If always anybody deserved a two-disc anthology of his offerings equally a solo artist it's fusion drummer Billy Cobham. After making his stellar debut amongst John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cobham made viii records for Atlantic from 1973-1978. To varying degrees, these recordings were truthful statements on the solid soil of jazz-rock fusion. Many blame Cobham for beingness a fellow member of the technical-expertise-is-everything school, in addition to to a grade it may live true. But the tracks collected hither past times Barry Benson in addition to Nick Sahakian render evidence of something else entirely: that along amongst technical expertise inward spades, Cobham had soul, groove, in addition to a handgrip on how powerful stone & curl could contribute to jazz improvisation if harnessed inward the correct way. And every unmarried rails on these 2 discs does just that in addition to more. For starters there's the bulk of Cobham's classic debut, Spectrum, that featured contributions from guitarists Tommy Bolin (speaking of stone & roll), John Scofield (as he has never been heard since), in addition to John Tropea equally good equally January Hammer from the Mahavishnu band. Spectrum's 2 finest tracks, "Quadrant 4" in addition to "Stratus," are screaming jazz-rock amongst but the correct hints of funk in addition to groove that would conk the hallmarks of Cobham's records afterwards that. Also on "Stratus" it's interesting to banker's complaint that Cobham in addition to Frank Zappa were going for the same keyboard sounds simultaneously, in addition to non but sonics, but phrasing. The sounds were mayhap derived from the 2 using the same session players including George Duke, the Brecker Brothers, in addition to Alfonso Johnson amid others. All of disc ane is pure gold; there's non a weak minute on it. And for that matter, disc 2 is solid equally well; it's but that past times the fourth dimension these sets were recorded, Cobham's musical focus had shifted from jazz-rock to jazz-funk. The same tom-tom rolls are there, the constant rim shifts, in addition to shaking, thunderous bass drum blasts in addition to pops. Because of the exhilaration on disc ane what comes across clearer on the minute prepare is but how intricate in addition to compelling Cobham is equally a composer. These are scripted roles, amongst plenty of room for improvisation inward the middle in addition to frequently at the get-go in addition to end; they are wonders of musical sophistication in addition to raw gritty funky soul. In improver to almost 3 hours of crushingly innovative music, the liner notes are chock total of an extensive bio, critical, in addition to session notes, a few outtakes in addition to unreleased cuts in addition to a cool clear plastic slipcase. This prepare is a document from a classic fourth dimension inward the development of both stone in addition to jazz, in addition to should live regarded equally an essential buy past times fans non only of Cobham's but Bolin's, Scofield's, Miles Davis' electrical era, the Breckers', in addition to of course of pedagogy Mahavishnu's. Zappa fans from the era would also appreciate much of the fabric here.
Cobham was ane of the edifice blocks of jazz-rock fusion. By the fourth dimension he started his recording career inward 1976, he had been part of 3 of the most of import bands of the '70s, Miles Davis's groups, Dreams, in addition to the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 favorite of guitar players in addition to fans because of the way he drives the string players, his debut album, Spectrum, is pure jazz-rock (featuring the slowly stone guitarist, Tommy Bolin, from the James Gang in addition to Deep Purple). Bolin's tracks are at the get-go of this 24-track, two-CD retrospective in addition to a rattling immature John Scofield, is featured on guitar at the cease of the CD. Back inward the days earlier he joined Miles Davis, Scofield was part of Cobham's band that he co-led amongst George Duke, in addition to of course, that band's funk classic, "Do What You Wanna" is included. In betwixt those bookends are stunning examples of what it way to live a powerful drummer in addition to to drive a band. There are liberal samplings of Cobham's solos, equally good equally tracks amongst his grouping that featured his partners from Dreams, the Brecker Brothers. Fusion lovers can't conk incorrect here, spell smooth-jazz folks could gain a improve appreciation of the roots of that genre.
The Good Book of fusion drumming, culled from a half-dozen years inward the life of Billy Cobham. After serving inward drum corps, the High School of Music in addition to Arts, in addition to the Army band, equally good equally gigging in addition to recording amongst Kenny Burrell, George Benson in addition to Junior Mance, Panamanian native Cobham was finally recommended past times Jack DeJohnette to Miles Davis inward 1969. Things took off similar a bullet from there, in addition to shortly plenty Cobham was firmly established equally the Hot New Thing inward jazz-rock drumming. He was also noted equally a talented composer at the time.
Rudiments picks upward next his tenures amongst Miles, Dreams in addition to Mahavishnu Orchestra. Cobham debuted on Atlantic inward 1973 amongst Spectrum in addition to a band that included Mahavishnu keyboardist January Hammer, session bassist Lee Sklar, in addition to immature guitar sorcerer Tommy Bolin (who replaced Joe Walsh inward the James Gang in addition to Ritchie Blackmore inward Deep Purple). The firstly 5 tracks on Disc 1 are drawn from those sessions, in addition to they illustrate but what all the fuss over Cobham was about. His work of dual or triple bass drums presaged Alex Van Halen past times years; inward fact, Cobham is an acknowledged influence on most 70s in addition to 80s hard-rock drummers. The hell-on-wheels “Quadrant 4” sets the measuring for much of this anthology. Bolin is to a greater extent than honestly blues-oriented than John McLaughlin was, in addition to this rails sets the blues caravan rolling downhill without brakes. The long, tense synth in addition to drums intro of “Stratus” collapses into a soulful, Zappa-ish guitar theme. The side past times side 3 tunes are of similar temperament.
The remaining 7 tracks of Disc 1 characteristic larger ensembles that include the Brecker Brothers in addition to guitarist John Abercrombie. Randy in addition to Mike Brecker poured to a greater extent than fuel on the Cobham fire, abetted past times trombonist Glenn Ferris in addition to keyboardists Milcho Leviev in addition to George Duke alternately. “Spanish Moss” in addition to “Flash Flood” are 2 sections of a tone poetry form powered past times Latin percussion in addition to urgent electrical piano. The “Solarization” suite, “Lunarputians”, “Moon Germs” in addition to “Solar Eclipse” (note Cobham’s preoccupation amongst things cosmic in addition to atmospheric) proceed the grand development of his pumped-up soul-funk-rock-jazz hybrid. The finally rails is mayhap the most dated of the bunch, rather similar a Rocky soundtrack edit.
Disc 2 continues the odyssey amongst similar personnel in addition to vibe. “Shabazz”, inspired non past times Malcolm X but a chain of bakeries, begins amongst some other thunderous drum solo in addition to ends upward inward the same sort of groove equally much of the prior disc. Things took a heavier plough amongst Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Funky Thide of Sings, his crossover hitting of ’75 that ushered inward John Scofield. The Breckers’ “Some Skunk Funk” upped the ante of ability fusion amongst its outstanding horn arrangement. “A Funky Thide...” has its roots inward martial music equally much equally the funk. The next year, the horns were gone in addition to Cobham was dorsum to a quartet format. Scofield, bassist Doug Rauch in addition to keyboardist George Duke (under the pseudonym “Dawilli Gonga”) recorded Life & Times, from which tracks 6-8 are drawn. As hot equally the horn department was, the personnel reduction brings welcome breathing room for everyone to stretch out. Organist Allan Zavod makes an evocative invitee spot on the championship track, in addition to Scofield’s ain personality begins to emerge to a greater extent than fully.
Next are 3 tracks past times the Cobham/Duke Band, including Scofield ane time again in addition to bassist Alphonso Johnson. Duke’s personal aesthetic, filtered through his sense amongst Zappa, dominates these tracks but Cobham is non to live denied, particularly his double-bass direct chances on “Juicy”. The terminal track, “Arroyo”, marked the cease of Cobham’s Atlantic contract inward 1978. It’s dorsum to the quartet again, amongst John Williams inward house of Doug Rauch, in addition to the melancholy vibe of the rails indicates the closing of doors in addition to moving on.
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Tracks Listing:
Disc 1:
01. Quadrant iv (4:32)
02. Stratus (9:52)
03. Anxiety/Taurian Matador (4:49)
04. Snoopy's Search/Red Baron (7:44)
05. All iv One [Outtake]* (4:16)
06. The Pleasant Pheasant (5:23)
07. Castilian Moss (4:10)
08. Flash Flood (5:12)
09. Solarization: (11:11)
a) Solarization
b) Second Phase
c) Crescent Sun
d) Voyage
e) Solarization Recapitulation
10. Lunarputians (2:33)
11. Luna Germs (4:57)
12. Total Eclipse (5:58)
Total Time 1:10:30 (70.5 mins)
Disc 2:
01. Shabazz (13:49)
02. Some Skunk Funk (5:11)
03. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Funky Thide Of Sings (3:41)
04. Panhandler (4:07)
05. Neu Rock N' Roll [Outtake]* (6:28)
06. Life & Times (7:01)
07. 29 (2:35)
08. Earthlings (5:07)
09. Hip Pockets - The Billy Cobham/George Duke Band (7:10)
10. Juicy - The Billy Cobham/George Duke Band (6:53)
11. Do What Cha Wanna - The Billy Cobham/George Duke Band (5:00)
12. Arroyo (4:13)
Total Time 1:11:11 (71 mins)
*Indicates previously unreleased tracks
Personnel:
- Billy Cobham / percussion
- January Hammer / keyboards (Disc 1 Tracks 1-5)
- Tommy Bolin / guitar (Disc 1 Tracks 1-5)
- Lee Sklar / bass (Disc 1 Tracks 1-5)
- George Duke / keyboards (Disc 1 Tracks 6-8, Disc 2 Tracks 9-11)
- John Abercrombie / guitar (Disc 1 Tracks 6-12)
- John Williams / bass (Disc 1 Tracks 6-8, Disc 2 Track 12)
- Lee Pastora / latin percussion (Disc 1 Tracks 6-8)
- Milcho Leviev / keyboards (Disc 1 Tracks 9-12 & Disc 2 Tracks 1-5)
- Alex Blake / bass (Disc 1 Tracks 9-12, Disc 2 Tracks 1-5)
- Randy Brecker / trumpet (Disc 1 Tracks 6-12, Disc 2 Tracks 1-5)
- Garnett Brown / trombone (Disc 1 Tracks 6-8)
- Michael Brecker / woodwinds & saxes (Disc 1 Tracks 6-12, Disc 2 Tracks 1-5)
- Glenn Ferris / trombones (Disc 1 Tracks 9-12, Disc 2 Tracks 1-5)
- John Scofield / guitar (Disc 2 Tracks 2-12)
- Dawilli Gonga / keyboards (Disc 2 Tracks 6-8 & 12)
- Alfonso Johnson / bass (Disc 2 Tracks 9-11)
...and countless additional musicians (who contributed to a lesser grade in addition to are unfortunately also many to list)
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