will actively seek out on release day - and with good reason. This is their finest studio effort yet, and truly showcases the immense individual and collective talents of Bill Bruford and this lineup's young virtuosos(all under 30 and from the burgeoning London jazz scene). If you felt that the previous release was a bit too soft, fasten your seatbelt for this one. While "Surprise" contains a couple of ballads (the ever gorgeous "Come to Dust" and "The Shadow of a Doubt"), there are surprisingly delicious turns such as "Triplicity" and the finale tune "The Wooden Man Dances and the Stone Woman Sings." A MUST HAVE for any jazz collection and particularly for Bruford fans. His jazz chops will stupify even the most diehard King Crimson fans.For those fortunate enough to have ever seen this group live, you well know what a joy Bruford and his colleagues are to watch on stage. Bruford maintains the enthusiasm of a child on his instrument yet plays with the focus and seeming effortlessness that have earned him his status as a drumming legend. Patrick, Mark and Steve each possess a richness and depth beyond their years that evokes the playing of many jazz legends of the 50s and 60s.Give this a thorough listen and enjoy the seven minute video of "Some Shiver While He Cavorts", a tune erroneously labeled as "Never the Same Way Once." It is a mere taste of their phenomenal live performances."

Acoustic Earthworks????? Inconceivable!!!!!

Earthworksman | Columbus, Ohio | 08/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What in God's name has Bill done to my beloved Earthworks? Well, all I have to say is, after All Heaven Broke Lose (Earthworks' 3rd studio release), I was dubious, to say the least. Their 1st album was incredible fusion. Their 2nd was just, perhaps, a little less so, and their 3rd was a bit regrettable. So, I procrastinated on getting A Part, and Yet Apart. Purchased more than a year after its release, I finally put "A Part" into my CD player to find out what this new incarnation was capable of. And this is what I found: they got better!! Inconceivable! What a great CD! With 5 tracks that are absolutely superb, and the rest less so, this is one dynamite CD.So, it was with great anticipation that I pre-ordered my copy of The Sound of Surprise, which not surprisingly turned out to be a wonderful follow-up and excellent complement to A Part, and Yet Apart. What WAS surprising is that they got better! That is to say, the overall quality of the compositions (melodies courtesy of The Maestro) got better. Inconceivable!With all new musicians, save for the founder, Earthworks' MVP has to be not The Maestro, but Steve Hamilton, the pianist. Not that Mark Hodges (bass) or Patrick Clahar (sax) are slouches. On the contrary, they are incredible. But while the gifted Hodges (he really is exceptional) takes a traditional role, and the talented Clahar the usual lead role, Hamilton does it all, in the background, without fanfare nor ego... at least from my perspective, having seen them live. But, what really makes Hamilton shine is his mixture of styles, his wonderful touch, and his sublime style. He IS the perfect complement to The Maestro, Bill Bruford! This is one band I hope stays together for a very long time.So, it is with glee that I rate this CD 5 stars, along with its predecessor, A Part, and Yet Apart. Buy them both!"

Cookin' with Bill..

spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 04/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Album number seven from Earthworks and still no signs of slowing down; if anything, they're turning up the heat even more. This is hard-hitting acoustic jazz, to borrow their phrase, executed with enough virtuosity and inventiveness for two or three other bands. You may have to spin "Never the Same Way Once" or "Revel Without a Pause" (titles as apt any for this music) a few times to believe what you're hearing - the playing sizzles like a skillet full of bacon. Elsewhere ("Shadow of a Doubt," "Come to Dust") things are slowed down to a dreamy 3am-empty-club-under-neon-lights tempo and we drift away to a quiet place.Never one to settle for simple straight-ahead drumming, Bruford twists and turns around every beat like a snake while the band gives it everything they've got. People only familiar with Bill from King Whats-'is-face may have an adjustment to make with this group, but anyone who likes jazz will be well rewarded."