About Summerfold
Drummer Bill Bruford’s records, DVDs, and related projects are released on either Summerfold or Winterfold Records. Latest editions, many exclusively autographed, are available at the shop here. Below you will find audio samples of Summerfold titles, together with press reviews and Bill’s personal commentary.
SUMMERFOLD RECORDS has been created to re-issue re-mastered and expanded versions of his work since 1987, together with current and future recordings and related projects.
“He used to be a rock guy, all guitars and electric, and now he’s a jazz guy, all saxophones and acoustic.” Or so at least goes the rather simplistic shorthand for those who have been good enough to consider Bill’s recorded output since 1977. While, for the musician, such distinctions may appear hopelessly old-fashioned, it is, as they say, the way the world works. Back here at the ranch, it seems to us the case that a number of listeners who had hitherto derived pleasure from the earlier music of Holdsworth, Stewart, Berlin, Moraz et al, were unintentionally left behind in the watershed year of 1987 with the arrival of Earthworks, and musicians with less familiar names and smaller amplifiers, like Bates, Ballamy, Garland, and Hamilton. Quite simply, we lost those good listeners and they lost us, for no good reason anyone can think of, and here’s the way to reconnect.”
For further information please go to the FAQ, or mail us at summerfold@billbruford.com
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Earthworks Complete box set
BBSF 030BX Released: 2019 – 07 – 19 Titles: 15
‘Earthworks Complete’ is a spectacular deluxe box set of the band’s entire catalogue across its 20-year career. It includes previously unreleased and little known material. 15 titles on 20 CDs and 4 DVDs document the 20 year history from 1987 to 2006 of one of the UK’s brightest, most travelled and best loved young jazz ensembles. All audio, visual and print materials are compiled and curated by Bill, and the box comes with additional original artwork by award-winning illustrator, photographer and filmmaker Dave McKean. ‘Earthworks Complete’ is available at the store.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Live in Santiago
BBSF 027CDVD Available only as part of box set ‘Earthworks complete’: released 2019 – 07 – 19. Tracks: 11
The USA was always very supportive of Earthworks, but as you can hear from this ‘Live in Santiago’ set, South and Central America were our biggest and most appreciative audiences. As the band evolved, we did more and more live recording to capture that intimacy of something being done once, unrepeatably, collaboratively, collectively, by four people, there and then, warts and all. The soul of jazz is to be found in live performances like this. ‘Live in Santiago’ is currently only available within the ‘Earthworks Complete’ box set.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Heavenly Bodies Expanded
BBSF 029CD Released: 2019 – 11 – 08 Tracks: 23
The double CD ‘Heavenly Bodies Expanded’ builds on and extends the original single ‘Heavenly Bodies’ CD from 1997. While the latter collected the choicest cuts from the original band, the expanded version now draws from across the whole life of Earthworks from 1986 London, with the sound of Ballamy, Bates, and Hutton, to 2005 Germany, with Garland Simcock and Cottle. As the only constant member it was my privilege to watch and hear the band grow from the rather secluded world of 1980s British jazz into the joyously international outfit that we rapidly became, this “heady concoction” (London Times) that continued to defy expectations, confound, confuse, enthral and entertain across many continents and over two decades. ‘Heavenly Bodies Expanded’ is available from the shop.
Bruford – Borstlap
In Concert in Holland
BBSF 007DVD Originally released: 2001 – 11 – 04 Tracks: 12
This was the first time Michiel Borstlap and I had played together. We’d only met at an airport the day before. The music is almost entirely improvised, as it was to be on all the subsequent two CDs. Jazz improvising implies listening and participating in a conversation, as opposed to reciting a written text. Paramount for success will be the ability to listen, to know when and how much to contribute, and when and how long to be silent. If it could have been written, there would have been no point in improvising it. This DVD is now available only as part of the 2020 Bruford-Borstlap set ‘Sheer Reckless Abandon’ BBSF025CD, comprising the three titles: ‘In Concert in Holland'(DVD), ‘Every Step a Dance, Every Word a Song’ (CD audio) and ‘In Two Minds’ (CD audio).
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Random Acts of Happiness
BBSF 001CD Released: 2004 – 04 – 14 Tracks: 11
Summerfold’s first release in 2004. I had a working band, and after several years of steady touring we had trust, empathy, and sharp reactions. This, the eighth Earthworks CD, features Tim Garland, a huge fan of the music of the old electric Bruford band of the late 1970s, which he’d grown up with. At his request we revisited a couple of tunes from that band; ‘One of a Kind’ and ‘Seems Like a Lifetime Ago’
Bruford – Towner – Gomez
If Summer Had Its Ghosts
BBSF 002CD Released: 2004 – 08 – 23 Tracks: 11
All the drummers were turning in muscular jazz-rock, and I was after something more dreamy, autumnal and lyrical. The instruments would be all acoustic and intimately recorded in close-up, whispering in your ear. Nothing wrong with the plan, but the music could have used some rehearsal. It was recorded straight from the page. Check out Ralph’s delicious 12-string acoustic guitar playing on the title track. Good enough to eat.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
A Part, and Yet Apart
BBSF 003CD Released: 2004 – 09 – 06 Tracks: 9
The title refers to the idea of wanting to be a part of something, but yet being regarded by others – or yourself – as still an outsider. Too jazz for rock, and too rock for jazz. Earthworks needed a come-back album that took no prisoners, and much of this I really like. Great stuff here from pianist Steve Hamilton and saxophonist Patrick Clahar on ‘Dewey-eyed, then Dancing’.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
The Sound of Surprise
BBSF 004CD Released: 2004 – 09 – 06 Tracks: 9
My personal favourite of all my solo efforts. The‘difficult’ cover artwork was issued erroneously in two forms, causing unhelpful confusion.‘Revel Without a Pause’, ‘Come to Dust’, ‘The Wooden Man Sings…’ represent three of my more successful compositions. Here’s some drum action from ‘Revel…’
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Footloose and Fancy Free
BBSF 005CD Released: 2004 – 09 – 06 Tracks: 14
5 Stars: Downbeat. ‘Live’ is where jazz happens, where the risks are taken, the mistakes made, and the energy unleashed. Recorded live in London’s Soho, this double CD has a snappy version of ‘Original Sin’ on it; a piece that I originally wrote for B.L.U.E. with Tony Levin. Here’s some excellent Steve Hamilton piano-playing from ‘A Part and Yet Apart’.
Bruford – Borstlap
Every Step a Dance, Every Word a Song
BBSF 006CD Released: 2004 – 11 – 01 Tracks: 9
Arnold Schoenberg allegedly maintained that all composition is just very slow improvisation, and we accept the corollary – that improvisation is extremely fast composition – to be equally true. Ideally, the listener cannot hear the join between the two. The composed sounds improvised and the improvised sounds composed. ‘16 Kingdoms…’ was recorded live and unprepared in a sweltering tent in Germany with 3000 people in it, but it sounds like it might have been rehearsed for days. This CD is now available only as part of the 2020 Bruford-Borstlap set ‘Sheer Reckless Abandon’ BBSF025CD, comprising the three titles: ‘In Concert in Holland'(DVD), ‘Every Step a Dance, Every Word a Song’ (CD audio) and ‘In Two Minds’ (CD audio).
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Earthworks
BBSF 009CD Released: 2005 – 03 – 07 Tracks: 11
The blueprint broadly was that the drummer would play some of the chords and harmony from the newly-invented electronic drumset, the only chordal support for the single-note bass and frontline. Best heard here on ‘Bridge of Inhibition’, the idea blossomed fully with the arrival of a more sophisticated drumset a couple of years later.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Dig?
BBSF 010CD Released: 2005 – 04 – 04 Tracks: 10
Electronic drums in jazz – not for the faint-hearted. This is a great sounding record, mixed and recorded with the kind of care usually only afforded to rock records. Django and Iain were a golden team. ‘Stromboli Kicks’ is perhaps the best realisation of the original plan for the group.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
All Heaven Broke Loose
BBSF 011CD Released: 2005 – 05 – 02 Tracks: 10
Recorded in early 1991 in the same 100 hours it took coalition ground forces to eject Iraq from Kuwait, in which presumably all hell broke loose. Django Bates’ absence one day to collect a Jazz Award caused producer David Torn to dig deep – his work with a harmoniser on Ballamy’s tenor saxophone on ‘Temple of the Winds’ made the remaining trio sound huge.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Stamping Ground – Live
BBSF 012CD Released: 2005 – 06 – 06 Tracks: 10
Favourite track here is ‘Nerve’, with it’s backward-forwards-stop-go funk. I couldn’t really play it on ‘All Heaven’, the original recording, but a few weeks on the road and it’s nailed. Also Django’s melancholic and beautiful ‘Candles Still Flicker in Romania’s Dark’. We were privileged to be one of very few UK jazz outfits to regularly tour the US in the 1990’s.
Bruford – Garland
Earthworks Underground Orchestra
BBSF 013CD Released: 2006 – 01 – 30 Tracks: 10
The challenging circumstances surrounding this were described in my book. Musically, it doesn’t get much better than to have some of your own music arranged for a little big band of crack NYC players and to be able to present it in a top NYC jazz club. Steve Wilson’s alto sax solo on ‘Up North’ alone is worth the price of admission. Check this out – I can’t begin to tell you what fun it is to play drums in the middle of this lot.
World Drummers Ensemble
A Coat of Many Colors
BBSF 015DVD Released: 2006 – 02 – 20 Tracks: 10
The first of three percussion-only titles on Summerfol Records, so if you’re into drums and drumming, check out BBSF025CD ‘The Percussion Collection’. I never play drums without something in my hands with which to do so, so the art of the hand-drummer is something of a mystery to me. I loved watching Luis and Doudou, the personification of rhythm, at work on the short tour we did, captured here and beautifully recorded in Amsterdam. ‘A Coat of Many Colors’ has been reissued as part of the 2020 ‘The Percussion Collection’, a 3-CD set comprising ‘A Coat of Many Colors’ (World Drummers Ensemble), ‘One’ (Lockett feat. Bill Bruford), and ‘Go Between’ (The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam)’.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Video Anthology Vol. 1
BBSF 016DVD Released: 2007 – 05 – 07 Tracks: 14
This was a great opportunity to pull together all those videos and TV shows lying around that show Earthworks in full sail. This first volume takes the band through the 2000s ending with great performances from Tim Garland (saxes), Gwilym Simcock (piano), and Laurie Cottle (bass). Here’s a strong tune – ‘Youth’, written by Garland.
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Video Anthology Vol. 2
BBSF 017DVD Released: 2007 – 05 – 07 Tracks: 11
One of the aims of the earlier Earthworks and electronic drums was to challenge perceptions about what drummers should, or should not, be doing in jazz. This DVD has plenty of that in the 1990’s, giving way to an acoustic edition of the group at the end of the decade.
The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam
Go Between
BBSF 018CD Released: 2007 – 10 – 01 Tracks: 4
Inside the beating heart of one of the world’s greatest orchestras – the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra – lies a percussion section with an individual and separate identity. The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam (Nieuwe Slagwerkgroep Amsterdam) was founded in 1980 by two solo percussionists of the orchestra, Jan Pustjens and Niels Le Large, specifically to bring new and adventurous percussion works to a young and modern audience. I was privileged to be invited to join them on the lengthy title track. ‘Go Between’ has been re-issued as part of the 2020 ‘The Percussion Collection’ BBSF026CD, a 3-CD set comprising ‘A Coat of Many Colors’ (World Drummers Ensemble), ‘One’ (Lockett feat. Bill Bruford), and ‘Go Between’ (The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam)’. If drums and drumming are your thing, this is the one for you.
Bruford – Borstlap
In Two Minds
BBSF 019CD Released: 2008 – 02 – 04 Tracks: 12
Like any conversation between friends, improvisations may get heated, boring, amusing, poetic, argumentative, aggressive, and sullen in varying amounts and at different times, and in musician Glenn Sweeney’s eloquent phrase, they may be ‘as alike or unalike as trees’. ‘Low Tide, Camber Sands’ is no more than a water-colour of a well-known British beach on a hot, hazy windless afternoon; nevertheless, one of my personal favourites. ‘In Two Minds’ is now available only as part of the 2020 Bruford-Borstlap set ‘Sheer Reckless Abandon’ BBSF025CD, comprising the three titles: ‘In Concert in Holland'(DVD), ‘Every Step a Dance, Every Word a Song’ (CD audio) and ‘In Two Minds’ (CD audio).
Bill Bruford’s Earthworks
Footloose in NYC
BBSF 020DVD Released: 2008 – 04 – 08 Tracks: 12
A companion DVD to the live CD ‘Footloose in Fancy Free’, this was recorded at the now defunct Bottom Line club in NYC in 2001. Crimson bass-player Tony Levin was in the audience – we played ‘Original Sin’ for him.
Summerfold Artists
The Summerfold Collection 1987 – 2008
BBSF 022CD Released: 2009 – 02 – 02 Tracks: 22
22 tracks from some 21 musicians with whom I consider it a privilege to have worked since 1987. This double album concludes with an acoustic version of ‘Beelzebub’, the first tune I wrote, bringing things neatly full circle. The ‘sound of surprise’ is as good a definition of jazz as you’ll find anywhere; here’s a Japan-only release of the title track of the CD ‘The Sound of Surprise’.
Pianocircus – Bruford – Riley
Skin and Wire
BBSF 023CD Released: 2009 – 09 – 07 Tracks: 10
My last CD of fresh material, released in 2009, will always have a special place in my heart, as does my first CD with Yes recorded some 40 years earlier. It’s a long way between the two, in all respects. A composer (Colin Riley) supervises a jazz drummer who used to be a rock drummer (me) playing with a group of classical pianists best known for performing systems music (Pianocircus). Skin and Wire blends electronica, jazz and the avant-garde.
Pete Lockett feat. Bill Bruford
One
BBSF 024CD Released: 2010 – 01 – 25 Tracks: 10
Our jaded Western drumset rhythms would probably have fossilised some years back if it hadn’t been for the healthy infusion of the rhythms and colours of India, Cuba, Latin-America, and Africa, and it seems that visiting with and borrowing from these and other cultures, while approaching their rhythmic depth with proper respect, is what is going to continue to give our popular music vibrancy. This CD is a stroll through the riches of other nations’ rhythmic heritages: Lockett is master percussionist and our tour-guide. ‘One’ has been re-issued as part of the 2020 ‘The Percussion Collection’, a 3-CD set comprising ‘A Coat of Many Colors’ (World Drummers Ensemble), ‘One’ (Lockett feat. Bill Bruford), and ‘Go Between’ (The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam)’. If drums and drumming are your thing, this is the one for you.