Bruford Levin Upper Extremities

"Upper Extremities" contains the exotic sounds
of four extremely talented musicians playing
off each other -- and having fun."

With this CD, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford present music unlike any you've ever heard.
It begins with the thundering rhythm section of progressive rock band King Crimson and adds the avant garde guitar riffs and distant planet loops of David Torn. Mix in the cool jazz sound of Chris Botti's trumpet - turn it upside down in a blender, and you've got Bruford Levin Upper Extremities - a CD that breaks through boundaries, nearly defying description.

B.L.U.E. toured the U.S., April 13-19, 1998

Cerulean Sea. Bruford - drums; Levin - bass w. funk fingers, vocal; Torn - guitar, brokenbird, hysterium & slicer loops. Features other-worldly loops, a vocal drone with moving overtones, and incessant 8th notes from Levin's funk-fingered bass. All come together to create a strong mood that is gradually overtaken by Bruford's unique soloistic cross rhythms.

Interludes. Bruford playing with sticks and mallets on derelict piano in Levin's garage

Original Sin. Botti - trumpet; Bruford - drums; Levin - stick; Torn - guitar sphere. This features a more accessible side. This Bill Bruford composition comes with a smooth groove, albeit in 5/4, under the cool muted trumpet of Chris Botti.

Etude Revisited. Botti - trumpet; Bruford - drums; Levin - stick; Torn - guitar sphere. The listener is dropped into a restaurant - The Gypsy Wolf Cantina in Woodstock - where the band recorded its own dinner, joking and discussing cross rhythms. The track cuts right to a full band groove, then back for dessert to the Cantina.

A Palace of Pearls (on a blade of grass). Botti - trumpet; Bruford - electronic percussion, synth; Levin - NS electric upright bass; Torn - guitar & noir loops.

Fin de Siècle. Botti - trumpet; Bruford - drums; Levin - stick. This may become a classic known for Tony's playing of the Stick - it features the rare instrument that Tony has become famous for.

DrumBass. Bruford, Levin - drumbass. Features Bill and Tony playing simultaneously on the same instrument - a unique upright bass made from an American Indian drum.

Cracking the Midnight Glass. Bruford - drums; Levin - NS bass; Torn - barking gtr, light-industry dementia.

Torn DrumBass. Bruford, Levin - drumbass; Torn - National slide guitar.

Thick with Thin Air. Bruford - electronic percussion; Levin - vocal; Torn - baby acoustic & National slide gtrs, e-bow, throat & moat loop.

Cobalt Canyons. Bruford - drums; Levin - stick; Torn - wack gtr, big vile winged things.

Deeper Blue. Botti - trumpet; Bruford - drums; Levin - NS bass; Torn - high atmos, bubbleslid gtr.

President's Day. Botti - trumpet; Bruford - drums, electronic percussion; Levin - stick; Torn - gtr sphere, squoze-cat loops, shattered electric bouzouki.

Though Bill Bruford and Tony Levin have collaborated for many years, as a drummer and bassist will, this is the first voice given over totally to their creative will. Together, Bill and Tony have, for a long time, been the engine that propels the progressive rock group King Crimson. Bruford's drums and Levin's bass have also been heard together powering music of YES, Steve Hackett, David Torn, Al Dimeola, the upcoming CD of U.K., and a variety of progressive projects.

Individually, Bruford has an impressive list of credits - YES, Genesis, U.K., Crimson, his own Earthworks, and others.

Tony Levin has toured and/or recorded with Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, Lou Reed, and many more. His two projects on Papa Bear Records - World Diary and From the Caves of the Iron Mountain - have etched new ground musically and carved out a place in the industry for the company.

Guitarist David Torn has been recording his own avant garde projects for some time - a leader in the field of new instrumental music, he's much in demand at European festivals. His album Cloud About Mercury featured Bruford and Levin and has become a classic of the genre.

Chris Botti, known for his trumpet playing with Paul Simon and Blue Nile, has found himself at the top of the jazz charts with his solo releases, including, most recently, Midnight Without You.

To Order:
1. Use our convenient FAX AND MAIL ORDER FORM
2. Use our SECURE ON-LINE ORDER FORM
3. Just PHONE 917-470-9209 (10-5 ET, M-F)
See our catalog for complete details.

Papa Bear Records
PO 498
Woodstock, NY 12498