Bill Bruford One Of A Kind CD

Those expecting a simple solo drummer showcase from the man who led both Yes and King Crimson into the deepest of topographic oceans should, upon listening to Bruford's independent exploits, be pleasantly surprised. ONE OF A KIND, album number two for the Bruford band, sows Bruford's wild jazz roots for once and all, peppered judiciously with numerous elements of his freewheeling prog rock past.

To accompany his nimble rhythmic travails, he assembled a crackerjack squad of supporting players. Together this quartet recorded the symphonic prog of "The Sahara of Snow," the electronic shabazz of "Hell's Bells," and the undeniably gorgeous fusion-bop of "The Abingdon Chasp." Rarely has an album title been so accurate.

Bill Bruford ended his brief affair with U.K. and condensed his original outfit to a quartet, releasing a second album of sinewy, celebratory jazz/rock fusion, One of a Kind. Good-humored twists and turns abound in the music, punctuated by Bruford's steadying if slightly subversive rhythms, Allan Holdsworth's flashes of fire, Jeff Berlin's insistent bass, and Dave Stewart's remarkably colorful keyboards. At the heart of many of these songs is an uplifting melody, a trait shared with fusion artists like Weather Report and Jean-Luc Ponty, though Bruford's outfit favors a faster pace than the former and pursues more musical avenues in a single song than the latter. When he takes to tuned percussion, Bruford can even sound like Frank Zappa (both bands have a funky side to them). Standout cuts this time include "Hell's Bells," "Fainting in Coils" (which, in an indirect link to his previous employers, would have felt at home on Robert Fripp's Exposure), "Five G," and "The Sahara of Snow." The remaining tracks are a little less muscular, and the band's strength would seem to lie in fusion propelled by the complex rhythmic patterns of Bruford and Berlin (i.e., when the band leans closer to the rock side of the fusion family). Those who enjoy their fusion with a healthy dose of rock will find One of a Kind a fair match for anything from Return to Forever or Brand X. Note that many of these songs also appear in live versions on the beat-the-boots release The Bruford Tapes. [This release of the album contains bonus material.] ~ Dave Connolly

Recorded at Trident Studios, London, England in January & February 1979.

Personnel: Bill Bruford (drums, cymbals); Jeff Berlin (vocals, bass guitar); Dave Stewart , Dave Stewart (keyboards); Allan Holdsworth (guitar).

Audio Remasterer: John Burns.

Personnel: Bill Bruford (spoken vocals, drums); Jeff Berlin (vocals, electric bass); Sam Alder, Anthea Norman-Taylor (spoken vocals); Allan Holdsworth (guitar); Dave Stewart (keyboards).