Neil Peart Reviews Bill Bruford's Book Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer

Bill Bruford, the original drummer of Yes, recently released a new book titled Uncharted: Creativity and the Expert Drummer. Amazon's synopsis of the book:

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 research into the creative behaviors of a specific subset of popular music instrumentalists, Bill Bruford demonstrates the ways in which expert drummers experience creativity in performance and offers fresh insights into in-the-moment interactional processes in music. An expert practitioner himself, Dr. Bruford draws on a cohort of internationally renowned, peak-career professionals and his own experience to guide the reader through the many dimensions of creativity in drummer performance.

Fellow retired drummer Neil Peart penned a short review of the book for the University of Michigan Press:

“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, former drummer and lyricist, Rush

Former drummer? Former lyricist? He may be retired, but that doesn't change his status as THE drummer and THE lyricist of Rush. But perhaps I'm just being overly sensitive :-)

To order a copy of the book, click HERE.

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