# New Book: Scholar and Drum Legend Bill Bruford: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/01/31/new-book-scholar-and-drum-legend-bill-bruford-video/
- Published: 2018-01-31T11:26:04+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Authors New Book, “Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer”. Pre-order in
hardback, softback or e-book.**

Scholar and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Bruford, best known for his work
with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and his prolific solo career, has authored a new
book, to be Published by the University of Michigan Press on January 28th. Pre-orders
are now being taken.

**What’s it about?**

The book is an exploration of the creativity involved in the way drummers make things
work, make things matter, and make sense of both. It draws on interviews with nine
top drummers and Bruford’s own experience to improve understanding in collaborative
popular music performance. What do expert drummers do? Why do they do it? Is there
anything creative about it? If so, how might that creativity inform their practice
and that of others in related artistic spheres? Applying ideas from cultural psychology
to findings from original research into the creative behaviors of a specific subset
of popular music instrumentalists, Bruford demonstrates the ways in which expert
drummers experience creativity in performance and offers fresh insights into in-
the-moment interactional processes in music.

“If you’re an instrumentalist” recommends Bill, “give it to the nearest drummer,
so he or she knows what drummers are for. If you’re a drummer give it to the other
people in your band, so they know what drummers are for. And get a copy for yourself,
so you know what drummers are for!”

**Early praise for ‘Uncharted’**

“… an intelligent, thought-provoking treatise on the notion of creativity in Western
popular music. Over the course of a number of interviews and case studies involving
expert drummers, Bill Bruford examines how such practitioners approach and understand
creativity. In the process, he crafts a relational processual model for understanding
creativity and the creative process for real-time interactive performing arts (theatre,
dance, music). The result is a fascinating and rewarding read that will surely affect
players and listeners alike as they think about the concept of finding ‘creative
meaning in making it work and making it matter.’”
 —**Rob Bowman, Grammy Award Winning
Professor of Music**

“After forty years of creating professional music, pretty much all of it to his 
taste (passing rare), Bill Bruford has laid down the torches — and tried to capture
their flame in words. Begin by running your eyes down the list of Bill’s collaborators.
The expert performers and teachers will attract any reader with more than a passing
affection for music. Simply put, it is a lights-out masterpiece of useful insight
and passionate, reflective wisdom.”
 —**Neil Peart, drummer Rush**

“The contributions of the wide-ranging active percussionists Bruford surveyed will
make this an important primary document for future researchers examining the role
of drummers in group improvisation, the recording process, and more.”
 —**Kevin 
Holm-Hudson, University of Kentucky**

“The book lives up to its expectations. Drawing on his own insider’s knowledge and
extensive interviews with an impressive roster of expert drummers about the nature
of creativity and what it means to them, Bruford has produced a brilliant ethnography
of professional drummers and drumming culture in the rock era.”
 —**Mark Spicer,
Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center**

“It is no surprise to find Dr. Bruford so eloquently putting into language that 
which springs from such a non-linguistic source. Bill’s scholarly insights matched
with a career’s-worth of personal experience shed an authoritative light on the 
creative role of the drummer. In today’s world of computer-generated rhythmic music,
how wonderful to tap into this most organic and visceral element in music’s heritage,
and deepen our appreciation of this immense creativity, past and present.”
 —**Tim
Garland, saxophonist, composer**

“The author cites relevant scholarly work, his roster of drum experts is beyond 
question (including himself), but most importantly, the insights he synthesizes 
from his source material are both original and valuable.”
 —**Shaugn O’Donnell, 
The City College, CUNY**

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