Bruford's "One of A Kind" Rediscovery

[Guitar Dave T]

I very recently bought the CD version to replace the vinyl version I practically wore out back around '79 thru '84.

First word that comes to mind, "Damn".

You have Bill Bruford on drums with Jeff Berlin on Bass, Allan Holdsworth on some of the best toned and phrased guitar I've ever heard him produce, and Dave Stewart's brilliant keyboard work.

And a particularly proud moment as a dad for me the other night when I'm at a gig and my wife is driving my 9 year old son around in my car, and he makes her play the guitar solo at the end of "Forever Until Sunday" over and over and over and over in the CD player. :dude

[Super Locrian]

Yeah, the first Bruford band was a really scary good outfit, with plenty of chops but also great compositions. Those who like this stuff should definitely also check out Dave Stewart previous bands Egg, Hatfield & the North, and National Health. In fact, any album from the seventies with either Dave Stewart, Bill Bruford or Allan Holdsworth contributing is a gem! And Jeff Berlin's playing on the Bruford albums is really muscular. He hasn't really surpassed this in later years, in my humble opinion.

[Guitar Dave T]

Yeah, the first Bruford band was a really scary good outfit, with plenty of chops but also great compositions. Those who like this stuff should definitely also check out Dave Stewart previous bands Egg, Hatfield & the North, and National Health. In fact, any album from the seventies with either Dave Stewart, Bill Bruford or Allan Holdsworth contributing is a gem! And Jeff Berlin's playing on the Bruford albums is really muscular. He hasn't really surpassed this in later years, in my humble opinion.

I agree - any of the old Canterbury scene prog rock projects that Dave Stewart, Bruford or Holdsworth were involved in were truly ground breaking.

But I disagree about Jeff Berlin (the only student to ever score an A in Jaco's class) not having really surpassed his work with Bruford. Listen to his version of "Tears in Heaven".

[Super Locrian]

Listen to his version of "Tears in Heaven".

Well, the chord melody stuff with a lot of embellishment has been a trademark for Jeff, and I remember working my ass off trying to learn his version of Dixie in my previous musical life as a bass player. Personally, I've come to the conclusion that this style of music will never sound right when played on an electric bass guitar, and my suggestion for bass players that really want to explore the venues of advanced harmony, voice leading and chord melody should follow my example and switch to guitar! :roll

I'd much rather hear Jeff play tricky odd meter grooves such as Beelzebub or If you can't stand the heat... :AOK

[Devnor]

Incredible album. Bought my 1st copy on vinyl when I was a teenager.

[rex kwon do]

Holdsworth is a monster on that album. But then again, is there an album he ain't a monster on? As far as the Berlin conversation, listening to him on the Joe Frazier tune on one of his solo albums is still contemporary electric bass at its' finest.

[snarkle]

Some of my favourite Holdsworth...like Bruford, he really is "One of a Kind".

By the way, you should check your thread title...

[Guitar Dave T]

Some of my favourite Holdsworth...like Bruford, he really is "One of a Kind".

By the way, you should check your thread title...

All fixed, thanks.

[Guitar Dave T]

Well, the chord melody stuff with a lot of embellishment has been a trademark for Jeff, and I remember working my ass off trying to learn his version of Dixie in my previous musical life as a bass player. Personally, I've come to the conclusion that this style of music will never sound right when played on an electric bass guitar, and my suggestion for bass players that really want to explore the venues of advanced harmony, voice leading and chord melody should follow my example and switch to guitar! :roll

I'd much rather hear Jeff play tricky odd meter grooves such as Beelzebub or If you can't stand the heat... :AOK

I used to play bass too, but when I realized I would never be a Jaco or Stanley Clark, I ran back to guitar, where acceptable tolerances are somewhat looser. ;-)

BTW, caught Jeff Berlin live with Holdsworth on a tour in the mid 80's in a large club in Dallas. Chad Wackerman played drums. Truly scary.

[shngn7]

I miss the Yes with Bruford days. Alan White is great but Bruford's just got that feel and rhythmic complexity that makes me drool. He is the only drummer that I can stand hitting the snare drum every beat or offbeat for 10 minutes without driving me nuts.

[lhallam]

Love the Bruford solo efforts. "Hells Bells".

[Brett Valentine]

"One Of A Kind" One of the best!

[Red Suede]

That and "The Royal Scam" are two of my desert island albums.

[RickC]

just chiming in with my appreciation of this great record. I like it the best of Bruford's post-Yes prog-fusion work, and it's probably my favorite Berlin and Holdsworth disc as well. One of those moments when everything came together perfectly.

/rick

[jads57]

+1 Bill Bruford! Discipline King Crimson LOVE IT!

[Rod]

Some of the finest fusion music on the planet...Hell's Bell's is amazing....worked with their show at the Paradise in Boston, when John Clark was on guitar....unbelievable stuff...

[KRosser]

One of my favorite records when I was in my late teens, and a huge influence