A chance encounter between old friends Bill Bruford and Pete Roth first led to jamming sessions, then an invitation to another one of Pete’s acquaintances, Mike Pratt, to be drawn into the by now regular meet-ups. Mutual interest in the art of making music for fun piqued their collective curiosity in performing as a trio and a concert series has now culminated in this live album release. Bruford is the more well-known name but as anyone who has caught the band on recent tours would be able to testify, this is a trio of equal partners, each feeding off the energy and inspiration of the others, sometimes accompanying and supporting the rhythms, sometimes playing lead.
I will assume you are aware of Bill Bruford’s history with Yes and King Crimson, his solo work, and other collaborations, he really, really, needs no introduction. Pete Roth may have appeared from slightly under the radar to the TPA audience, but he is an accomplished session guitarist, born in Germany, now residing in England after moving here to study Jazz, teach at the Academy of Contemporary Music, and also have a spell working as Bill’s drum tech. Having begun playing rock and blues, he has become a renowned, all-round guitar virtuoso. Mike Pratt is a veteran of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, a double bass and bass guitar player, composer, and producer based in London, who has performed with Pete many times in other musical settings.
The release is presented as a two-disc digipak CD/DVD edition, complete with a booklet containing extensive notes and group photographs. Alongside the CD, the package includes a bonus 35-minute DVD offering further insight into the trio’s world, with performances, an introduction, and a special spoken segment from Pete Roth.
The setlist on the CD, with tracks selected from concerts performed in the UK and Europe from late 2025 to early 2026, is predominantly made up of original compositions, with one declared improvisation, and one cover, of the jazz standard Summertime. The variety of styles incorporated, all executed effortlessly and flawlessly, is quite breathtaking. As much as the jazz influence does challenge the listener in some places, this should not put anyone off giving the album a listen, since there is so much musicality on show. You have to admire the sheer audacity, the bravery and the technical prowess of these three musicians, who are still constantly looking for new ways to expand their, and our, horizons. They have produced a truly imaginative record that you may not choose to listen to often, but will be thankful that you have in your collection. There whenever you need to remind yourself of what truly authentic music can do for the mind, the heart and the soul.
Pete Roth describes the ‘group chats’ like this:
“What I’m looking for from the band is space, trust, and a shared sense of direction. With this trio, it never feels like the guitar is ‘sitting on top’ of the music, it is part of a wider conversation. That allows me to think less in terms of leading or accompanying, and more in terms of shaping the music collectively in real time.”
I couldn’t attend any of the concerts in person, so, along with Darren Walker’s excellent TPA reviews, this is a valuable record of the events. In this case in particular, the musicianship on show means that studio versions of the songs may have added a bit of precision and sharpness to the overall flow, but on the plus side the live recording retains the spontaneity that is such a big part of jazz / fusion performance, and suits this band very nicely.
After an up tempo band warm up, Full Circle, that sounds quite reminiscent of the style of the Bruford band output, Part of the Charm is led by Pete, who’s riffing is followed by a mellow blues / rock guitar bridge, and then an extended, engaging, jazzy drum solo.
Next, the title track is more of an ensemble piece, a jazz inspired exploration of the guitar theme picked out in the first few bars. Pete is at the heart of it all, but the magic can’t happen without the support of the rhythm section. It’s a refreshing, bite size, slice of fusion pie, with the energetic live performance adding a spicy pickle condiment.
Track four is the improvisation on Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, and for the uncultured, musically uneducated (like me), who aren’t familiar with the whole of the New World Symphony, the old-time ‘Hovis’ theme section doesn’t appear until towards the end, so much of the initial jazzy noodling passed over me. My bad. A welcome pick-me-up is provided by the first half of Looking Forward to Looking Back a jolly country / blues / rock groove that provides plenty of scope for Pete and Mike to trade licks. The second half of the track features what appears to be an extended and somewhat disconnected improvisation. It may be that on the night the improv didn’t quite find the right gear, which I guess is a risk that goes with the territory.
The aforementioned Summertime is given a quite drastic makeover. The trio revel in combining jazz, fusion and blues / rock styles while serving up portions of de-constructed versions of the melody. Once again, I am much less familiar with the original than I should be, but this is a cover that certainly enhances the experience of re-visiting it.
Another original ensemble piece Dancing with Grace begins with a relaxed guitar introduction that precedes a gently swinging melody and develops into some bluesy soloing. Almost imperceptibly the bass guitar picks up the mantle before the lead guitar glides the melody back to a soft landing while the drum grooves ebb and flow with the mood. Absolutely gorgeous. The band’s finest moment, in my opinion, is the longer form piece Original Sin. It has a detective fiction / film noir vibe. A staccato opening section sets the mood and introduces the main riff. Pete delivers an exceptionally inventive guitar-led section and a rocking drum solo provides the finale. It’s a climactic piece of story-telling with the use of judiciously placed hooks to create a cohesive and engrossing listen. The set closes with an audience-friendly, satisfying, power trio sandwich, with a soft centre of improv between two slices of grooviness.
Before the PRT announced itself, the last time we saw Bill Bruford in this context was at the memorial concert at Trading Boundaries for John Wetton ‘An Extraordinary Life’ in 2023, guesting with the youth band of the Paul Green Rock Academy who played their hearts out to an appreciative audience. This time, with the Pete Roth Trio, it’s the older generation’s turn to re-engage with the pure authenticity of playing music for the love of it, and the emotional connections that spring forth. Not an anniversary edition, a re-master series, or a contractual requirement in sight. Just three immensely talented blokes spinning yarns, bringing moments of joy that we all need from time to time.
The DVD is a recording filmed at Cranleigh Arts Centre and Bill Bruford describes the process, and the risks, very succinctly:
“Collective, creative collaboration in real time in front of real people is a risky enterprise. (the DVD) lets us see it done; the raised eyebrow, the half-smile, the half turn to the audience (are you still with us?), the broad-smile acknowledgement of something fitting together well.”
Based on the evidence, if anyone can fit the pieces together well, it’s the PRT.
TRACK LISTING
CD
01. Full Circle (5:40)
02. Part Of The Charm (6:25)
03. Group Chat (5:23)
04. Improvisation on the Largo from Dvorak’s Symphony #9 (7:46)
05. Looking Forward To Looking Back (7:41)
06. Summertime (4:32)
07. Dancing With Grace (5:58)
08. Original Sin (8:16)
09. Hard Case Soft Centre (4:53)
Time – 56:41
DVD
01. Introduction
02. Full Circle
03. Part Of The Charm
04. Group Chat
05. Improvisation on the Largo from Dvorak’s Symphony #9
06. A word from Pete
07. Hard Case Soft Centre
Time – 35:00
Total Time – 91:41
MUSICIANS
Pete Roth – Guitar
Mike Pratt – Bass
Bill Bruford – Drums
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Winterfold Records | Cherry Red Records
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 18th September 2026
LINKS
Pete Roth Trio – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp (Cherry Red Records) | Release info at Cherry Red Records | YouTube | Instagram
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