Bill Bruford - Bowing Out
Friday, March 27, 2009
Bill Bruford surprised us all earlier in the year by announcing his intention to retire from active performance.
surprised us all earlier in the year by announcing his intention to retire from active performance. Given that he’s only 60 next month, and by no means an ancient seer and in recent years an active bandleader and mentor to a new generation of jazz musicians the news will come as a disappointment to his many fans and those who have charted his playing back to the far distant days of the early years of Yes. Andy Robson talks to Bill about his reasons for this life change as Bill’s new autobiography hits the shelves.
It’s gifted to few, whatever their profession, to quit at the top of their game. For every Nasser Hussein, leaving Test cricket with a match winning ton, there’s a score of Muhammad Alis or Paul Gascoignes going one bout too far or tragically spiralling down the leagues as their talents decline in public view.
Bill Bruford would smile at the sporting similes. His preferred analogy, as pointed out in his own erudite autobiography, is with Max Roach. Roach was a boyhood hero for Bruford, the epitome of all that summed up the art of percussion. Elegant, effortless, economical. That description did for Roach and it was what Bruford aspired to. But fast forward through the decades and Bruford heard the master just before his death and “there was daylight” between Roach and his bassist. “How the mighty are fallen”, thought the now mature Bruford who perhaps caught a vision of his own potential decline and fall.
Yet there are always exceptions. Bruford himself recognises the genius of Roy Haynes, whom he saw perform as an 83-year-old and was still “the music”.
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #129 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD
It’s gifted to few, whatever their profession, to quit at the top of their game. For every Nasser Hussein, leaving Test cricket with a match winning ton, there’s a score of Muhammad Alis or Paul Gascoignes going one bout too far or tragically spiralling down the leagues as their talents decline in public view.
Bill Bruford would smile at the sporting similes. His preferred analogy, as pointed out in his own erudite autobiography, is with Max Roach. Roach was a boyhood hero for Bruford, the epitome of all that summed up the art of percussion. Elegant, effortless, economical. That description did for Roach and it was what Bruford aspired to. But fast forward through the decades and Bruford heard the master just before his death and “there was daylight” between Roach and his bassist. “How the mighty are fallen”, thought the now mature Bruford who perhaps caught a vision of his own potential decline and fall.
Yet there are always exceptions. Bruford himself recognises the genius of Roy Haynes, whom he saw perform as an 83-year-old and was still “the music”.
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #129 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD