Bill Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado - 1980 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

Gradually Going Tornado is the third and final studio album by Bruford. It was co-produced by Weather Report collaborator Ron Malo and released in 1980. In contrast to the band's previous all-instrumental effort, several songs were sung by bassist Jeff Berlin. The closing Dave Stewart composition 'Land's End' includes music previously used on the opening and closing tracks of the National Health album Of "Queues and Cures"
This is the third Bill Bruford studio-album he made with his band and it is without doubt an enjoyable Jazz-Fusion album with excellent tracks in this genre; but listen for yourself!

Note > No silence was deleted; it is -essential- to burn this album gapless..

Review:

"Gradually Going Tornado" completed the ascent to great, inventive and clever jazz/rock fusion that Bill Bruford began with "Feels Good To Me" (4-1/2 stars) and "One of a Kind" (4-3/4 stars). Yep, this was the complete album from these guys that I had been looking for. Believe it - this is a masterpiece in its genre. You can't ignore the unique keyboards from Dave Stewart on this - they are upfront, all over, and feature a "wall of sound" effect more often on this album. "Palewell Park" is soft and beautiful on the piano, but his playing everywhere else is fast, surprising, cool and fun - even "urban"-sounding in spots.

I'm a huge Allan Holdsworth fan, but I think replacement John Clark is FANTASTIC on this album. (And if you ever listen to the live "Bruford Tapes", you'll hear Clark nailing Holdsworth's solos with perfection.) Here, he impresses most on "Land's End", "q.e.d." and "Gothic 17". Fretless bass demigod Jeff Berlin is incredibly inventive and original on this album. His "Joe Frazier" still blows my mind with its combination of speed and virtuosity, while his melodic accompaniment to Stewart's piano on "Palewell Park" is simply sublime. And he sings on four of the songs with a slightly nasal, droll and friendly tenor that's not far from John Wetton or even - I've gotta say it - crooners Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams in places! (Think about it.)

Bruford himself never sounded better than on this album (in my humble opinion). And the songwriting and production is superb; a great mix of soft and ambient atmospheres along with solid grooves, pop hooks and world class soloing from all members.

Squire Jaco@Amazon.com


Track List:

01 Age Of Information
02 Gothic 17
03 Joe Frazier
04 Q.E.D.
05 The Sliding Floor
06 Palewell Park
07 Plans For J.D.
08 Land's End

Personnel:

Bill Bruford - Drums, Producer
Dave Stewart - Keyboards
Jeff Berlin - Bass, Vocals
The "Unknown" John Clark - Guitar

Guests;

Georgie Born - cello (2)
Amanda Parsons & Barbara Gaskin - choir (8)