When progressive rock enthusiasts hear Bill Bruford's name, they immediately think of his work with Yes and King Crimson. But it's important to remember that Bruford is also a talented jazz instrumentalist, and the veteran drummer has demonstrated that he is comfortable appearing in a variety of jazz settings. On Skin and Wire: Piano Circus featuring Bill Bruford Play the Music of Colin Riley, Bruford's group Piano Circus offers a cerebral, abstract mixture of post-bop and avant-garde jazz. This 2009 release isn't radically avant-garde; Skin and Wire isn't the type of scorching, atonal free jazz that goes out of its way to be as abrasive as possible…
Area's uncompromising blend of jazz-rock, ethnic folk, experimentation, and political philosophies made them a unique presence in Italy during the 1970s…