Billy Cobham's 2nd appointment every bit a leader was i of his amend sessions. Four songs (all originals past times the leader/drummer) contain "Spanish Moss -- H5N1 Sound Portrait," and, inward addition, Cobham contributed 3 other pieces. The selections squad him amongst guitarist John Abercrombie, both of the Brecker Brothers, trombonist Garnett Brown, keyboardist George Duke, bassist John Williams, together with Latin percussionist Lee Pastora. In general, the melodies together with the vamps are reasonably memorable. 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, together with jazz purists were offset to complain most the stone influence. Billy helped present a novel direction. Crosswinds opening suite has lush together with sophisticated horn arrangments, soothing a subtly intense rhythm. The number is similar night, tropical breezes, only every bit he wants to convey. You tin post away almost need heed the ocean, the music of the wild Caribbean Area (no steel drums of course, only cool). The repose of the album alternates betwixt hot together with cool, amongst unopen to funky fusion together with a beautiful extended piece, Heathers, close the end, featuring a trombone solo that sounds similar the soundtrack to a loving together with relaxing dream. The album is inspired, Billy at his creative best, showing the jazz the world a novel dimension that fusion had non shown before. At 35 minutes it is a petty short, but nosotros get got lineament here, non quantity. This album belongs inward whatever jazz or fusion collection. By D. M. Paine
"Crosswinds" has been inward my vinyl collection since 1974, when I foremost picked upwards a re-create at King Karol Records on 42nd Street inward Manhattan. Well, I late became reacquainted amongst this recording later on picking upwards a CD re-create at a "oh thus trendy" tape shop inward Haight-Ashburry, San Francisco. As I did then, I played the novel CD over together with over again, completely enraptured past times Cobham's "Ripley's Believe or Not" staccatto drumming together with Lee Pastora's smoking Latin percussion. Joined past times the Brecker Brothers, George Duke, John Abercrombie, Alex Blake, John Williams, Garnett Brown together with other non bad luminaries of early on jazz fusion, Cobham together with his willing partners crunch together with sort a veritable masterpiece. Drive along Big Sur together with accept inward the vast together with dramatic California skies together with scarred bluffs together with you'll start out to undertand what hues of emotions this exquisite recording conjures. Crosswinds alternates betwixt adrenaline musical rushes together with absolute sublime chill, creating a perfectly balanced sinuous flow of sound. Simply exquisite! By Hector Reyes-erazo.
I got this album every bit a gift inward 1974 when I was nineteen years old. My unsuspecting sis had heard the get upwards Billy Cobham, but did non realize what a masterpiece she had placed inward 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 survive disapointed. His role of fourth dimension on the the Crosswinds suite, his climactic "Storm" solo the driving terminate drive volition satisfy drummers, air-drummers together with percussion fans. This album exhibits Billy Cobham, composer together with arranger. With a black hues on his palette together with a broad brush, Billy paints us quite a seascape. The "Pleasant Pheasant",one of my favorites, is energetic, driving, exciting together with only a petty fighting funky. This features an special together with rhythmic drum solo. "Heather", what tin post away I country most "Heather", hypnotic, seductive, good paced. It starts every bit a whisper of a siren's vocal together with builds to what to appointment mightiness survive i of Michael Breckers most beautiful together with haunting solos. This i is for the headphones, folks. "Heather" is worth the toll of this recording alone. H5N1 stellar cast of musicians on this album function inward concert together with inward symbiosis to create i of the underated recordings inward 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 get got been gone this long from the CD shelves/racks/bins of music outlets. Few of Billy's recording mensurate upwards to this i inward 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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