BRUFORD LEVIN UPPER EXTREMITIES
Bruford Levin Upper Extremities
•Jazz Rock/Fusion
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3.95
| 77 ratings | 12 reviews | 16% 5 stars
Excellent addition to any |
Studio Album, released in 1998 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Cerulean Sea (7:03) - Bill Bruford / drums, percussion, and a little keyboards
Originally sold by Discipline Record, catalogue No.: DGM 9805 and to mellotron storm for the last updates Edit this entry |
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BRUFORD LEVIN UPPER EXTREMITIES Bruford Levin Upper Extremities ratings distribution
(77 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(45%)Good, but non-essential (31%)Collectors/fans only (8%)Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
BRUFORD LEVIN UPPER EXTREMITIES Bruford Levin Upper Extremities reviews
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Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
This is experimental music. From the strange "Drumbass" interludes that appear throughout the disc, to the kitchen sink approach of "Presidents Day," these guys play tricks on your ears. They mix Lousiannna swamps with dark thrumming gutteral bass notes, then scrape the stratosphere with piercing tenor notes.
The strength of this recording is the symbiotic undercurrent of the bands namesakes. Bruford and Levin combine as one fluid backdrop for Torn's imaginative stinging assault or ambient meandering and Botti's sexy horn. The music strikes many contrasts. A balance of light and dark, pain and pleasure.
"Cracking the Midnight Glass" surpasses the latter day Crimson in powerful dynamics. Torn's squalls better than Fripp on this Kasmiresque track. My facorite moment overall on this album. "Original Sin" grooves snake-like under Botti's melodic wanderings. Torn's guitar seems to exude strangeness and wah-wah drenched timbres. "Thick with thin Air" draps the sonic walls with humid Deep South textures. "Cobalt Canyons" throbs with power. The rhythm section is relentless, while Torn grooves with restrained fury. "Deeper Blue" gives Botti some space to lull the listener into a relaxed smiling ease. Peaceful and sweet. "Presidents Day" could have appeared on an Earthworks album, but Torn's atmospherics take to a different plane.
This disc is a MUST HAVE for Crimson fans, but will appeal to those who enjoy sponteneity in their ears. If you love bass, drums, guitar or trumpet, this is the direction to travel. A supergroup hitting the tens.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
The opener "Cerulean Sea" has different layers of instruments played in different time signatures merging together, and this is maybe the best track on the whole release. The wild (poly)rhythmic ideas are the main core of this material, and many tracks like "Original Sin" and "Etude Revisited" have these non-conventional hooks. There are also some slower, moody songs like "A Palace of Pearls (On a Blade of Grass)", where Chris Botti gets some space for his beautiful trumpet solos. There are also some more experimental shorter numbers between the longer songs.
I think this is a recommendable album for those who appreciate modern jazz. Chris Botti has also a very recognizable trumpet sound, so if you are a fan of his music, you might also wish to listen this CD trough.
COLLABORATOR Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team
The album starts off with Cerulean Blue, a strange and excellent piece. Levin's bassline is perciese, everpresent, and really drives the song forward. Bruford's playing is also top notch. Right off the bat you can tell a few things: 1) The avant nature of the band, 2) The power and percision of the band members, and 3) What an awesome album this will be. Original Sin is the next 'real' song. Again a wonderful piece with some of the best drumming i've heard from Bruford. Also the guitar is something to be noticed with this song as well. Etude Revisied is a more upbeat piece, that starts off with Bruford explaining how the opening rythyms are to be played. Some fantastic percussion and bass playing start the song off, and continue all the way through. This is definitly one of my favorite BLUE songs. Next up is the spooky A Palace Of Pearls (On A Blade Of Grass). This atmospheric number really gives me the feeling of wandering in a dark building and not knowing what is around the next corner. Bruford work gives the song that extra punch when combined with the ambiance of Levin's and Torn's. The next metionable song is Fin De Siecle. Starting with some fantastic and haughting guitar (which is soon joined by trumpet), the song never loses track. From the opening note, the the repeats, to the finale every note is set perfectly. The final song i want to mention is Torn DrumBass. Nothing spectualar but again, gives the listener a eerie feeling (something which is done quite often and splendidly throughout). All the other songs are good just not as standoutish as the ones i've mentioned.
All in all, this is surely an underrated album. My only complaint is the album doesn't really hold up from start to finish. It starts off very strong, but loses some of that luster by albums end. Not to say that the songs at the end are bad, just some of them dont have that extra kick in the face feeling. Also, i wish it was made more available, but thats certainly not a complaint against the album itself. A must for fans of Bruford and/or Levin and a good idea for people who like grooved based avant music, or just looking for something a little different. 3.8 stars. Recommended.
PROG REVIEWER
I kid you not. If Fripp could claim that the King Crimson spirit was resurrected in the band he founded in 1981 (and which was originally called Discipline), surely these guys could say the same! For the life of me I do not see what this album has to do with jazz-rock/fusion, since it's closer than anything to Crimson music, and KC has officially been designated an "art rock" band.
Take "Fin de si�cle". Surely the middle part of this wonderful piece sounds like a cheeky little parody of King Crimson's "Red"? Bruford almost admits as much in his liner notes, when he writes that 'the louche duet in the middle is all red velour and bead curtains'. And how about "Etude revisited"? Doesn't Tony Levin's stick-playing remind you of 1980s Crimson with their 'electronic gamelan'? Or take the opening track, "Cerulean Sea". Here, David Torn's obnoxious lead guitar heehaw is remarkably similar to Robert Fripp's playing on THRAK.
I don't mean to say that the album merely sounds derivative. Bruford and Levin, masters both, are in the spotlight throughout (on 'Drumbass' and 'Torn Drumbass' the two of them play a single instrument!) but trumpeter Chris Botti and guitarist David Torn provide original accents that are exhilerating and sometimes deeply moving. Botti's trumpet sounds wonderfully romantic on the gentle "A palace of pearls"; Torn provides manic lead guitar on "Cracking the Midnight Glass", an update of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" with exhilerating counter rhythms.
In summing up, this marvellous album will be of great interest to anyone who enjoys the musicians involved. It's almost as good as David Torn's own CLOUD ABOUT MERCURY, which was performed by the same combination of players (but with Mark Isham instead of Chris Botti on trumpet).
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
Luckily for us, Bill Bruford and Tony Levin's project from 1999 delivers the goods and scrapes open like nails on a chalkboard with 'Cerulean Sea', immediately putting us in their world of elaborate arrhythmias and simple, focused lines on top. Levin of course handles all basses and the trusty Stick, guitarist David Torn also did loops and an array of noises he gives names (like 'brokenbird', 'noir loops', 'guitar sphere', 'hysterium', and 'light-industry dementia'), Chris Botti plays trumpet, and Bruford's percussives are as ridiculous and confident as ever. This first cut is a model of the quartet's careful balance between improvisation and precise undertaking, and shows shades of Miles Davis' restrained power. Brash counterbeats irritate Levin's wobbling, Torn's nervous rockingchair blurtings laced throughout. Some urban jazz kicks in for 'Original Sin' with crazed guitar-trumpet exchanges, and a candid discussion between Bruford and mates introduces 'Etude Revisited', a drone with horn and a bit of crunchy guitar. The distant sounds of the sea wash against 'A Palace of Pearls' built up with Bruford's electronic percussion, heavy electric jazz beats up on 'Fin de Siecle', and the deep tones of a 'Drum Bass' opens the Kashmir-like 'Cracking the Midnight Glass' and its deceptive timing. The Stick shows its versitility in 'Cobalt Canyons' while the spirit of Robert Fripp visits, and features loud but controlled chaos, finishing things with the clunky 'President's Day'.
The record has some problems with continuity and is far from perfect, but it reeks of a project well worth your time and should especially appeal to lovers of avant jazz-rock excursions. As well, the 1998 Papa Bear release comes in a colorful 3-way gatefold with a booklet.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams
Bruford, as usual plays his drums and synth pads with his usual precision, breezing through polyrhythms like no one else can.
Levin (as a bass player, I'm always fascinated by his approach) adds to his impressive resume with his stellar performance here, especially on stick. I particularly like the song "Etude Revisited", a reworking of "Etude In The Key Of Guildford" from his "World Diary" CD.
David Torn shreds (pardon the pun) as he always seems to.
And if you only know trumpeter Chris Botti from his snoozer of a concert shown repeatedly on PBS, be prepared to be surprised. The guy can play out-of-the-mainstream, and excel at it as well.
Great fusion, somewhere between the Bruford band for fusion, and Earthworks for jazz.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
You might be guessing the music style would be similar with what the opening track 'Cerulean Sea' (7:03) sounds like. It sounds to me like an exploration of Levin stick bass playing and unique drumming style of Bruford. It's repetitive but it's not boring to me. The flavor of King Crimson 'Discipline' is quite obvious right here. It applies to majority of the tracks featured here. For those of you who love Crimson music in 'Discipline' (onwards) style must enjoy the music produced here. It's really an excellent album. One thing that I notice is that ''Cracking the Midnight Glass' (6:06) sounds to me like Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' in terms of string section.
Overall, this is definitely an excellent album that fans of King Crimson must buy this album. The trumpet playing is also great. The trumpet work by Chris Botti has made a significant contribution to BLUE. Keep on proggin' ...!
Peace on earth and mercy mild -GW
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
Even Chris Botti.... I heard him in solo concert, and to be honest wasn't impressed too much.Very pop-oriented jazz sound, oldie-goldie songs collection. I had good seat in very good acoustic's concert hall, his team was very good, but Botti but himself attracted mainly 40+ yrs old aged women from first few rows. But there he plays music! I don't know, who's controlled his sound there, but you can be sure, that will hear attractive trumpet solos without your daddy's closet smell!
All in all, very rare Cd, but realy recommended.
PROG REVIEWER
''Cerulean Sea'' Starts out with a nice ambient fade in, soon followed by harsh, chugging electric guitar. After that, Levin's signature bass style comes in, and finally some lyric-less vocals and flute effects (apparently all produced by loops and keyboards) come in to complete the atmospheric ensemble. Bill Bruford's solid, creative drumming is in full form on this track as always, and although this track is more or less a rinse and repeat of the musical build I just described, it's still really fun to listen to. And of course Bruford mixes things up with his various drum styles, so even when Levin and Torn are playing the same thing over again, Bill is helping keep the originality and excitement consistent. Over all not the greatest track, but still worth hearing. There is some creepy little moments during the last few seconds of this track as well. I'm not sure how much Jazz-Rock influence there is in here as much as it is Eclectic Prog Rock, but either way, it's good.
''Original SIn'' Is the first moment on this effort that is undeniably Jazz-influenced. Levin and Bruford provide a very groovy rhythm section while Chris Botti takes the lead role on trumpet. David Torn's guitar takes more of a backseat in this, providing an eery ambience through his otherworldy guitar effects, though he does get the opportunity to show off his chops around 1:37. He doesn't play like a typical Jazz player, here. But then again, his solo isn't all that Rock-oriented, either. Around 2:32, Botti comes back in with a beautiful lead, and all the while Bruford and Levin provide that solid backbeat. All of the players play equal roles for a little while until the four minute mark gets close. AT that point, Torn once again breaks out his stuff, and this time Botti chimes in as well, and they have a semi-duel with their instruments until the end. A few more last-minute flourishes from Botti brings this fantastic track to a close. Better than the last, undoubtedly.
''Etude Revisited''. This track is more Rock-oriented than either of the previous songs. I really like the tasteful diversity present on this record. It's probably the darkest song yet, with Torn providing single-chord strumming rhythm tracks as well as overdubbing himself with long, wailing bouts of feedback to add even more atmosphere. Botti is on top of his game as well, bringing forth some truly wild trumpet sections. Torn seen enough begins to play solid lead work over himself alongside Botti, and the pairing is dynamic as hell. Bruford is playing a consistent, stomping drive beat that rushes the song onward with plenty of angst. By the halfway point, the music has risen to place of wondrous heights, with everybody (except Levin) giving their all. It's a truly wonderful musical moment. At around 3:52 the rest of the instruments die away, making way for Torn to groove out on his own. This lasts only for a moment, however, and at 4:02, the entire band snaps back into gear again, making the power and grandeur of this music even more apparent to the listener. Like I said, I didn't think Levin was as audible or stand-out on this particular song, although it IS my favorite track on the album despite that.
''A Palace Of Pearls (On A Blade Of Grass)'' Has a very disorienting, subdued opening, with Bruford playing different odd bits of percussion, and Botti spewing out single, drawn out notes along with Levin in the background. It all gives the music a sense of foreboding and distant anxiety. Soon, Botti begins to take the reigns a bit more in the trumpet department, and his clear Jazz stylings begin to take shape once again. It's a gorgeous track, and also very sorrowful. Not much changes until a little after the three minute point, when solid, spaced-out drum beats finally start to take over. The distance between the notes becomes smaller and smaller, then again it all breaks away. Now only the initial percussion, echoing trumpet and light keyboards are present. In a very Avant-Garde musical sweep, primarily run by Bruford and his crazy playing, this track slowly winds down and comes to a stop. It's not nearly as exciting as previous songs, but it doesn't need to be. It's lovely just as it is. Besides, the next track more than makes up for this one's lack of speed.
''Fin de Siecle'' right from the start has a much clearer sense of urgency than any other track before it. Distorted guitars, incrediblu punchy bass and the chugging drums work together to create an odd-time rhythm section that doesn't relent. It's wonderfully groovy, and certainly has a more modern, Rock quality to it. Botti's trumpet is still there, but you get him in stints. He is missing for long periods of time as Levin and Torn trade off the lead instrument role. Eventually, around the 2:27 mark, things calm down and Botti gets to shine. Levin also comes in and plays the lead parts alongside the trumpet in a style that reminds me very much of Chris Squire. Some simple yet exact guitar chords sneak in from beneath the two main instruments, and then Levin takes over, causing the whole thing to reset. Once again, the brilliant rhythmic tricks comes in, but this time including a little more of Botti's trumpet, which helps the song seems more full, and the band more complete. Powerful, killer percussion plays the song out with style.
''Drumbass''. As much as I enjpy the cleverness of the wordplay, here, there is nothing much going on musically, and isn't all that fun to listen to, in my opinion. Not that it's meant to be anything more than a short interlude, I mean, it's only fifty-some odd seconds long.
''Cracking The Midnight Glass''. This song has probably the most powerful opening of all the tracks on the album. That sense of calm doesn't last long, however, and soon we are thrown into a schizophrenic rhythmic section that puts me instantly in mind of Led Zeppelin's ''Kashmir''. But this isn't that song, of course, and we eventually comes into direct contact with David Torn's wildest moment on the record yet. Pure distorted, feedback-heavy electric guitar shredding. Even when he gets more subdued in places, he is still heavily present. As far as I am concerned, this is his track. The other guys take a much lesser role the whole song long, which makes ''Cracking The Midnight Glass'' the most guitar-heavy, electric-oriented track on the record. Some folks may not like that, especially if they are expecting more Jazz than Rock from it, but I think most folks going this album will know what to expect just by looking at the musician lineup. In any case, this is a very good track, and one of my personal favorites. Just realize there is virtually no trumpet and only about 3% Jazz on this particular song, and you'll be fine.
''Torn Drumbass''. Much better than the previous interlude track. Levin takes control of things here beautifully. I actually wish it had been longer. Really great, far-east style playing. Well, at least to my ears, that's what it sounds like.
''Thick With Thin Air'' almost sounds as if were written for a film. It's very visual, with pounding, distant percussion, and not much else for the hole first half of the track. Close to two minutes in, we finally get more. An absolutely lovely clean guitar piece, eventually accompanied by building ambient keyboard layering. The song is then over before it really begins. A subdues track that felt a little incomplete to me. A shame, because I was hoping for that lovely melody to continue and build into something more.
''Cobalt Canyons'' then busts in with every musician again on top of their game, save Botti. Levin may be playing his best stuff on the record, here. Bruford and Torn are also really great at keeping things interesting. Rhythmically, this track is very speedy and complex, but melodically it is some of most funky, groovy stuff yet. I really enjoy this song, mainly because it puts me in mind of my more familiar music territory. This is very much Rock/Metal type guitar playing from Torn, and for me, it's a little piece of familiarity among the Jazzy, Fusion-tinged musical peaks. Since I come out of a Rock background, it's always fun for me to hear that stuff dropped in the middle of this type of music. By the song's end, Bruford is at his most impressive, gliding all over the kit with such ferocity and accuracy it's mind-blowing. A really good, rocking track.
''Deeper Blue'' is another straightforward (more-or-less) Jazz song in which Levin and Botti are the two main players. Levin is driving a most impressively beautiful musical vehicle white Botti rides atop it, playing his heart out on his trumpet. Soon you can also hear Bruford, paving the road for these men in his most Jazz-flavored playing yet. Sounds like soft playing with brushes and cymbal scrapes. Eventually, things get a little more varied and Bruford becomes more of a prominent piece of this musical puzzle. After than, the song dies down, returning to the same attitude and approach it started out with, and that is where it ends. Brilliant.
''Presidents Day'' is the final track, and it begins with a very Avant-Garde trumpet section, which never really stops. Torn is also playing his guitar unusually, helping to add additional frantic flourishes to the piece. Bruford also doesn't disappoint, and while Levin certainly is present, here, I still think his best moment on the album was on ''Cobalt Canyons''. Everything else he does on the album is SO subdued, I think he sometimes gets overshadowed by the bigger, more obvious playing of his peers. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, except I'm such a Levin fan, I think there could have been more of 'him' on it. I mean, a good bit of this final track is just noisegates created by Torn with Botti playing alongside them. Overall, though, the whole record is really fun to listen to, and worthy to add to any music fan's shelf. Especially if you're a Prog or Jazz-Rock fan predominantly.
Being someone who listened almost exclusively to Rock and Pop music growing up, i can tell you; Jazz and Jazz-Rock/Fusion is some of the most rewarding music I have ever had the pleasure of getting into. It may take a few attempts to find the right entry point, but once you do, you'll fall in love. I know I have. This album in particular is just the right mixture of everything, that I think newcomers to this style of music will be very happy with it, and I don't think there is any reason you shouldn't try it out. A couple of weaker tracks here and there, but on the whole a very solid, gripping release. Very highly recommended.
Happy listening.
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars--excellent addition to any prog lover's music collection.
PROG REVIEWER
"Cerulean Sea" has such an interesting sound to it. It's intense, catchy, repetitive and powerful. "Original Sin" begins with "Interlude" where the bass and drums sound amazing as the trumpet joins in. Guitar expressions follow as we are into the main track along with other strange sounds. The guitar is wicked here. The trumpet is back to the fore but then the guitar takes that role before 4 minutes. Insanity ! "Etude Revisited" opens with us listening to a conversation as bass and drums kick in and take over. The trumpet starts to blast and the guitar is crazy. This blows my mind. That conversation is back to end it. "A Palace Of Pearls (On A Blade Of Grass)" is atmospheric as sounds pulse and the trumpet comes and goes tastefully for a change (haha). Loud bangs follow after 3 minutes as the atmosphere gets louder. Lots of percussion sounds late. "Fin De Siecie" turns heavy quickly as the trumpet plays over top. It turns even more heavy duty before 2 minutes as the guitar also joins in. It then settles with trumpet. We're cooking again before 4 minutes. The drums are louder to end it.
"Cracking The Midnight Glass" has what sounds like bowed bass and I love when the sound kicks in at a minute. So freaking good ! The bass, guitar and drums lead here. it picks up before 2 minutes as contrasts continue. This is a monster folks as it ends with bowed bass just like it began. "Thick With Thin Air" is dark as strummed guitar arrives 2 minutes in. Atmosphere follows to end it. "Cobalt Canyons" has some killer bass and drum work. How good is this ? Someone call 911 'cause Torn is on fire after 2 minutes. "Deeper Blue" has these deep bass lines that growl as gentle guitar helps out. Trumpet joins in playing over top. A relaxed tune. "President's Day" is catchy as the trumpet plays over top. It settles before 3 minutes but kicks back in quickly. A dark atmosphere arrives before 5 minutes.
I would dare say that this is the best thing i've heard Bruford in besides KING CRIMSON and YES. I still can't believe how amazing this is. Thankyou so much Todd for allowing me to finally hear this.
Latest members reviews
It's an interesting work by two virtuouses at their instruments and create a very original and experimental sound, that recall the 90' King Crimson music but with more jazz than King Crimson, stand up in fact the trumpet of Chris Botti...also the guitar of David Torn does a good work...the gap of ... (read more)
Report this review (#152426) | Posted by Lophophora | Friday, November 23, 2007 | Review Permanlink
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