BILLY COBHAM

Fusion / Post Bop / World Fusion / Big Band / Afro-Cuban Jazz • United States
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Billy Cobham, born May 16, 1944 in Panama, is one of the world's most influential drummers, best known for his jazz fusion in the 1970s, with John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, where he pioneered a powerful style of drumming with jazz, rock and funk influences.

He is the first drummer to unseat Buddy Rich in the Down Beat music polls.

Cobham has played and recorded with hundreds of top musicians, including Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Coryell, and Horace Silver; and is famous for his explosive, fast, spectacular playing.

He has been sampled, most famously by Massive Attack in their tune "Safe from Harm", centered on the beat and bassline of Cobham's "Stratus", from his debut album Spectrum, as well as on Souls of Mischief's "93 Til Infinity" from the song "Heather" on his album "Crosswinds."

Fans of Cobham's should check out the "Spectrum" lp featuring Tommy Bolin (of Deep Purple,
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BILLY COBHAM Discography

BILLY COBHAM albums / top albums

BILLY COBHAM Spectrum album cover 4.32 | 51 ratings
Spectrum
Fusion 1973
BILLY COBHAM Crosswinds album cover 3.61 | 13 ratings
Crosswinds
Fusion 1974
BILLY COBHAM Total Eclipse album cover 3.48 | 14 ratings
Total Eclipse
Fusion 1974
BILLY COBHAM A Funky Thide of Sings album cover 3.50 | 9 ratings
A Funky Thide of Sings
Fusion 1975
BILLY COBHAM Life & Times album cover 3.91 | 7 ratings
Life & Times
Fusion 1976
BILLY COBHAM Magic album cover 2.90 | 5 ratings
Magic
Fusion 1977
BILLY COBHAM Alivemutherforya (with Steve Khan / Alphonso Johnson / Tom Scott) album cover 4.50 | 3 ratings
Alivemutherforya (with Steve Khan / Alphonso Johnson / Tom Scott)
Fusion 1978
BILLY COBHAM Inner Conflicts album cover 3.00 | 5 ratings
Inner Conflicts
Fusion 1978
BILLY COBHAM Simplicity Of Expression - Depth Of Thought album cover 3.33 | 3 ratings
Simplicity Of Expression - Depth Of Thought
Fusion 1978
BILLY COBHAM B.C. album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
B.C.
Fusion 1979
BILLY COBHAM Stratus album cover 3.75 | 5 ratings
Stratus
Fusion 1981
BILLY COBHAM Observations & album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
Observations &
Fusion 1982
BILLY COBHAM Smokin' album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Smokin'
Fusion 1983
BILLY COBHAM Warning album cover 3.33 | 3 ratings
Warning
Fusion 1985
BILLY COBHAM Powerplay album cover 3.33 | 3 ratings
Powerplay
Fusion 1986
BILLY COBHAM Picture This album cover 3.00 | 2 ratings
Picture This
Fusion 1987
BILLY COBHAM Incoming album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Incoming
Fusion 1989
BILLY COBHAM By Design album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
By Design
Fusion 1992
BILLY COBHAM The Traveler album cover 3.09 | 2 ratings
The Traveler
Fusion 1994
BILLY COBHAM Nordic album cover 3.46 | 3 ratings
Nordic
Fusion 1996
BILLY COBHAM Paradox album cover 4.17 | 3 ratings
Paradox
Fusion 1996
BILLY COBHAM Billy Cobham, Wolfgang Schmid, Bill Bickford : Paradox - The First Second album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Billy Cobham, Wolfgang Schmid, Bill Bickford : Paradox - The First Second
Fusion 1998
BILLY COBHAM Focused album cover 3.57 | 4 ratings
Focused
Fusion 1998
BILLY COBHAM Off Color (with Nordic) album cover 2.00 | 1 ratings
Off Color (with Nordic)
Fusion 1999
BILLY COBHAM Billy Cobham Presents North By Northwest album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Billy Cobham Presents North By Northwest
Fusion 2000
BILLY COBHAM Drum'n'voice: All That Groove album cover 3.25 | 2 ratings
Drum'n'voice: All That Groove
Fusion 2001
BILLY COBHAM Culture Mix album cover 3.33 | 3 ratings
Culture Mix
Fusion 2002
BILLY COBHAM Art of Five album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Art of Five
Post Bop 2003
BILLY COBHAM Colours (with Culturemix) album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Colours (with Culturemix)
World Fusion 2004
BILLY COBHAM Art of Four album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Art of Four
Post Bop 2006
BILLY COBHAM Drum & Voice 2 album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Drum & Voice 2
Fusion 2006
BILLY COBHAM Meeting of the Spirits: A Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (with Colin Towns / HR-Bigband) album cover 3.75 | 2 ratings
Meeting of the Spirits: A Celebration of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (with Colin Towns / HR-Bigband)
Fusion 2007
BILLY COBHAM De Cuba Y De Panama (with Asere) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
De Cuba Y De Panama (with Asere)
Afro-Cuban Jazz 2008
BILLY COBHAM Drum n Voice vol. 3 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Drum n Voice vol. 3
Fusion 2010
BILLY COBHAM Fruit From The Loom album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Fruit From The Loom
Fusion 2010
BILLY COBHAM Palindrome album cover 3.42 | 4 ratings
Palindrome
Fusion 2010
BILLY COBHAM Tales from the Skeleton Coast album cover 3.00 | 2 ratings
Tales from the Skeleton Coast
World Fusion 2014
BILLY COBHAM Billy Cobham & Frankfurt Radio Big Band : Broad Horizon album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Billy Cobham & Frankfurt Radio Big Band : Broad Horizon
Big Band 2016
BILLY COBHAM Drum N Voice Vol 4 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Drum N Voice Vol 4
Fusion 2016
BILLY COBHAM Drum 'N' Voice, Vol. 5 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Drum 'N' Voice, Vol. 5
Fusion 2022

BILLY COBHAM EPs & splits

BILLY COBHAM live albums

BILLY COBHAM Shabazz album cover 4.49 | 18 ratings
Shabazz
Fusion 1975
BILLY COBHAM Live on Tour in Europe album cover 4.50 | 2 ratings
Live on Tour in Europe
Fusion 1976
BILLY COBHAM Flight Time album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Flight Time
Fusion 1986
BILLY COBHAM Live In Rome album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Live In Rome
Fusion 2000
BILLY COBHAM The Art of Three album cover 4.50 | 1 ratings
The Art of Three
Post Bop 2001
BILLY COBHAM Mississippi Knights: Live album cover 3.50 | 1 ratings
Mississippi Knights: Live
Fusion 2003
BILLY COBHAM The Art Of Three: Live in Japan 2003 album cover 4.00 | 3 ratings
The Art Of Three: Live in Japan 2003
Post Bop 2003
BILLY COBHAM Live In Leverkusen album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
Live In Leverkusen
Fusion 2011
BILLY COBHAM Compass Point album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Compass Point
Fusion 2013
BILLY COBHAM Mirror's Image album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Mirror's Image
Fusion 2015
BILLY COBHAM Reflected Journey album cover 3.50 | 1 ratings
Reflected Journey
Fusion 2015
BILLY COBHAM Spectrum 40 Live album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Spectrum 40 Live
Fusion 2015
BILLY COBHAM Ayajala Live album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Ayajala Live
Fusion 2016
BILLY COBHAM Legendary Gigs Vol.1: Live From Dallas Electric Ballroom album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Legendary Gigs Vol.1: Live From Dallas Electric Ballroom
Fusion 2019

BILLY COBHAM demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

BILLY COBHAM re-issues & compilations

BILLY COBHAM The Best Of album cover 4.08 | 4 ratings
The Best Of
Fusion 1979
BILLY COBHAM Billy Cobham Meets Richard Davis album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Billy Cobham Meets Richard Davis
Fusion 1980
BILLY COBHAM Billy's Best Hits album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Billy's Best Hits
Fusion 1988
BILLY COBHAM Magic / Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Magic / Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought
Fusion 1999
BILLY COBHAM The Billy Cobham Anthology album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
The Billy Cobham Anthology
Fusion 2001
BILLY COBHAM Radioactive album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Radioactive
Fusion 2005
BILLY COBHAM Drum 'N' Voice Vol. 1 + 2 All That Groove album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Drum 'N' Voice Vol. 1 + 2 All That Groove
Fusion 2006
BILLY COBHAM The Atlantic Years 1973-1978 album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
The Atlantic Years 1973-1978
Fusion 2015
BILLY COBHAM Drum 'N' Voice,Vol.1-4 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Drum 'N' Voice,Vol.1-4
Fusion 2017

BILLY COBHAM singles (0)

BILLY COBHAM movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Jazz Legends: Billy Cobham - Live Palais Des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989
Fusion 2004
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
A Latin Soul
World Fusion 2007

BILLY COBHAM Reviews

BILLY COBHAM Spectrum

Album · 1973 · Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
FunkFreak75
The Panama-born drumming phenom's first foray as a solo artist/bandleader. Impressive albeit dense jazz fusion by an extremely gifted, energetic drummer and his studio hires, I never heard this album in its heyday but had to wait till seeing all of the acclaim here on ProgArchives to discover it. Again, the performances are impressive--and polished--much moreso than the Mahavishnu stuff that came before it--BUT there is not a lot of engaging meat or melody here--not a lot of "fat" to this meaty collection of songs. The few songs I return to are more as a reminder of how much growth Billy Cobham did from his 1970 stint with his original band, New York, to here. The dude must have worked his fat off! The subtleties and nuances expressed herein by Mr. Cobham's virtuosic playing are truly astonishing, I just like a little more melody to keep me engaged. Plus, I'm not really much of a fan of Mr. Hammer's style or sound palette. (Also, I think I was always a bit turned off by his one-handed approach--something he may have perfected in order to promote his mobile keyboard play; left hand/bass clef play is often what really draws me into a keyboard player's style.) nor of Mr. Bolin or Mr. Tropea's guitar tone selections and styles. With horn, keys, and some guitar soli trying to attract and keep the listeners attention, it seems that I always fall into listening to the mesmerizing playing of Mr. C. Plus, his drums are recorded so well: every sound and nuance captured so clearly and balanced.

Line-up / Musicians: - Billy Cobham / percussion, Moog synth drum (4,6b), producer With - Tommy Bolin / guitar - John Tropea / guitar (5b) - Jan Hammer / electric & acoustic piano, Moog synthesizer - Joe Farrell / flute (2b), soprano (2b) & alto (5b) saxophones - Jimmy Owens / flugelhorn (2b,5b), trumpet (5b) - Lee Sklar / Fender bass - Ron Carter / acoustic bass (2b,5b) - Ray Barretto / congas (2b,5b)

1. "Quadrant 4" (4:20) this must be a song that Jan Hammer and Billy Cobham had left over from their last Mahavishnu Orchestra sessions--the ones that left them frustrated for the lack of input allowed/honored/valued from bandleader John McLaughlin. Jan and guitarist Tommy Bolin get most of the spotlight as Lee Sklar and Tony run a pretty tight ship beneath--neither too flashy but so competent in their tight hold of the speedy rhythm track. Impressive performances but not my favorite kind of music. (8.75/10) 2. "Searching For The Right Door / Spectrum" (6:33) Bandleader Billy Cobham starts this one off as a drum solo right from the get go: just him playing as if a one man band with his expanded drum kit. The "Spectrum" second half is a horn-supported funk jazz-rock piece with one awesome Ron Carter double bass performance (and ear worm riff). Horns and keys get the first mini solos before Joe Farrell is pushed out front with his soprano sax. Billy and Ron are just chewing up that underside! Jimmy Owens gets the next solo on his flugelhorn. Jan Hammer's support on Fender Rhodes is exquisite. The horns team up for the bridge into Jan's solo as Joe Farrell switches to flute for support. Good solid jazz-rock. (8.875/10) - a. Searching For The Right Door (1:24) - b. Spectrum (5:09)

3. "Anxiety / Taurian Matador" (4:44) more Cobham showmanship to open this one before the rest of the band are allowed to join in. When they do it's once more at break-neck speed--as if everybody's swarming down a country road on motorcycles, weaving rather recklessly among one another, with Jan and Tommy Bolin exchanging friendly and unfriendly shouts at one another as they go while Lee Sklar and Billy hold down the sane, steady pace. Impressive; I'm just not a fan of this type of speed jazz. (8.75/10) - a. Anxiety (1:41) - b. Taurian Matador (3:03)

4. "Stratus" (9:50) is like hearing music from the future as Billy Cobham's partner in the opening 3-minute duet is a computer-sounding keyboard. But then everything bursts out of the cosmic soup into a celestial form that is quite similar in form and sound to something from the Mahavishnu project. The rolling bass line is undoubtedly that which prog lovers are drawn to (as well as the masterful drumming display) while the Fender Rhodes holds the song to a key and the fiery guitar of Tommy Bolin burns through the space-time continuum. Jan Hammer is the next artist to get a solo and it's a great one--despite my brain's insistence and listening to the rhythm guitar work of Mr. Bolin. All the while Billy Cobham moves around his kit as if he only has to think it in order for it to happen--it is at times unbelievable how little space is allowed to exist between his stick hits. Though not a great tune, it is catchy (especially that iconic bass line) and very impressive in the instrumental departments. (18.25/20)

5. "To The Women In My Life / Le Lis" (4:11) now for a little of the future music that we'll soon be calling "Smooth Jazz." The stellar solos are still there (Jan Hammer's Moog) and the contributions of the clavinet and horns definitely add a dimension, but the smooth Latin melody and Latin bass and drum & percussion lines are quite simple and melodic in a way that previous jazz-fusion artists were often loathe to supply. (9/10) - a. To The Women In My Life (0:51) - b. Le Lis (3:20)

6. "Snoopy's Search / Red Baron" (7:39) a simplified funk piece of funk that harkens back to music like Herbie Hancock's for Bill Cosby Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids show as well as to other Southern Rock-funk R&B blues fusions. A solid song but nothing with plenty of nuanced performances that is nothing that I really feel compelled to sing, hum, or dance to. (13.375/15) - a. Snoopy's Search (1:02) - b. Red Baron (6:37)

Total Time: 37:17

A prog lover is want to compare this classic album to the one from the other great jazz-rock fusion drummer of the period, Tony Williams' New Lifetime's Believe It!, but they're really two very different beasts. Believe It! (which I just happened to review immediately before Spectrum) is the very clear and concise work of a jazz quartet whereas Spectrum shows a drummer with a more broad and very subtle-swift brushing of many more sounds with the sweeping motions of his sticks; Tony's mastery is shown through a tremendous variety of dynamics employed to his hits within very precise rhythms coming from a much smaller, more traditional jazz kit while Billy's drum kit seems to be a much more expanded Carl Palmer-like kit within which he tries to hit as many items with as fluid and fast a display as if to sound like a wind storm sweeping through a variety of landscapes, both natural and man-modified.

B+/4.5 stars; a collection of solid songs from virtuoso musicians whose overall impression is one of a "near-masterpiece" instead of a true masterpiece. There is a difference between "masterful performances resulting in songs that are very interesting to listen to" and "great songs that I'm drawn back to for repeated listens over and over because I love the music so much." For an album that is a masterpiece because it has eminently enjoyable music on it, go to Billy's three Drum 'n' Voice albums issued between 2000 and 2011.

BILLY COBHAM Crosswinds

Album · 1974 · Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
FunkFreak75
Drummer Billy Cobham's sophomore effort as a bandleader.

1. "Spanish Moss - A Sound Portrait" : - a. "Spanish Moss" (4:11) human-generated wind sounds (synths and cymbals and gongs) open this one before the whole band jumps into a highway-driving cruise through New Jersey or the Taconic Parkway. Beautiful scenery A gorgeously-constructed song with subtle and heavily-nuanced performances from all of the performers--especially Billy, Lee Pastora, and keyboard artist George Duke. (9.25/10) - b. "Savannah The Serene" (5:14) some gentle drums and bass over which Randy Brecker solos in the first minute. I adore John Williams' sensitive bass play on this song. Also George Duke's expert and mature--and innovative--keyboard work. (9.75/10) - c. "Storm" (2:52) George Duke wind synth washes with Billy's heavily-flanged tom-tom and cymbal play taking over in the second half of the first minute. Interesting. Did Billy have fun with this? In the end, it must have been hard to feel satisfied. (4.375/5) - d. "Flash Flood" (5:08) how could this movement be from the same suite as the previous experimental piece? Musically, they have seemingly nothing to do with one another. At the same time, the polyphonic and polyrhythmic Latin rhythms and horns are wonderful. John Abercrombie's heavily-effected electric guitar solo in the third and fourth minutes is unfortunately contrasted with "real time" Fender Rhodes and, thereby almost lost. Too bad cuz it's a rather nice solo. (9/10)

2. "Pleasant Pheasant" (5:21) constructed over a funk bass line with clavinet and Fender Rhodes and straightforward drumming we get solos from Michael Brecker on sax and then Randy. It's a solid brass rock instrumental with great pace and energy but, unfortunately, it's just one of those songs that feel like they're a dime a dozen; nothing special here except for solid performances. In my opinion a 35-minute album should showcase new and exciting musical ideas not just high quality renditions of things that have already been done. (8.5/10)

3. "Heather" (8:40) very soft and mellow atmosphere, like something for late night radio, created by George Duke's sensitive Fender Rhodes play and John Williams' bass while Billy accompanies without drawing any attention to himself. Michael Brecker's sax gets the first solo--and a thing of beauty it is. Then George gets to tinkle the upper ivories of his Fender while Billy begins to show a little more life beneath--for a minute, but then everybody just kind of backs off--including the soloist! Again: It just feels kind of strange (and wasteful) to dedicate almost nine of your 35 minutes to a song of this minimal dynamic I mean, I get the textural nuance and maturity of restraint it takes to perform--and feel this kind of music, but when your reputation comes from being one of the most talented and dynamic drummers who ever held sticks, this seems a waste. (Kudos to Billy and George for having the courage to incorporate this one into their album--and to Columbia Records for sponsoring it!) (17.375/20)

4. "Crosswind" (3:42) Lee Pastora comes out on top with regards to who draws the most of my attention on this one. (Which is a backhanded way of saying, "What a waste!") (8.5/10)

Total time 35:08

I have to admit to being quite disappointed in having given this album so much of my attention today--this despite some fine work from innovative keyboard artist George Duke and rock solid performances from the Brecker Brothers. Billy gave up a lot of prestige to offer this to what I expect was his expectant fan base. After such a fine start with the wonderful Spanish Moss sound portrait, the rest just didn't live up to the same standard of dynamism.

B+/4,5 stars; an inconsistent album of jazz-rock fusion in which a ridiculously-average or overly-subtle Side Two failed to live up to the expectations set by the wonderful Side One suite.

BILLY COBHAM Total Eclipse

Album · 1974 · Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
FunkFreak75
Drummer extraordinaire's third solo album since leaving the Mahavishnu scene. Is this one even better than Spectrum or Crosswinds?

1. "Solarization: Solarization/Second Phase/Crescent Sun/Voyage/Solarization-Recapitulation" (11:10) Wow! Billy's drumming! John Abercrobie's guitar solo (in "Solarization")! Milcho Leviev's piano playing (in "Second Phase")! The smooth pool-side jazz of "Crescent Sun"! The band's unity at the breakneck speeds of "Voyage" (as well as Randy Brecker's trumpet play). A great J-R Fuse epic. (19/20)

2. "Lunarputians" (2:33) great little funk ditty with Alex Blake's bass and the clavinet leading the way with the horns, guitar, and keys following in suit. Sounds Herbie/Billy Cosby-ish. (9.333/10)

3. "Total Eclipse" (5:59) building like a great soundtrack tune for a 1970s Black Exploitation film. The deep piano chord play with opposing flutes and rhythm guitar accent strums is awesome--as are the horn accents and soli--both banked and individual--especially Michael Brecker's brief soprano sax solo in the third minute. John Abercrombie's incendiary guitar solo near the end is on a par with anything Johnny Mac, Al Di, Bill Connors, or Larry Coryell were doing at this time. This is a film that I'd want to see if only for the way the soundtrack would get my blood pumping and my hips rockin'! (9.333/10)

4. "Bandits" (2:30) a weird little cruisin' jam with flashy solos from Alex Blake and John Abercrombie. (4.375/5)

5. "Moon Germs" (4:54) great arrangement of tightly-orchestrated instruments over which Billy's drumming seems to not fit very well! Weird! The rest of the band feels so synched up, but Billy's sound and style is just not clicking with the rest. Cornell Dupree's rock-wah-wah-ed guitar solo is weird, but the horns are so tight, so awesome. (8.875/10)

6. "The Moon Ain't Made Of Green Cheese" (0:58) Billy on piano with Randy Brecker on flugelhorn. Nothing so very special--unless you've never heard Miles Davis or Louis Armstrong. (4.25/5)

7. "Sea Of Tranquility" (10:44) gentle piano arpeggi of odd chords are soon joined by timpani and gongs before drums and bass are slowly faded in at the end of the first minute. Piano continues as the first lead instrument with some synth to offset it. Horns and electric guitar jump in to also add accents and opposition while the bass and drums just cruise along. In the fourth minute Michael Brecker is given ample room to shine on his tenor sax while Milcho Leviev adds Fender Rhodes to his assortment of accompaniments. Billy's drumming accents pick up as we move along into the fifth minute. Then Milcho's wah-wah-ed Fender takes a turn in the lead while John Abercrombie's rhythm guitar starts to sound as if it is itching more and more for some lead time. Nice percussion work whoever is doing it! Billy's drumming here sounds more like that which Lenny White will become known for over the next couple of years. John's guitar finally gets his turn in the spotlight but only as an adversary to Milcho's Fender. Eventually, Milcho backs off and John soars in a Coryell way. Meanwhile that rhythm section remains so constant and fine tuned! I don't get the fadeout at 8:30, leaving a void that is filled by echoed Fender Rhodes flourishes and large gong/cymbal and timpani play--plus Alex Blake's bowed bass. Thenat 10:20 the band kicks back in with a recharged mission to finish the song with the full crew. I must say: that was an odd ending to an otherwise-amazing song. (18.5/20)

8. "Last Frontier" (5:22) Billy on a solo drum and percussion mission. Impressive? Yes. Necessary? Not really. (We all know how good you are, Billy.) "Gratuitous" one other appropriately labeled this piece. I know it's a drummer's album but I do kind of hate to see the star of the show tooting his own horn at the very end to the exclusion of all of his other collaborators. Kind of a slap in the face to the others, don't you think? But, it's his album, his prerogative. The quiet--wait for it! Wait for it--piano solo at the very end helps salvage a little face. (8.75/10)

Total Time: 44:10

This album feels much more accessible to me that Billy's more-acclaimed Spectrum.

A/five stars; a masterpiece of peak era Jazz-Rock Fusion. Essential to any prog lover's music collection.

BILLY COBHAM Spectrum

Album · 1973 · Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
AtomicCrimsonRush
Mahavishnu Orchestra legend Billy Cobham is one of the drum masters and on his debut album he unleashes a furious tirade of percussion madness along with his amazing congregation of virtuoso musicians. The opening track of "Spectrum", 'Quadrant 4', is an incredible adrenaline charged belter, featuring frenetic lead guitar of Bolin that blazes with wah wah and high string bends that will astonish. There is a strong jazz rock feel present with the percussion but it is the lead guitar soloing and the Moog solos that makes this a masterpiece track.

Next up is a drum solo that is very emotionally riven ranging from outbursts to restrained measured tempos. The track 'Searching For The Right Door/ Spectrum' is certainly a jazz fest of woodwind, bass, drums and guitar virtuosity. The sax soloing is as mind blowing as Banton at his best.

Next is 'Anxiety/ Taurian Matador' that is again broken into 2 sections, the first being a short interlude of drum power, and then an outbreak of jazz lunacy. Bolin's guitar work is excellent again, with trade offs between the Hammer's keyboard phrases.

'Stratus' follows a 9:50 piece, that received accolades over the years and even reached the masses as an edited single. I love Sklar's pulsating bass on this and melodic hooks that lock into a cool groove. This one simmers along beautifully, with some psych space rock sounds, and an overall jamming vibe like the psychedelic 60s.

Next is 'To The Women In My Life/ Le Lis' with piano at first and then reaching deep into a well of Latin tones on trumpets. The funky vibe is cool but this is not my favourite style, though not a bad break from the wild music previous. 'Snoopy's Search/ Red Baron' follows, opening with space invader electronic effects that are outdated but fun in a retro sense. Then a cool as ice jazz groove locks in with some great guitar work.

Overall this is an incredible procession of jazz brilliance focussing on the drums, similar to the infamous "Let There Be Drums". At least one of the tracks here ends up on a compilation, sometimes all three 'Quantum 4', 'Stratus' and 'Snoopy's Baron', and sometimes even more. It certainly is one of the best jazz fusion albums I have heard, on a par with Mahavishnu Orchestra.

BILLY COBHAM Spectrum

Album · 1973 · Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
Warthur
Recorded just under a fortnight before the abotive sessions for the Mahavishnu Orchestra's third studio album (which would eventually see release as The Lost Trident Sessions), Billy Cobham's solo Spectrum is a drumming tour de force which also showcases Tommy Bolin's guitar mastery. Fellow Mahavishnu member Jan Hammer gets to indulge a quirkier side of his keyboard playing, and in general the album has a lighter and more playful mood than, say, The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire. Short, brief, and to the point, the album is a great listen for anyone wanting to explore the classic Mahavishnu lineup's careers beyond the group's first few albums.

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