View Full Version : Bruford to retire
Whitefish
12-23-2008, 02:37 AM
POSSIBLY! That is what he said in an interview in Jazz Times magazine. His autobiography will be coming out next year.
From the interview, it sounds like he may stop performing altogether and only do studio playing.
I can't believe this and find it highly doubtful.
9012-jive
12-23-2008, 02:46 AM
Well he has been talking for a long time now about the difficulty of touring. Evidently he has had some issues with travel. He has a lot of red tape. Not sure what that's all about. I guess he's finally fed up with the touring. I can see him continuing in the studio for a good while. Kind of like Wakey, but for different reasons.
90125yes
12-23-2008, 04:45 AM
--- well if he only does studio playing i hope he plays on a YES record
Steve Mahoney
12-23-2008, 04:59 AM
He will not quit live work, he looks to fit to quit.
relayeire
12-23-2008, 08:00 AM
the essence of jazz music is the live experience, not the studio... I can't imagine this happening... I could see him limiting his outings, but not stopping altogether...
Purple Wolfhound
12-23-2008, 08:01 AM
Bummer if this is true - I would've liked to have seen Bill perform live at least one more time - preferably with Earthworks.
9012-jive
12-23-2008, 08:03 AM
--- well if he only does studio playing i hope he plays on a YES record
:appl[1]::appl[1]: Here hear!
I cannot imagine he is going to quit cold turkey. I have not read the new interview, but previous interviews gave me the impression that traveling was getting him down. Perhaps he will perform shows in UK???
relayeire
12-23-2008, 12:15 PM
:appl[1]::appl[1]: Here hear!
I cannot imagine he is going to quit cold turkey. I have not read the new interview, but previous interviews gave me the impression that traveling was getting him down. Perhaps he will perform shows in UK???
he has talked about the difficulty of touring with some foreign musicians in the US since 9/11...
yes372
12-23-2008, 02:20 PM
No disrespect intended to either Bill or any of the fans here who are into it, but, as I am not into Earthworks and his jazz vibe in general, for me, Bruford pretty much retired after the King Crimson divorce.
relayeire
12-23-2008, 06:49 PM
No disrespect intended to either Bill or any of the fans here who are into it, but, as I am not into Earthworks and his jazz vibe in general, for me, Bruford pretty much retired after the King Crimson divorce.
later Earthworks is a little more palatable, IMHO... more jazz and less wallpaper electronica... but he's never done anything better than Yes, KC or UK...
yes372
12-23-2008, 06:54 PM
later Earthworks is a little more palatable, IMHO... more jazz and less wallpaper electronica... but he's never done anything better than Yes, KC or UK...
Agreed! And, I love Alan White - the ONLY logical drummer for Yes after Bruford left....but.....I still miss Bill's unique snare sound heard in all of the classic Yes tracks.
Roan's Lady
12-23-2008, 06:55 PM
--- well if he only does studio playing i hope he plays on a YES record
If he played on a Yes recording, that would be one hell of a Yes recording. He wouldn't have it any other way.
I don't see it happening.
Hey, he better not be quitting live shows. The last time I saw him live was in 1990. It's already been too long. Forever would be even longer.
9012-jive
12-23-2008, 06:57 PM
he has talked about the difficulty of touring with some foreign musicians in the US since 9/11...
Yeah, ever since security has tightened he has had extra trouble with Visas or something like that. Has something to do with amounts of time he has lived in different countries, and there is a mountain of paperwork and red tape for each one every time he crosses a border. Something like that.
9012-jive
12-23-2008, 06:59 PM
Hey, he better not be quitting live shows. The last time I saw him live was in 1990. It's already been too long. Forever would be even longer.
I doubt he will be back to the USA Roan's. This is a bit of a tear jerker for me. I like his light syncopation. And I did actually like Earthworks, despite what others say.
Foot Print
12-23-2008, 07:24 PM
I've been fortunate to see BB some 50+ times over the years. I would find his retirement hard to believe. He only played about a dozen gigs in 2008; I think he'll do a lot more live shows in '09, especially with his book due soon.
Don't look for him to rejoin Crimson or Yes or UK etc. He has strongly stated that he will only play in his band, Earthworks as he likes the bandleader persona better than the band member persona. He has fulfilled his dream of leading a jazz band. His jazz band. I too was not as fond of the early Earthworks bands/gigs. Almost didn't see them in '07 at a great room, Iridium in the city. After seeing the first set I ended up going to 4 of the 8 sets. He was amazing. Again. The material performed was very close to that of his works with National Health and the early Bruford band. Great time changes, very upbeat and more towards a heavy fusion than the classic jazz standards.
One of my favorite things about watching Bill was the joy he seemed to get from playing. From a particular fill to a brilliant ending. The expressions on his face will always be remembered. I hope there are more of those to come.
--- well if he only does studio playing i hope he plays on a YES record
I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you.
Whitefish
12-24-2008, 01:47 AM
--- well if he only does studio playing i hope he plays on a YES record
Won't happen. And even if he does, what happens to Alan? Alan White is the only drummer of Yes.
At times Bill even acts ashamed of having had been in Yes. Alan would never be like that.
CloseToTheHedge
12-29-2008, 09:12 AM
If Bill ever plays on anything Yes-related (barring distantly related things like Billy's tribute album featuring all sorts of Yes alumni) I... would be quite convinced that an alien descended and replaced dear Mr. Bruford with a crazy impostor. It's more likely that I'd join Yes than for him to do that.
I haven't ever seen him live ever (duh) but it would be a real shame if he stopped now. He's not all that old, and unlike many of the people he's worked with he looks like he's very fit and healthy.
Seems like the hassles of travel might be particularly irritating for him since he remembers the days of relatively fuss-free travel in past decades, as opposed to people who are used to it.
Or perhaps he just wants to spend more time on other parts of life. I'll be damned, though, if he still doesn't go out and play in the UK or wherever he may be staying at some point.
Bull****!
Bruford will play drums for everyone who wants to listen until the day he dies :)
He loves his fans. He would never retire :)
Caped Crusader
12-31-2008, 05:41 PM
I saw Bill on the ABWH and Union tours. His playing with on the former was simply awesome and it gave the old material a fresh sound.
Now if Jon and Rick can't do long tours and Bill does not want to, there's a guitarist writing film music who would be up for a few gigs.
I'd pay a large wad to hear Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Rabin - preferably with Tony Levin!!
searay9
12-31-2008, 06:01 PM
I saw Bill on the ABWH and Union tours. His playing with on the former was simply awesome and it gave the old material a fresh sound.
Now if Jon and Rick can't do long tours and Bill does not want to, there's a guitarist writing film music who would be up for a few gigs.
I'd pay a large wad to hear Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Rabin - preferably with Tony Levin!!
Replace Rabin with Fripp, and I'm all for it!
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