Billy Cobham Crosswinds

Billy Cobham's second date as a leader was one of his better sessions. Four songs (all originals by the leader/drummer) comprise "Spanish Moss – A Sound Portrait," and, in addition, Cobham contributed three other pieces. The selections team him with guitarist John Abercrombie, both of the Brecker Brothers, trombonist Garnett Brown, keyboardist George Duke, bassist John Williams, and Latin percussionist Lee Pastora. In general, the melodies and the vamps are reasonably memorable. Cobham also takes an unaccompanied drum solo on "Storm." Worth searching for by fusion collectors.

This is Billy Cobham's third solo recording under his own name and is a fine follow-up to Crosswinds. The mini-suite "Solarization" not only showcases the band's technical abilities, but also Cobham's strong compositional skills. It also features a schizophrenic piano solo ("Second Phase") from the underrated pianist Milcho Leviev, who sounds like a mutation of Cecil Taylor and Bill Evans. The funky "Moon Germs," on which John Abercrombie is pushed to inspiring new heights, became a Cobham classic. "The Moon Ain't Made of Green Cheese" is a beautiful flugelhorn solo by Randy Brecker backed by Cobham's debut on piano. The band stretches out on the lengthy "Sea of Tranquility," while "Last Frontier" is a gratuitous drum solo. This recording is highly recommended as Cobham still sounds inspired.

Hardcore fans of 1970s jazz-funk, look no further. Sworn enemies of it, consider making an exception. This five-disc set repackages Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer Billy Cobham's prolific early bandleading years between 1973 and 1975, and it bristles with rock-guitar fireworks, hyperactive drums and synths, and exclamatory James Brown-like horn riffs. But Cobham was, and remains, a subtle musical thinker as well as a phenomenal drummer, and the set harnesses bold ideas, thematic variety, and some awesome soloing from the likes of the Brecker Brothers, guitarists John Abercrombie and John Scofield, and the little-known but gifted Bulgarian keyboardist Milcho Leviev. The earliest session, Spectrum (featuring soon-to-be-Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin), is the leanest and meanest.

Recorded live at Compass Point Hotel in the Bahamas in 1997, this double-disc album features legendary jazz drummer Billy Cobham performing with his quartet. Backing Cobham here are guitarist Carl Orr, bassist Stefan Rademacher, and keyboardist Gary Husband. This is highly engaging fusion and post-bop-influenced jazz.

Generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer, Billy Cobham's explosive technique powered some of the genre's most important early recordings including groundbreaking efforts by Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra before he became an accomplished bandleader in his own right.

Billy Cobham Band - Live In Leverkusen (2011) {BHM 1060-2}
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© 2011 BHM Productions / ZYX | BHM 1060-2
Jazz / Fusion / Post Bop

This is a live recording by the great drummer Billy Cobham with his new young band, done in Leverkusen (Germany) in November 2010 and it kicks ass! At age 67, Billy Cobham is still on top of his game and his drumming is just superb propelling the music to new heights, the band is top-notch, delivering an outstanding concert full of classic fusion and jazz-funk. One of my all-time favorite drummers!

Billy Cobham - Fruit From The Loom (2007) {Billy Cobham Self-released}
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© 2007 Billy Cobham Self-released | [none]
Jazz / Fusion / Jazz Funk / Drums

Musicians team are impressive, including great Brian Auger ( and in some places you can hear his excellent keyboard sound), bassist Victor Bailey ( ex -Weather Report), big brass section and team of african drummers. Some Cobham old great compositions are included as well (Zanzeebar Dreams, Spectrum and Crosswinds). So, problem is not musicians or musical material, the problem is music itself.