E. Doctor Smith's Blog

I first saw the duo of British drummer Bill Bruford and Swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz in 1982, at New York City's now defunct Bottom Line, and later in 1983, at D.C.'s now defunct Bayou. Bruford and Moraz had released two albums, the acoustic "Music for Piano and Drums", and the electronic "Flags". Consequently, these recordings and others have been reissued on Bruford's new record labels: Summerfold and Winterfold. Now, on this new CD, "Every Step A Dance, Every Word A Song", and a DVD titled "In Concert In Holland", Bruford this time teams up with Dutch keyboard master Michiel Borstlap, in duets culled from their 2003-2004 European tour. Although the duo's efforts are rooted in jazz, there are hints of the progressive-rock/New Age flavor of "Flags", where Borstlap employs synthesizer for choruses and textures, and Bruford's well known polyrhythmic beats and syncopations that propel this beautiful musi...

...And I can still vividly recall that night, on my way home, up Broadway, past the commotion on 72nd Street, and arriving to hear the news from friends visiting from DC, "Did you hear the news?! John Lennon was shot dead tonight!" We gathered around the radio, listening to WNEW, watching the scene on TV outside the Dakota in disbelief. John Lennon had been shot four times in the back, by the deranged Mark Chapman, who had asked the former Beatle for his autograph only hours before he laid in wait and killed him. Chapman had actually met Lennon earlier as he left for a recording studio and got his copy of Lennon's Double Fantasy autographed, the image of Lennon signing one of his last autographs was actually caught by a photographer who witnessed it. Chapman remained in the vicinity of The Dakota for most of the day as a fireworks demonstration in nearby Central Park distracted Lennon's doorman and passers-by. Later that evening, Lennon and Ono returned t...