BILL BRUFORD & RALPH TOWNER & EDDIE GOMEZ: IF SUMMER HAD ITS GHOSTS
Bill Bruford
•Jazz Rock/Fusion
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3.49
| 51 ratings | 5 reviews | 16% 5 stars
Good, but non-essential |
Studio Album, released in 1997 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. If Summer Had Its Ghosts (6:20) - Ralph Towner / classical & 12-string guitars, piano, electronic keyboards
Artwork: Dave Coppenhall and to Quinino for the last updates Edit this entry |
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BILL BRUFORD Bill Bruford & Ralph Towner & Eddie Gomez: If Summer Had Its Ghosts ratings distribution
(51 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(39%)Good, but non-essential (41%)Collectors/fans only (4%)Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
BILL BRUFORD Bill Bruford & Ralph Towner & Eddie Gomez: If Summer Had Its Ghosts reviews
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Collaborators/Experts Reviews
PROG REVIEWER
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
PROG REVIEWER
Ralph Towner is one of the stars of the ECM label (all his solo albums are marvels), and undoubtedly the greatest jazz guitarist who refuses to use electric instruments. He has collaborated several times with double-bass virtuoso Eddie Gomez, but it came as a total surprise when, in 1997, he agreed to work with Bill Bruford, on a disc which features mainly Bruford compositions.
Apart from classical guitar and twelve-string, Towner also plays piano and electronic keyboards. Thanks to overdubbing, you sometimes get the impression this is not a trio performing, but a quartet.
The first two pieces on IF SUMMER HAD ITS GHOSTS sound fine, but slightly severe, perhaps a shade too "neo-classical". The listener may wonder when the music will really take off. The third piece, "Forgiveness", however, is a ballad with some charming classical guitar in it, and on the fourth, "Somersaults", Towner's jazzy playing finally breaks loose. After that, things just keep getting better. "Thistledown" is a delightful tune, one of the most melodious Bruford has written, with catchy lead piano by Towner. "Amethyst" is yet another passionate ballad, with great guitar backed by gentle keyboard washes. On "Splendour among shadows" Bruford produces a chime-like pattern on electronic percussion, which gives guitar, drums and bass ample opportunity to execute solos on top. Up until this point, Bruford's playing has remained strikingly modest and unobtrusive, but the next piece ("Some other time") is a first-rate three-minute (acoustic) drum solo, and on "Silent pool" Bill uses electronics to play a gamelan-like pattern, which Eddie Gomez then uses for some expert soloing. "Now is the next time" is based on a slightly awkward fanfare-like riff, played on electronic keyboard, but it encourages truly exciting soloing, by all three members of this once-only band.
Bruford, Towner and Gomez fans will need no encouraging: all of them will find this album essential. For progressive rock fans who are curious about Bill Bruford's jazzy side (NOT his 'fusion' side, which has recently been dormant), this album would be an excellent start. Three and a half stars.
PROG REVIEWER
At first, Bill Bruford had details that had not been elected as a drummer for the activity of King Crimson in the 90's. It is said that he had feelings of despair for this event. However, it became a situation in which the recurrence of music to which he was related to Yes and King Crimson in the 90's and he had to have eyes w originally and the starting point was reconfirmed. The directionality of King Crimson that rushed into in the 90's became the result of showing the difference of directionality of music and existence as Bill Bruford for Bill Bruford and the flow divided both surely.
The flow and the idea of this album might have had the part of good priming and the chemical reaction as one of the elements that "Earthworks" that one of the parts where his own music character was formed included starts in full scale in 1998. Russell Summers that proposed the idea of this album as a part to the details and might have reconfirmed happiness of Music Bill Bruford.
Because the appointment of Ralph Towner and Eddie Gomez with flexibility to be able to answer an original music character of Bill Bruford enough acts on this album well, too I will feel the necessity. The music that this Trio is exactly kept the even ground and created freely might function as one of the not simple Jazz/Fusion but complete sets. I will feel inevitability as music that this Trio exactly produces a transparent feeling and at ease extend to the whole volume.
"If Summer Had Its Ghosts" A transparent feeling that extends from the theme of the rhythm of 5-5-6 is impressive. The piano and the guitar of Ralph Towner freely performed continue the flow with a transparent feeling always. The drum in close relation to the line of Bass sounds gently. The originality of Trio not related in the form of standard Jazz has gone out.
In "Never The Same Way Once", the theme with the anacatesthesia that puts fast and slow is a feature. This tune is performed as one of the repertoires of the following Earthworks. The atmosphere of very good Jazz is developed. Solo of Bass in close relation to the progress of Chord with the feature also expands the width of the tune. The piano and the drum also freely create music.
The credit of "Forgiveness" is "Bruford/Ballamy/Bates". It might have been an idea that had already been completed as a tune for Earthworks. It puts on the melody of a beautiful guitar and the piano twines well. The anacatesthesia that keeps quiet progress and is performed will offer the listener originality and the technology of Trio.
"Somersaults" The sound of the guitar that there is a transparent feeling in the rhythm with the element of Latin twines. The progress of Solo of original Bass that is and a steady rhythm also improves the impression of the tune well.
As for "Thistledown", the rhythm to make good use of the electronic percussion twines round the melody of the guitar with a beautiful piano. And, ensemble of Trio gradually raises the quality of the tune. An acoustic part is reflected in the tune well and a transparent feeling is continued.
As for "The Ballad Of Vilcabamba", the sound that looks like the flute twines round the rhythm of the samba. The element of Ralph Towner cultivated by "Oregon" might be reflected in the tune.
"Amethyst" keeps an arpeggio of a beautiful guitar good, transparent feeling. The element with a good guitar ..ballade that went out.. has finished. Ensemble also splendidly contributes to the tune.
"Splendour Among Shadows" is from a loop of bell to the tune that a complex melody crosses with the rhythm. It might be a tune that the ability of this Trio is exactly demonstrated enough. It might be a privilege of this Trio that can perform such a tune.
"Some Other Time" is drum Solo played based on the performance of Joe Morello of the drum player whom Bill Bruford always holds in high esteem. It is finished ..Solo that he cultivates till then in addition to the part of Jazz that Bill Bruford interprets and coming technology and methodology are demonstrated satisfactorily... The individuality of Bill Bruford is exactly expressed in this Solo.
As for "Silent Pool", heavy atmosphere twines round the rhythm to make good use of the electronic percussion. The tension is continued with Bass. It might be a tune with a progressive side of this Trio. The performance of Bass that uses the bow also decides the impression of the tune.
"Now Is The Next Time" is a tune of which the color of Jazz/Fusion went out strongly in the tune of this album. The melody that unifies a transparent feeling and the anacatesthesia to the rhythm of the rhythm of steady eight feature. It has the part where Ad-Rib of the guitar also indeed has a transparent feeling. Solo of the drum that multiuses Polyrhythm is a German platform place of Bill Bruford in complete.
A good chemical reaction of this album is remarkably expressed as a part of the music character that this Trio exactly weaves. The atmosphere of Trio free, good performance might be transmitted to the listener.
PROG REVIEWER
Although its closeness to old time Jazz, Towner's abilities brings it near to more contemporary avant garde structures, yet the feeling in general remains timeless.
Crystal clear compositions without any kind of useless "glitter", but the amazing and disciplined performances by each member of this "Jazz/Fusion Trio".
***3.5 PA stars.
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