Master drummer Bill Bruford needs no introduction, as the legend has built up a career adding his tremendous talents to bands like Yes, King Crimson, Bruford, and UK over the years, as well as his foray into jazz, Earthworks. For this live CD, recorded at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, Bill put together a hot line-up of US jazz players to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Earthworks, and they are joined by Musical Director, sax, flute, & clarinet player Tim Garland. It's a spirited set of melodic and fiery jazz, featuring plenty of solos spots from the various horn and reed players in the Earthworks band.
Labeled as a "little big band", the Earthworks Underground Orchestra here really cooks in what was actually their first US performance. As the band revisits many Earthworks classics, you get not only inspired renditions of songs like "Up North", "Footloose and Fancy Free", and "Libreville", but many of the players, like pianist Henry Hey, alto sax player Steve Wilson, and trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, as well of course Bruford and Garland, get to fire off heated jazz solos amidst the super charged songs. Who can resist the swinging, groove laden Latin jazz sounds of "Bajo del Sol", or the epic, free jazz meets be-bop zaniness of "The Wooden Man Sings, and the Stone Woman Dances"? Simply stated, if you are a jazz lover, and have any interest in the career of Bill Bruford, Earthworks Underground Orchestra will be a must purchase.
Track Listing
1) Libreville (7:49)
2) Up North (7:41)
3) Pigalle (5:22)
4) Speaking in Wooden Tongues (8:30)
5) Footloose and Fancy Free (10:17)
6) Bajo del Sol (9:14)
7) It Needn't End in Tears (8:31)
8) The Wooden Man Sings, and the Stone Woman Dances (13:07)
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