ABWH - Order Of The Universe (Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA 1989)
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
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Back in Stadium Rock again! I’ve written a fair bit about this concert in the descriptions to other songs from it. I would never have thought 35 years later I’d be sitting in a Tokyo hotel room trying to write about it for something called a UA-cam Channel.
I’ve played a wide range of music from behemoth rock like this in front of noisy thousands, through to ‘chamber’ improvised duets where you could hear a pin drop. At one end my instrument was the most expensive electro-acoustic drum set ever assembled, featuring two Simmons SDX units running in tandem (and, at Madison Square Garden, failing in tandem), and at the other a small but precise rental set of Tamas. I’ve spent most of my time inbetween these two extremes, one end of which is represented here. I don’t valorise one over the other, but my preference is for interactive music in small spaces. Usually the bigger the venue, the more ‘automatic’ (and sometimes automated) the performances tend to be.
The Order of the Universe is about as ‘heavy rock’ as I get. Beyond this, I’d simply be play-acting, and fooling nobody. The point of the back-rack, by the way, was so that listeners at the back of several thousand people might see what the drummer’s hands were doing, and thus identify the source of the percussion sounds. I’ve been to plenty of shows where the drummer has hidden himself and his hands behind a wall of instruments, so all you see is some flailing around the edges. Drums look great, sound great, and as it is at the very heart of the music, the rhythmic engine should be easily visible.
One big distinction for me between this ’Yes’ music and the early Yes of the 1970s that I helped give birth to, was that I wasn’t in on the inception of ‘Order of the Universe’ or any of the ABWH music. I didn’t help create it; these drum and percussion parts are not mine. That may seem like a small thing to you, but to me it’s a barrier against feeling that it is completely me up there on stage. There is perhaps a weaker emotional connection. It’s sort of a half me: Bruford-lite. Early Yes was full me. Earthworks is also fully-leaded.
Just to back up, Jon Anderson had approached back in England and asked me to come play on his next solo record. High quality demos already existed, so there would be no sitting around arguing about musical direction, or whether the bass should be playing G sharp or G natural. No blood on the floor, like in the old days. It would all be in the sunny Caribbean, so no problems with that. Sounded pretty much like the dream session gig. I don’t remember any talk of touring, until I turned up at Heathrow and met Steve Howe and the group’s manager. I had the feeling the project had been undersold; this was all going to be higher profile that I necessarily wanted or imagined.
At the studio, much of the percussion was well pre-programmed. All I had to do was re-record the drums, sprinkle some fairy dust on it, and give it whatever humanity I could. That was possible, but by now we’re talking session work, requiring nothing like the involvement or commitment to a band that I was used to and, notwithstanding the blood on the floor, I tend to prefer. The band environment, King Crimson and Earthworks especially, has given me the space to help produce the handful of interesting albums I’ve had the good fortune to be a part of.
I don’t really do superlatives. As many an interviewer knows, its’s not going to be useful asking me for the best bass player, the thinnest guitarist, the most tuneless singer, the worst gig I’ve ever had, the best musician I’d love to work with. Somehow, we’re all different people. Give guitarists Fripp, Torn, Belew, Howe, the late Allan Holdsworth, Ralph Towner or Kazumi Watanabe the chord of Emi7 to play, and goodness only knows what you’ll get back. They’re all different people exercising different choices, in turn reflecting their views on life, art and the order of the universe! Good groups are all about how different people act and react in specific musical situations. Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe are going to combine in one way; Fripp, Belew, Bruford and Levin in another. Long live difference.
#drumsolos #billbruford #jazzdrumming #electronicdrumkit #improvisationmusic #paistecymbals #rockdrummer #tamadrums #kingcrimson #yes #abwh #billbrufordsearthworks #jonanderson #rickwakeman #stevehowe #billbrufordsearthworks
I was at this show. Jeff Berlin was on bass since Tony Levin was sick. It was at Mountain View amphitheater and the vibe was amazing!
I bet Bill had a lot of fun playing this one, and that whole album for that matter. He was brilliant.
I hope so.
Mr. Bruford says it all in the text box. I don't think more can be added.
"Vocals, Bill Bruford." ~ Jon Anderson.
"This is much more fun than playing drums." ~ Bill Bruford
yet he's not credited with vocals on the album! a travesty! 😄
@@oldirtycaffrey Someone who gets it! From the behind the scenes documentary on the making of the album. His humor and Rick's humor really made that documentary.
@@firebird7479 one of my favorite Yes-related releases. The behind-the-scenes of "Vultures in the City" is very cool.
Thanks Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing, incredible, ABWH was a wonderful project, It's really a shame ABWH didn't make more albums...
Great Scott I was at this venue. I'm at Max Roach Tony Williams I've met this is a great show thank you from Great Scott
Bill… well said. We can only hope for this level of creativity in our lifetime to again resurface. Thankful I was around from the 70’s - present to know it.
I was at this show. First time I was able to see one of the many forms of Yes, and it set the stage for when Yes reformed with so many of it's former members and toured in the round. Great stuff.
Nothing beat an ABWH outdoor show in 1989/1990. Better than the Grateful Dead.
Another YES masterpiece! 👍👍👍
Long live difference indeed ❤You’re always different but always the same Bill Bruford in your different contexts.
I too was there, great night...couldn't believe how great they sounded! Fun crowd as well! Bay Area! 🤘🏿🎧🎸
Roundabout has always been my favorite YES song , your drumming on that piece is amazing!
@@katanatac I like the Fragile Super Deluxe edition with Steven Wilson remixes.
1989, the first time I saw them live... although I regretted not to have seen Chris Squire, Tony Levin was a worthy deputy. The show was my best live experience ever!
Steve playing the Mike Rutherford designed Steinberger.
It's Steinberger... If you want really jawdropping carbon necked guitars, the best ones are Vigier Arpège II and Vigier Passion III (except the last 46 built that have a 90/10 neck and are just the best guitars I ever touched over 40 years). I own an Arpège-II, I owned a Passion-III/carbone which I bartered for a 2nd Passion III-90/10...
No way I'd barter a Steinberger for any of these. I'm not saying the Steinbergers are bad, but they're sub-par to the carbon-necked Vigiers.
Now good luck if you want to find one : there are only about 200 of each that have been built...
An Evening of Yes Music with ABWH was the first Yes cd I ever bought. Then i ended up buying just about ever album they put out.
Amazing
Thanks Bill. You are one of the greatest percussionist in world history! Thank you so much for your wonderful contributions to the art.
R. Daniel Garza
Corpus Christi, Texas
USA
All fabulous players
How gratifying it is to see you... 👍
Mr. Bruford writes: "The Order of the Universe is about as ‘heavy rock’ as I get. Beyond this, I’d simply be play-acting, and fooling nobody. "
I'd like to remind him of the very heavy beats, accents and colors he did for such King Crimson pieces like Red, (those cymbals!!!), Vroom Vroom (note floor toms) and so on. If he was "play-acting", he sure fooled me! :)
I remember seeing this on PPV back when they first performed there.
Every time a clip from this show appears in my feed I have to watch it. You guys were on fire that night.
Ah - the summer of '89 when this came out and saw you 3 or 4 times in London & Birmingham the following Autumn - happy memories.
Clearly one of the best tours of this extended progressive rock family, or any formation of Yes.
Wonderful piece! Bruford never disappoints! Howe a master, Wakeman one of the best ever!
This band was one of the best things that happened to me in the 1980's
Ya in 1980´s, today they are just sounding bad bad bad.
Bill !!!
Watched this as a live show on pay-per-view, I believe. Sorry to not have that great bass and drum duet Tony and bill where creating at the other shows since and we were all anticipating to have video of:). Jeff Berlin was great and all, stil.
I have never seen Jon doing such an aerobic workout before!
I just listened to this CD the other day. Definitely the strongest song on the album.
Saw this tour. One of the best lineups and this coming from a Squire fan
Great video.
An absolute 80's Classic post apotheosis theme, everything at the right time.
Thanks for sharing your insight on this era, Dr. Bruford!
Saw them at Earls Court. Best Close to the Edge I’ve seen and heard ❤
Bloody amazing performance.
Hey Bill, you still owe us the end of that MSG story. ;)
I'm going to call this YES!!!
Oh please don't
Are you a lawyer?
Are you a lawyer?
My favorite line up right here. Well Chris Squire is missing
I love this album. Having the great rhythm section of Bill and Tony for Rick and Steve to build on is awesome.
We were there that night.
So grateful for the text you took time to craft and present to us. Good input in the mind of the artist, the worker, the music man. Greetings from Chile.
Wow! Way, way cool!
Hmmm... Well, there we are
💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Put it back together. One more album. One more time.
As much as I love Yes and ABWH, I think if Bill was going to come out of retirement, I'd love it to be a version of Earthworks. It'd be interesting to hear an elecroacoustic version of the Mark I lineup after all this time.
Bruf-ford!
"Good groups are all about how different people act and react in specific musical situations. Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe are going to combine in one way; Fripp, Belew, Bruford and Levin in another. Long live difference."
Hear, hear 🙂
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Full 7 piece sound, perhaps more...
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Mr. Bruford, I am a self-taught percussionist/drumset player wanting to study drumset at a college level. What drummers did you study? What books did you study? How did you learn what you know?? How can I learn and apply the same things. You're 1995 Indiscipline solo is crazy I want to transcribe it in the future.
I messaged you on Facebook but had no response
Another one of the occasions where the Simmons SDX was "behaving".. 😏
ABWH dared grandeur like the classic Yes lineups could…
Ive forgotten why Squire isn't w them. Some kind of record company shenanigans ?
ABWH formed outside of Yes after Jon Anderson finished the Big Generator tour.
At this time Squire, Rabin, Kaye and White were still writing and rehearsing as Yes, known to hardcore fans as Yes West. I don't think Chris Squire was interested in reforming the classic lineup at this time. I am assuming that ABWH could not get the rights to the YES name at this time.
A couple of years after this, music from both camps ended up on the Union album and they did the Union Tour.
@@mancuniancandidatem Thanks. Yeah, I remember the "Cant use the name" thing.... I caught the Union tour in Washington DC. It was like an early Beatles concert. Everyone clapped and cheered so loudly for each player it overwhelmed the music.
Hmm.. and I just listened to "uncle meat".)
But Bill is jazz. I.e. it's like playing.
Of all the "Yes", I used to listen early, before leaving. After until 1974. Then the whole Crimson.. Well, and where there is articulation for the brain.
Maybe it's my ADHD that's to blame.
Serious joyful musicianship going on there. Chris must have been taking a break. Interesting how his signature sound is completely absent from the music.
The order of the universe in the age where shirts must starch and pants must pleat. (joke)
Lousy , best years long ago
Rick and his actual no taste in sounds.. lol
Yes, his sounds really are terrible. Especially those brass presets. Maybe that is the second keyboard player, but either way, dreadful sounds. It ruins the music for me.
i agree hes always had cheep cheesy sounds great player though
The mix of this is like, f*** the vocalist let's try to make all the instruments insanely loud so you can barely hear what the f*** is going on
Damned they have gotten BAD, jesus, they should go home to their resting home.
I love Yes - music very much, the voice of jon anderson,... but this has no spirit, no inspiration... 🤔🙄
I'm sorry that you didn't understand it!
I disagree .