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.
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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.

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