artist/billy-cobham-mn0000767741">Billy Cobham's 2d appointment equally a leader was 1 of his amend sessions. Four songs (all originals past times the leader/drummer) incorporate "Spanish Moss -- Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Sound Portrait," and, inwards addition, artist/cobham-mn0000767741">Cobham contributed 3 other pieces. The selections squad him amongst guitarist artist/john-abercrombie-mn0000214546">John Abercrombie, both of artist/the-brecker-brothers-mn0000521674">the Brecker Brothers, trombonist artist/garnett-brown-mn0000803730">Garnett Brown, keyboardist artist/george-duke-mn0000536122">George Duke, bassist artist/john-williams-mn0001250343">John Williams, in addition to Latin percussionist artist/lee-pastora-mn0000907310">Lee Pastora. In general, the melodies in addition to the vamps are reasonably memorable. artist/cobham-mn0000767741">Cobham too takes an unaccompanied drum solo on "Storm." Worth searching for past times fusion collectors. All Music
Billy Cobham made this album at a pivotal point. The original Mahavishnu Orchestra had disbanded, John McLaughlin was wallowing, in addition to jazz purists were commencement to complain almost the stone influence. Billy helped exhibit a novel direction. Crosswinds opening suite has lush in addition to sophisticated horn arrangments, soothing a subtly intense rhythm. The lawsuit is similar night, tropical breezes, only equally he wants to convey. You tin almost request heed the ocean, the music of the wild Caribbean Area (no steel drums of course, only cool). The ease of the album alternates betwixt hot in addition to cool, amongst or therefore funky fusion in addition to a beautiful extended piece, Heathers, close the end, featuring a trombone solo that sounds similar the soundtrack to a loving in addition to relaxing dream. The album is inspired, Billy at his creative best, showing the jazz globe a novel dimension that fusion had non shown before. At 35 minutes it is a trivial short, but nosotros cause got character here, non quantity. This album belongs inwards whatever jazz or fusion collection. By D. M. Paine
"Crosswinds" has been inwards my vinyl collection since 1974, when I foremost picked upward a re-create at King Karol Records on 42nd Street inwards Manhattan. Well, I of late became reacquainted amongst this recording afterward picking upward a CD re-create at a "oh therefore trendy" tape shop inwards Haight-Ashburry, San Francisco. As I did then, I played the novel CD over in addition to over again, completely enraptured past times Cobham's "Ripley's Believe or Not" staccatto drumming in addition to Lee Pastora's smoking Latin percussion. Joined past times the Brecker Brothers, George Duke, John Abercrombie, Alex Blake, John Williams, Garnett Brown in addition to other groovy luminaries of early on jazz fusion, Cobham in addition to his willing partners beat out in addition to cast a veritable masterpiece. Drive along Big Sur in addition to accept inwards the vast in addition to dramatic California skies in addition to scarred bluffs in addition to you'll start out to undertand what hues of emotions this exquisite recording conjures. Crosswinds alternates betwixt adrenaline musical rushes in addition to absolute sublime chill, creating a perfectly balanced sinuous flow of sound. Simply exquisite! By Hector Reyes-erazo.
I got this album equally a gift inwards 1974 when I was xix years old. My unsuspecting sis had heard the get upward Billy Cobham, but did non realize what a masterpiece she had placed inwards my hands. Although a virtuoso drummer amongst monstrous chops, Billy doesn't allow his virtuosity run away amongst him. Although those looking for impressive drumming volition non live on disapointed. His role of fourth dimension on the the Crosswinds suite, his climactic "Storm" solo the driving halt drive volition satisfy drummers, air-drummers in addition to percussion fans. This album exhibits Billy Cobham, composer in addition to arranger. With a black hues on his palette in addition to a broad brush, Billy paints us quite a seascape. The "Pleasant Pheasant",one of my favorites, is energetic, driving, exciting in addition to only a trivial flake funky. This features an especial in addition to rhythmic drum solo. "Heather", what tin I tell almost "Heather", hypnotic, seductive, good paced. It starts equally a whisper of a siren's vocal in addition to builds to what to appointment mightiness live on 1 of Michael Breckers most beautiful in addition to haunting solos. This 1 is for the headphones, folks. "Heather" is worth the cost of this recording alone. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 stellar cast of musicians on this album locomote inwards concert in addition to inwards symbiosis to hit 1 of the underated recordings inwards the "fusion" era. No pyrothechnics for it's ain sake here. Impressive solo's abound inside the context of the pieces. John Abercrombie, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Garnett Brown, Lee Pastora ...etc., a dream squad of musicians. This album should never cause got been gone this long from the CD shelves/racks/bins of music outlets. Few of Billy's recording stair out upward to this 1 inwards my opinion. By ND.NY
Tracks Listing
Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait":
1. a. Castilian Moss (4:11)
2. b. Savannah the Serene (5:14)
3. c. Storm (2:52)
4. d. Flash Flood (5:08)
5. Pleasant Pheasant (5:21)
6. Heather (8:40)
7. Crosswind (3:42)
Total Running Time: (35:08)
Line-up / Musicians
-Billy Cobham/ drums, percussion.
- John Williams/ guitar (acoustic), bass (acoustic), bass (electric).
- Randy Brecker/ trumpet.
- Garnett Brown/ trombone.
- John Abercrombie/ guitars.
- George Duke/ keyboards, vocals.
- Lee Pastora / percussions
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