Muir's influence on Brufford as percussionist

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As I see it, Bill Brufford was originally a drummer but with time he came to be as much a percussionist as a pure drummer.I wonder how much of that change was influenced by his working together with Jamie Muir in King Crimson.

This is Brufford's kit in a 1974 performance, the kit itself is minimalistic which was not common for its time among Prog giants, just bass drum, snare, bass tom and one tom, but it is very generous in percussion elements, many of them not seen in this picture.

It comes from this excellent video where much more of his percussion stuff can be seen

and this is Jamie Muir (projected in the background and not very clear) a bit earlier in 1973

Here is the video, check Jamie as from around 12m10s, it's when he adopts a percussion style which would be followed by Brufford later on according to me.

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Gerinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 10 2010 Location: Barcelona Spain Status: Offline Points: 5093	Topic: Muir's influence on Brufford as percussionist Posted: August 29 2014 at 15:09
	As I see it, Bill Brufford was originally a drummer but with time he came to be as much a percussionist as a pure drummer. I wonder how much of that change was influenced by his working together with Jamie Muir in King Crimson. This is Brufford's kit in a 1974 performance, the kit itself is minimalistic which was not common for its time among Prog giants, just bass drum, snare, bass tom and one tom, but it is very generous in percussion elements, many of them not seen in this picture. It comes from this excellent video where much more of his percussion stuff can be seen and this is Jamie Muir (projected in the background and not very clear) a bit earlier in 1973 Here is the video, check Jamie as from around 12m10s, it's when he adopts a percussion style which would be followed by Brufford later on according to me.

KingCrInuYasha Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: September 26 2010 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1281	Posted: August 29 2014 at 17:06
	I think he might have had some influence on Bill. He was probably looking for more of a challenge at the time and Crimson seemed to be a perfect opportunity.
	He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball!

zravkapt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 12 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 6446	Posted: August 29 2014 at 18:55
	Broof claims Muir influenced him. The way Bill drummed in 1974 was different to the way he was drumming in 1971.
	Magma America Great Make Again

HackettFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 20 2012 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7946	Posted: August 30 2014 at 00:35
	I agree about the influence Jamie Muir. In 80s Crimson a percussionist would have been out of place, because Bruford was filling that role.

PrognosticMind Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 02 2014 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1195	Posted: August 30 2014 at 06:25
	It wouldn't surprise me, honestly. What does surprise me is how much noise this guy made with such a minimalist kit!
	"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous. Got me?"

tamijo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 06 2009 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 4287	Posted: August 30 2014 at 08:50
	On the back on the original "Feels good to me" vinyl cover, is quotes Bruford saying "He opened me up, made me more courageous, Suddently it was not all drum magasine, but using the instrument to put your own character across." I think it is fair to say, Muir has a tremendus effect on Bruford.
	Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours

tboyd1802 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 01 2012 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 898	Posted: August 30 2014 at 13:32
	No guessing needed. In his book "Bill Bruford The Autobiography", Bill states... "We managed only one studio album, Larks' Tongues In Aspic, before our delightful and mustachioed percussionist Jamie Muir left the group under a cloud of confusion and misinformation. He never said goodbye, and I don't believe we have met since. I liked Jamie a lot, even though he was, shall we say, unkind in his assessments of the talents of the arrogant and over-praised young drummer from Yes. He taught me to try to see life from the far side of the cymbals: drummers can be very myopic. He also pointed out - and I consider this my first and best drum lesson - that I exist to serve the music, the music does not exist to serve me." I would argue that Bill has spent his entire career since LTIA on the "far side of the cymbals."