Book Reviews

Bill Bruford: The Autobiography (Jawbone Press, Berkeley, CA 352 pages, www.jawbonepress.com) Progressive rock and jazz fans know Bill Bruford as one of the most influential, cerebral and greatest technical players of the last 40 years. Numerous drummers and percussionists working today cite his work as a drummer and electronic percussionist as an influence. And of course for 70’s-90’s rock fans, his name is synonymous with some of the most adventurous music ever to emerge from that era.

As a believer in full disclosure, let me state at the outset of this book review that as a fan of Mr Bruford’s work going back to my adolescent years, I have enjoyed much of what he has done as a musician and bandleader and have seen him live in many of his incarnations throughout his career. I was not, however, expecting such a frank, open and unfiltered essay of 4 decades in the life of a professional musician. For starters, this was an amazingly dense read. The amount of information, opinion, philosophy, diatribe, and historical recounting presented is truly mother’s milk for anyone who has ever thought about what life might be like for the thinking, professional musician. I was surprised and even amazed by much of what I learned from this book. For the uninitiated, over his four decades of music making, Bill Bruford has performed with, among other bands and musicians, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and Earthworks. He has participated in everything from chart topping hits, to obscure coffee house improvisational jazz and he’s played everywhere from the largest arenas to the smallest local dive bars, all of which help make his thoughtful reflection on the contrast between rock star and self-managed boutique improvisational jazz player all the more honest and revelatory.

In recounting his life’s story, Bruford comes across as a remarkably normal human being. He reflects how he made the choice to be a husband and father, rather than a rock star. Indeed, in a world of constant temptation, Mr Bruford has been married to the same woman for years, and has as much reverence for her and his children as stabilizing factors in his life as I, a normal, non-rock star, non musician have for my wife and children. This is, of course, something we have all been led to believe, with good reason, is unusual in the entertainment industry! His description of his life as a working musician was another revelation. Hearing from someone who really enjoyed always improving, always searching for better musicians with whom to play, always looking to reach the cutting musical edge and how being in a “hit making band” just did not work for him made for an amazing read. For Bruford, playing the same song over and over again for cheering fans—especially his “hits”—became a painful chore. Though that might bring pleasure to a “rock star,” for a more obsessive musician like Bruford it was anything but. I’d never really thought of it that way. This was not at all a “kiss and tell” book.

Over the years Mr Bruford has played with (and has had business relationships with) a veritable who’s who of progressive music and art. Instead of focusing on the bad (although there are some entertaining tales of strange and bizarre behavior), he’s woven the stories respectfully and thoughtfully, rather than filling them with vitriol. His tales describing the relationships between musicians, promoters, musical equipment suppliers, record companies, the press and the fans were amusing. He devotes a portion of the text to each one of these and nearly all are thoughtful and humble recountings of various situations sure to resonate with anyone who’s had an interest in music and/or the music business.

As a confessed fan of his body of work, I had trouble putting the book down. There was so much substance to grab on to. The writing is well-paced and positive, never dreary or cynical. Essentially it’s the well organized ramblings of a mature adult who has a sober and reflective view of life presented free of ideology or sour grapes. For Bruford fans, it’s a must read. Fans of 70’s through 90’s music will thoroughly enjoy it. Young musicians still committed to playing their instruments, that know the rock star life is a course in fiction created by the media and the music industry will find Mr. Bruford’s book a useful guide to the choices that one can make and to where those choices might lead.