HEAVENLY BODIES

Referring to a recent discussion on Earthworks, I too would welcome more reviews, and knowing that there are some fans here, it's kinda sad to say that I (as the first rater of Heavenly Bodies) am not one of them. I've had this compilation for two and a half years but probably have listened to it less than seven times. I enjoy contemporary jazz in general. I would enjoy this just fine if there weren't some extremely irritating tracks with electric drums. Quite a false move from one of the best drummers in the world, I think. But naturally in most tracks the percussion is excellent; not so much in a lead role as the group's name could suggest. Earthworks' music is very much a team work and also the compositions are usually by Bellamy (sax) /Bates (keys, horn) /Bruford together. And I'm pretty sure Bruford is the least of a composer of them: I like Bellamy's or Bates' solo compositions the best.

My latest listening did raise this CD up a bit in my scales. I didn't remember it's just a few tracks I don't like; I thought it was overall milder, colder, theoretic- sounding, 'less jazzy', but happily I was wrong about that. This is good modern jazz from England (which as a jazz country has always been far behind from the States). But nothing VERY special really, in my opinion. I prefer some Nordic (especially Norwegian) and continental jazz as more atmosperic and personal.

Having been satisfied with "Sound of Surprise" album, I spun this compilation album expecting something similar. I have already owned this CD for many years and I rarely spin the CD because I thought it was just too jazzy. Since I'm now in the right mood for jazz, I try to spin it again. Oh .. it's totally different with "Sound of Surprise" album. This one has more electric drumming as far as Bill's share for the music and unfortunately I cannot differentiate the unique sounds of Bill's drumming. This album is for me lack of harmony and melody if I don't want to call it as bad or poor album. Oh yes, there are some interesting jazzy saxophone but at the end they do not deliver good harmony and the music do not sound like having a cohesive structure.

I don't think I'm in a position to recommend you to buy this CD as I myself cannot easily enjoy the music this album offers. It might fit to those die hard fans of jazz music. The electric drumming sounds are annoying to my ears, really. I leve it up to you to justify your spending on this CD .. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

I have been a fan of this gentleman since my early adolescence, but also since my first steps in progressive music, and by taking this column I wanted to pay tribute to him, thank him for all the emotions received and for the indelible traces that have remained anchored in my mind! What Prog freak has never tried to dissect YES's "Heart Of The Sunrise", isolating Bill BRUFORD's drums playing, and realize that this instrument can amazingly change and improve musical arrangements when a virtuoso is in charge!

Who can boast of having had a career like his, of having participated from near and far with groups as famous as YES, KING CRIMSON, UK, GENESIS, BRAND X ... to have collaborated with so many artists such as Al DI MEOLA, Rick WAKEMAN, Patrick MORAZ, Roy HARPER etc ... this non-exhaustive list is really impressive! His musical passion has never dried up, and has undoubtedly turned to jazz. Bill BRUFORD (among others) created the jazz group EARTHWORKS in the 1980s with the goal of focusing on a more acoustic approach to music. To do so, he has surrounded himself with the best musicians at different times, such as saxophonist Tim GARLAND, multi-instrumentalist and composer Django BATES, bassist Tim HARRIES, and so on and the best! There are many influences, and they tell us a bit about WEATHER REPORT, RETURN TO FOREVER, UZEB or even Jaco PASTORIUS.

"Heavenly Bodies - An Expanded Collection" is a sample of all the work done with this group over two decades, and presents us two tasty and distinct albums dotted here and there with recordings in public. The CD1 is oriented on jazz rock, jazz fusion in accordance with rhythmic and delicate Latin dance, with the obviousness of listening to well-compartmentalized music, where everyone plays their instrument without mixing in harmony, but which produces a overall sound wonderful. To illustrate my point, I have selected two titles which perfectly represent the proposed content: "Stromboli Kicks" with its KING CRIMSON-style sliced ​​synths accompanying salsa tunes under blows of clarinet and coupled trumpets, playing orchestral conjugations already heard in "New Orleans" in the 1930s, and the very French "Pigalle" with the undeniable intonations of "Un Américain à Paris" by George GERSHWIN reinterpreted in Brazilian sauce accompanied by instruments with local sounds such as the accordion or the clarinet. CD 2 invites us into a world of more classical jazz with more conventional instrumentation, but still projecting us bright and rhythmic jazz pulling at times on jazz rock of the best version! For this second cake my preferences will go to "No Truce With The Furies" and "White Knuckle Wedding". This compilation is perfect for real amateurs and newcomers who want to try their hand at jazz in all its forms!