Bruford - The Sahara Of Snow Parts I and II (Rock Goes To College, March 17th, 1979)

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Making a successful or happy group has much to do with a balance of wants and needs. Sure, we all want it to be a huge success, but what do the individuals need to make them stick around? They all need the basics of course: a steady flow of reliable bookings, medium-quality hotels and clean sheets, and a leader who pays what he said he’d pay when he said he’d pay it. In this band we could manage that. But we all also needed a musical challenge. I needed a co-writer in Dave Stewart; a young Jeff Berlin needed to bring his unusual talents to an international audience; Allan Holdsworth needed the sort of textural support for his playing that keyboardist Dave Stewart was a master at; and the band needed the stellar soloist, Allan Holdsworth. Hey presto! Everyone’s cool; everyone enjoys the ride while it lasts Now I know all this, but it was more luck than judgement that got us there in 1979.
Bill Bruford - Drums
Dave Stewart - Keyboards
Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
Jeff Berlin - Bass
Audio and video have both been sourced and restored from the original broadcast master.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved.
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#BillBruford
#Earthworks #billbrufordsearthworks

[@orlandogardner5288]

Bruford one of the best drummers ever

[@thequietone9785]

It's all about that snare!🥁🪄💖

[@anauticalgate5496]

all about " the ONE"

[@loucontino4804]

I don't think Allan Holdsworth ever played with a bad drummer. Tony Williams, Bill Bruford, John Marshall, Pierre Moerlen, Andrea Marcelli, Chad Wackerman, Gary Husband, Vinnie Colauita, Billy Cobham...the list goes on. Just an amazing track record.

[@wereleeroads9311]

I also got to see Allan play live with Virgil Donati and with Gary Novak (and with Chad W.).

[@JohanesJordan]

And also with Terry Bozzio

[@mikedown1250]

why would he? a poor drummer would be crazy to apply for the gig

[@heroinbath1877]

@@JohanesJordan U.K. 😍

[@bakeone4406]

Haven't heard him with Cobham... can you point out any recordings?

[@caucindro]

The Holdsworth scales and legato are on a supernatural level.

[@MikeGervasi]

The first drummer I ever named as my favorite was Bill. The sound of his set with open tuned toms and that instantly recognizable snare...just brilliant.

[@PetarOrsin]

one of the most original drummers ever

[@joelfortin6634]

the weights on the keys at the beginning, i love it

[@sebastianpereira1517]

Jeff Berlin so underrated!

[@chriswakefield9538]

Bruford was perfect on those triangles. It ain't easy

[@Jimbowlcoach]

This is one of the greatest bands ever in my opinion.

[@1359401]

Pretty much agree although Id say brufords band and dixie dregs tied for second and gentle giant is/was the greatest ever.

[@stevesmith3990]

Wonderful - Allan Holdsworth RIP.

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

This is ageing like a fine wine. 😎👍👍

[@juliocezarpereira7830]

Allan way ahead of everyone, already in that distant past

[@TheBeeRescuer]

One of the greatest moments in music history.

[@YoushouldNOW221]

​@@liechtthis reply is throwing me off. Do you agree or not

[@dornelli1]

this is how dream theater dreamed of been able to play like

[@uv77mc85]

Dave Stewart really stands out to me in this band.

[@JazzVisionsMusic]

I once met Bill at the Frankfurt Music Fair, where he demonstrated Simmons drums. What a gentleman he is! So polite. "Oh thank you, but I'm only a learner myself, nothing compared to drummers like Billy Cobham. These are the real greats! I'm just trying, just trying. That's all." What a great person. Oh and no Sir, you are definitely one of the greats. One of the most tasteful musicians and drummers of all times. You ought to come back to the stage someday.

[@hubbsllc]

What Bruford didn't have in "Cobhamism," he certainly had in style, taste, vision, solidity, and determination. Both drummers are absolutely worth emulating.

[@jukesjointOG]

I interviewed Bill in the early 80s. Absolutely an amazing and awesome gentleman!

[@louisg1697]

Met him on the King Crimson 1995 Thrak tour.... I went around the back of the theater and stalked him. He emerged as a happy-go-lucky type of fellow and got into a Chevrolet Safari minivan and dropped off his backpack into the rear seat and then chatted with me for a few minutes. I said why aren't you on the tour bus? He said, I have me own transport. Epic British teetotaler!

[@JazzVisionsMusic]

I totally agree with all of you. Just let me add another aspect. His music opens up your ears, cause it's always full of clarity and beautiful structure. It makes you hear better and clearer. And it makes you feel fresh. A lot of complex music is exhausting, at least after a longer time of hearing it. Not so with Bill's music. It always has some kind of lightness. A wonderful musician and a real role model.

[@evetsnitram8866]

My only question is - what happened to the roto toms?

[@doug_howe]

Damn good lineup! One of the best 4 of all time.

[@anotherDnightmare]

To be in that crowd. And to actually “get” what I would have been hearing and seeing. What a fantastic moment in time.

[@poodius7]

What a tight group....all pros.... true musicianship.

[@sergeyermolenko6034]

Allan Holdsworth no habia muerto, no moria, no murio, no ha muerto y no morira nunca jamas, hoy dia esta viviendo como siempre y sera con nosotros

[@Cassiro]

Aquí lo estoy mirando...vivo, no muerto!😢

[@tommyrawlings3046]

This is a great piece of music! When Bruford was in his prime, no one better IMHO!

[@philippreichert6847]

My favourite track from "One Of A Kind"."Allan Holdsworth" is a true force on guitar.Superb!!!

[@fishdrew1111]

One of my favorite songs of all-time--always has been. Thank you so much, Bill, Dave, Allan, and the amazing Jeff Berlin! You rocked my world (and still do)!

[@chimalpopoca9291]

Allan Holdsworth!!

[@daviddebarros9555]

Bruford are my favorite drummer ! I love performance of Bruford !

[@user-ih1ko4uy2p]

\\steep rock'n'roll !!!= kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3inenmmbJxll6s

[@sandrocavali9810]

Where was I all these years? Probably under the snow. The progressive essence brought to life by the Masters

[@wildbillhackett]

It's a crying shame the band with this lineup only lasted for two albums. These guys and the Dixie Dregs epitomized jazz-rock fusion.

[@1359401]

I love john clarke he is/was damm great and criminally underated all 4 albums of the bills band are epic legendary genius and the dixie dregs are my second favorite band ever tied with the bruford band although nobody is netter than gentle giant at # 1

[@wildbillhackett]

@@1359401 I thought John Clarke was very good as well but he was a little too much like Allan for me. It's like when Bill Connor started sounding like Allan. I'd rather people sound like themselves even if it's not as good. UK is another band I'd put in the top five of fusion. And maybe Brand X. The early Pat Metheny Group too. I started out playing fingerstyle acoustic folk-pop-rock songs in the 70's and then jumped headfirst into all kinds of jazz but eventually came back to folk-ish songs where lyrics are the focus. Some people would probably think it's several steps backwards, but at some point jazz became just so much noodling to me.

[@dankerman321]

Remember seeing them in NYC on this tour.... still amazing music to this day.

[@mikeferrini8884]

Bruford was one of my biggest influences. A true percussionist/drummer approach to playing and straightening out odd time signatures. One of the greatest drummers.

[@niallf9653]

I remember watching this broadcast on TV at the time. A distinct memory that I thought I might of imagined was the chord at the opening on Dave Stewart's Hammond being held down with what my memory said were wooden blocks, but I can now see were lead weights. Challenging music, but from an amazing line-up that I have far more appreciation of now than I did at the time. Thanks for rekindling a very old memory.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

I'll never forget the first time I saw him live, was with Patrick Moraz when they toured the states together. Just piano and drums. Amazing once in a lifetime event.

[@brucegelman5582]

Yes...saw them at The Bottom Line in New York

[@davidryan7386]

yep, me too.

[@toddfoster828]

Earthworks. In a tent at Taste of Minnesota, in the early 90's. Before the King Crimson reunion. What a show. And what a gentleman after the show, hanging out with fans. To sit at a picnic table about 2 feet in front of his drum kit and watching a master ply his craft for two hours is something I still buzz over, 30 years later. One of the questions he was asked...are you going to do the rumored Crimson reunion? I don't think so. Well...

[@michaelmullen4522]

Now that especially appeals to me...Moraz and Bruford...

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

Saw Bruford-Moraz when I was a student at the University of Maryland. About a decade later, I saw Earthworks at the Knitting Factory in NYC. Mind boggling each time.

[@areteros83]

Que de beaux souvenirs du temps du groupe " Bruford" !

[@kathowed]

Brilliant track. Sublime performance. And possibly the most inept director and/or vision-switcher in the history of forever!

[@rayrecordings]

😂

[@chuckwilliamson1298]

Yep. If I'd known that, I would have just listened and not watched, because yes, while Allan Holdsworth is going to town soloing, we should all be seeing Dave Stewart's left hand. OY VEY!

[@AssociationAdmirer]

The best upload I've heard by this group so far. Will have to check out some of their albums; I didn't realize they were this good.

[@jameseastham7614]

All their albums are this good. Go grab them. I’m going to shop for DVDs of Bruford. I saw the band on this tour in a small bar. One of the best shows I’ve seen in my life and I’ve seen 100. I was a fan of Bruford from his Yes and King Crimson days. Also a fan of Allan Holdsworth from his start in Soft Machine.

[@Twotontessie]

Very cool. Holdsworth IOU my favorite album of this ilk.

[@bluecrueful]

One of my all time favorite bands. Still my favorite music featuring Allan Holdsworth and Jeff Berlin....Berlin seemed to have a heavier groove back then...

[@hdrake1000]

So cool to see Alan Holdsworth there playing with them. I have been a fan since the 1st UK album that Alan and Bill played on.

[@gabrielmyre]

I remember buying the vinyl and making a copy on a cassette. At some point I gave all my vinyls to my brother but I still have the copy. Unfortunately I do not have a cassette player anymore 😉

[@davidryan7386]

love his keyboard weights lol

[@manucolby7484]

I remember winning tickets to see at Toads place in new Haven, Connecticut. What a treat that was.

[@danielmacdonald8349]

Yep - I was there too. Incredible show.

[@johnreed9435]

It took 4.5 minutes to find Alan. Nice work guy

[@skipthornton5413]

Rock N Roll for adults!!

[@BernieLopez_]

I was lucky enough to see BRUFORD, although Allan (r.i.p.) wasn’t on the USA tour. Instead, it was John ’The Unknown’ Clark on guitar. But this is brilliant and features Allan. His playing is legendary.

[@karstenschulze8843]

My Hungarian drum teacher always asked me not to make any wild movements with my upper body while playing the drums in order to focus the energy on my hands and feet. I've never seen a drummer heeding this advice better than Bill Bruford did.

[@rembeadgc]

It's something special to see and hear a recording of Holdsworth playing this song now. He had no idea of the multitude of music that he would one day share and etch his name into musical history with.

[@LuRojas]

I grew up as a teenager listening to this record trying to imitate Allan on guitar. Everyone in this band were so far ahead of their time! Finding this video brings back such fond memories!!!

[@pieroaycart785]

Who is the best musician? All of them. Excelent music

[@RogerMFox]

🎼...Man, what a great show, interesting renditions of each piece... Thanks, very much, all the best, Fox🌬💨🔥🎶🔥🎵🌞🌚🕶

[@colinslant]

I like Dave's little weights for holding down the keys - a bit more practical than Keith Emerson's technique of stabbing them with daggers!

[@RiquezaEmGotas]

Sahara of Snow was written by E. Jobson if i am not mistaken!

[@thomasmazur6916]

Love the New age music the best.

[@msyracuse]

Bill, I remember watching you perform this at MFP and then visiting you backstage...and Eddie Jobson showed up. What a great night! I also saw you demonstrate the original Simmons electronic drums for Sam Ash back in the day as well. Hope you tour Long Island once again!

[@darkcharles7472]

Holdsworth at his best in my opinion. Keyboard player is amazing.

[@hellblazer1313]

Just ordered the DVD of this. Great stuff that got me into jazz/fusion.

[@eckie4679]

Your YT channel is National Treasure Bill

[@petelaufman4359]

Jeff Beck esk...phenomenal musicianship I hear UK as well.

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

This tune, I heard, was originally intended to be in one album from U.K. (I think the 1st one). There is, in fact, one live recording with the original lineup of U.K.

[@Zipp43]

Allan’s guitar looks like it was Dimarzio PAF loaded? Am I imaging that? The guitar sounds fantastic! This is a fantastic piece! Jeff, Bill, and Dave amazing!

[@TheOwl]

Yes, he had 2 PAF's put into a heavily modified Strat, with a custom neck by Dick Knight. Love the sound that axe produced! ❤❤❤

[@muzic3977]

How did I miss this greatest from 1979?

[@francisconavejas7970]

Otra joya más de Bill Bruford y su banda de excepcionales artistas y músicos. Gracias Bill por compartirla. ¡!

[@66buttafuori]

Allan 💙🎶🎼🎵

[@georgekraft1401]

Really good stuff. Kinda reminds me of King Crimson.

[@bytoriasnowdoggy]

Words from the wise Mr. Bill Bruford. Thank you so much.. Dig it!

[@richardschwarz4502]

Incredible song and so happy I got to see UK perform it at Penns Landing!

[@zenzenzen4741]

My favorite jam from this lineup!! Such a musical journey!

[@zenzenzen4741]

Listen to how livid Jeff Berlin is on that bass!! Fantastic!!

[@csgrinds]

Yes he was superb!

[@doctorpatient519]

what? "livid"?? (meaning: incensed, enraged, infuriated) the rather talented Mr Berlin looks quite relaxed, involved and very much enjoying being in the company of -- and making music with -- these three great musicians but, "livid"? sorry, Sir -- don't think so

[@zenzenzen4741]

I meant aliveness

[@csgrinds]

@@zenzenzen4741 I understood you, thought it was a great choice of adjective.

[@doctorpatient519]

@@zenzenzen4741 we are agreed, Sir thnx for the courtesy of your reply again- ridiculously great band, no?

[@zenstain]

This is the alltime greatest band that has ever existed.

[@1359401]

Bruford band# 2 for me tied withe dixie dregs. gentle giant is/was the greatest ever

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

U.K.'s 1st lineup (Wetton, Jobson, Holdsworth and Bruford) is a great contender.

[@jan-michaelnelson6571]

In my humble assessment : Complete!!!!! Brava!!!!!

[@lucianovargas6677]

Bruford. That was a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 band.

[@guitar_player_bernie]

Great stuff Bill. Thank you for posting. Needs to be seen and heard by the new generation. Long time Progressive Rock listener. ☮

[@FERNANDO9797]

Ese es mi trabajo ,hacer que la nueva generacion los escuche y lo he logrado bastante en el ambiente de amigos y familiares ,yo tamb oyente desde hace 34 años del rock progr y baterista de hace 40 años y bill fue y es uno de mis profesores junto a palmer y peart ,a traves de musica o videos

[@rolandedrummer9723]

Roto toms need to make a big comeback.

[@damonhines8187]

Saw U.K. in Vancouver, '78. Loving this! Next, KC, Berlin, '82! Tyvm, BB and YT!! RIP, AH.

[@NEntv58]

Love the Bruins shirt.

[@Doviderus]

This is a extraordinary piece of music performed by a gem of a band, all of them unique and .... anybody said Jeff B?

[@tommyrawlings3046]

Bruford had the most full sound of any drummer!

[@rick3747]

I have always enjoyed Bill's drumming. To me, it is fun, smart, confident, exploring......but never boring, static. I always thought that it would be a great time just enjoying lunch with Bill chatting up current musicial trends and life in general.He seems like a guy into sharing his exp and knowledge with anyone if they ask. BTW...Mr Holdsworth is another musician whom I always admired and enjoy along with Lenny Breau, Terry Kath, Jim Gordon, Tony Williams, Joe Morello and Nick Drake all just off the top of my head.

[@skipthornton5413]

So crazy cool!!!!!

[@ScreamingDoug]

I see why Bill picked this to post! 😁

[@panchotorrez8427]

Bill Buford you Have the beat Man. KingCrimeson. is waiting for you.? Yeah!and Me".Marco".

[@bakeone4406]

Damn, Big Al was good.

[@Wizuu0274]

Gotta love that outro, feels like being in the middle of a stampede.

[@Bob-of-Zoid]

Brain music deluxe 10,000 FX HD! Thanks for making music like that Bill!

[@chrisbrennan2891]

This album and show that I saw was beond mind bagaling .biill with phill man that Lazer light show and also i believe Chestey Thompson was also on that Gen seconds out dublle live album . All this is incredible , along with bills band back then.Ahh

[@MrGiandrum]

che band ragazzi!

[@dougmphilly]

i loved this song.

[@63Kafka]

Love it, this tune could sit happily on "Close To The Edge" or "Larks Tongues In Aspic" or even "Trick Of The Tail"...perhaps?

[@tommybrxb]

Thanks Bill.

[@Fender73472]

Miss you Allan RIP maestro…..

[@emiliofan380]

Bill, those amazing tracks should be released a DVD.

[@pauloalexandrealves9868]

Great!!!!!!!

[@batphink2655]

I can still heat similarities to U.K and that's nit a bad thing, cool piece of music. RiP Alan Holdsworth!

[@rhyshughes3845]

Some band!

[@MrThomas1958]

great

[@csgrinds]

That was amazing, best thing have heard in a while, thanks.

[@davidgreen1504]

This is 1 of 3 my personal compositions ever the close out of Mr.Holdswotth playing is beyond music just close your eyes and let go... 👊

[@lightanddreamsphotography7140]

What a great band this was, saw them live twice, and they blew the roof off. Thanks guys, great memories. Shame I wasn't at this gig, it would have been my 22nd birthday!!!!

[@bencarter6702]

Gold. Never saw this before. Around the 4 min mark there's a weird precursor to the loping outro of Larks III heading towards Thela as played by 80s Crim. Unintentional surely, but fun. And is there anyone else out there who can fit both a dual triangle tone sticking rhythm in 7/8 and double tambourine rhythm in 4/4 in the same song? Huzzah.

[@mallorga1965]

Yeah! I could almost hear the guitar synth solo.

[@ZenArcher9091]

sure sounds like King Crimson's "Discipline" album, before it was released.

[@dornelli1]

and still in'79 brufford and allan were in the band 'UK'

[@glennheim1023]

With a little work, these 4 guys might do alright...

[@davidcole8268]

Can't believe they were still wearing flares in 1979.