BILLY COBHAM — Shabazz (review)

BILLY COBHAM — Shabazz album cover Live album · 1975 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
js
One of the finest jazz fusion records ever produced, "Shabazz" utilizes similar psychedelic effects and avant-garde tendencies similar to other classics, such as "Agharta" or "Crossings", but "Shabazz" goes for the high octane energy, rather than the subterranean grooves of the other two. Billy Cobham plays at break-neck speed for most of this album and the rest of the band has no problem keeping up and adding to the fiercely kinetic jams that always threaten to explode into chaos. One of the interesting things about fusion during this era was the influence it had absorbed from psychedelic rock. This album is full of wah- wah pedals and tape delays as well as analog synthesizers being used to their extreme. Randy Brecker in particular uses the wah- echo effects on his trumpet to create fresh textures and add a lot of variety to his solos. Keyboardist Milcho Leviev moves beyond the typical jazz fusion synth soloist and utilizes the synthesizer's ability to shape pure sound in building his solos.

The music on this album sometimes has its roots in funk-jazz, but as the different solos build, the band veers close to free jazz. These players have so much confidence in each other that they can easily move from chaotic sections to being back in the groove with only a quick drum signal from Cobham to reel them in. Milcho Leviev in particular shows a lot of influence from avant-jazz artists such as Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor.

If you like 70s jazz-rock I would highly recommend this album for its combustible energy and sheer sense of joy. Albums where the musicians are this much in tune with each other are rare.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
js wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Its a fun ride, and not cliche at all.
dreadpirateroberts wrote:
more than 2 years ago
This sounds great, John. I have to add this to my list. It sounds pretty untamed, should be great.

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

ARC Jazz Related Improv/Composition
FANTASTIC SWIMMERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Fervency Bop
PASQUALE GRASSO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tomorrow We'll Figure Out the Rest Pop/Art Song/Folk
SILJE NERGAARD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Belonging Post Bop
BRANFORD MARSALIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
III Nu Jazz
ANDORRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Piero Umiliani - Musica Dell' Era Technologica - 1972 - Full Album
PIERO UMILIANI
js· 2 days ago
Use Of Light: Kurt Rosenwinkel + Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM) - Live At CARA
KURT ROSENWINKEL
js· 2 days ago
Emma-Jean Thackray - Wanna Die (Official Video)
EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY
snobb· 2 days ago
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Balloon Pop (Official Audio)
HIROMI
snobb· 2 days ago
Enemy - Sun Flex from 'Fiend' - Kit Downes, Petter Eldh and James Maddren
ENEMY (KIT DOWNES - PETTER ELDH - JAMES MADDREN)
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed