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Bill Bruford

Yes / King Crimson / Earthworks · The thinking drummer's drummer — crisp snare voice, odd meters, interlocking parts

Bruford's playing is built on a distinctive, dry, articulate snare sound, an ear for interlocking parts that leave space for the rest of the band, and a restless curiosity that took him from Yes's flowing odd-meter rock through King Crimson's angular interlocking and into Earthworks' jazz-informed electronic textures.

  • A crisp, dry snare articulation used almost melodically
  • Interlocking parts that lock precisely with bass or another player rather than just keeping time
  • Restless stylistic curiosity — odd meters, electronic pads and jazz phrasing all in one career

The drummer's job is to leave a hole the right shape for the music to fall into.

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