Many people will know the name Bill Bruford from his widespread and varied career playing for bands such as Yes or King Crimson or perhaps many of the sessions Bill has managed to notch up over the years, most notably for Genesis for whom he briefly drummed alongside Phil Collins when Phil took over the vocalists spot vacated by Peter Gabriel. These days Bill fronts the jazz quartet Earthworks and in addition to playing the odd session Bill seems more than happy playing dates as far afield as Japan and South America to enthusiastic jazz audiences and music lovers in general. The second incarnation of Earthworks is in essence an acoustic Jazz quartet rather than the more modern approach featuring electric instruments favoured by the original line up of Earthworks which Bill founded in the nineteen eighties The first release from Summerfold Records was the wonderful live album recorded in San Francisco in 2002, Random Acts Of Happiness.

The third release from Bill on his new Summerfold imprint is actually a re release of the sixth Earthworks album entitled The Sound of Surprise recorded in 2001.

Following a gruelling, profitable, well organised and frequently hilarious 18 date tour of the UK, covering, remarkably, some 3000 miles, Bill took the band into Livingston Studios in London for four days to record "The Sound of Surprise".

With essentially the same team as recorded "A Part, And Yet Apart", the new CD has nine full-blooded tracks of hard-hitting acoustic jazz weighing in at some 63 minutes, and represents the fruit of some 9 months focused endeavour, with work starting on the writing in January 2000.

The band have built an enviable reputation over the last seven years and attracted many new fans to the cause who are themselves new to jazz.

"[Sound of Surprise is a] Potential model for the 21st century jazz mainstream." - Chicago Reader