Billy Cobham - The Traveler (1993)

01.Alfa Waves
02.All That Your Soul Provides
03.Balancing Act
04.What If?
05.Dippin' the Bisquites in the Soup
06.Fragolino
07.Just One Step Away
08.Mushi Creole Blues
09.On the Inside Track
10.Soul Provider.

Billy Cobham (drums, percussion)

Carol Rowley (vocals)

Gary Husband (keyboards, drums)

Joe Chindamo (keyboards)

Peter Wolpl (guitar)

Ira Coleman, Mike Mondesir (bass)

Nippy Noya (percussion).

Recorded at Real World Studios Box Mill, Bath, England in November 1993.

The overall feel of this recording is very similar to Incoming. Peter Wolpl remains on guitar, as does Nippy Noya on percussion. The pianist has been changed to Joe Chindamo; however, his style is similar to Rita Marcotulli's on Incoming. The music is very dense and cannot be listened to casually or infrequently if one wants to absorb the full impact of the recording. The underrated Wolpl provides an excellent acoustic guitar solo on "Alfa Waves." There are three vocal tracks here, which means a meager attempt at pop on a majority of contemporary jazz recordings. Fortunately, this is not the case here. Carole Rowley does a fine job of "jazz" singing and seems to be a cohesive part of the band, rather than a novelty. Cobham's mastery of rhythm (not technique) is evident on "Balancing Act." This is an aspect of his playing that is often overlooked due to his overwhelming power behind the traps. For fans just interested in that aspect of his playing, "On the Inside Track" features a mini-drum battle with drummer extraordinaire Gary Husband. As a whole, The Traveler is a very good recording and clearly shows Cobham's constant striving to grow as both a composer and musician. ~ Robert Taylor.

Billy Cobham - B.C (1979)

01.Oh Mendocino
02.Dana
03.What Is Your Fantasy
04.Little Travelin' Music
05.The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro)
06.I Don't Want to Be Without You
07.Bring up the House Lights
08.Vlastar - An Encounter.

Robert L. Adcock - Cello
Israel Baker - Violin
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet
Alexandra Brown - Vocals
Garnett Brown - Trombone, Trombone (Tenor)
Stephen Bryant - Violin
Pete Christlieb - Saxophone, Woodwind
Billy Cobham - Percussion, Drums
Joe Croyle - Vocals
Douglas David - Cello
Glen Dicterow - Violin
Bonnie Douglas - Violin
David Duke - Trombone, Tuba, Horn
George Duke - Keyboards, Vocals
Donna Fein - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Jim Gilstrap - Vocals
Catherine Gotthoffer - Harp
Bill Green - Woodwind
William Green - Wind
Merry Greene - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Clayton Haslop - Violin
Wayne Henderson - Trombone
Muffy Hendrix - Vocals (bckgr)
Sharon Hendrix - Vocals
Paula Hochhalter - Cello
Miki Howard - Vocals
Selene Hurford - Cello
Augie Johnson - Vocals
Jon Joyce - Vocals
Janet Lakatos - Violin
Bobby Lyle - Keyboards, Piano (Electric)
Steve Madaio - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Gordon Marron Strings - Violin
Michael McGloiry - Guitar, Piano
Louis Patton - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Jack Pepper - Violin
Nathaniel Phillips - Bass
Ed Reddick - Bass
Dorothy Remsen - Harp
Nathan Ross - Violin
Carroll Stephens - Violin
Ernie Tack - Trombone, Tuba
Ilka Talvi - Violin
Vance "Mad Dog" Tenort Conductor, Conga
Ernie Watts - Flute, Saxophone, Woodwind
Michael Wright - Vocals.

Billy Cobham - Alivemutherforya (1978)

01."Anteres"-The Star
02.Bahama Mama
03.Shadows
04.Some Punk Funk
05.Spindrift.

Mark Soskin - Piano, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Arp, Mini Moog, Arp Odyssey, Soloist
Billy Cobham - Percussion, Producer, Soloist
Steve Khan - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Producer, Soloist
Tom Scott - Percussion, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Lyricon, Producer, Soloist.

Drummer Billy Cobham is heard on this live set heading an all-star quintet also including Tom Scott on tenor, soprano and lyricon, keyboardist Mark Soskin, guitarist Steve Khan and electric bassist Alphonso Johnson. Although the music is mostly funky and uses plenty of electronics (Scott sounds quite faceless on lyricon), there are some strong solos, particularly from Khan and Scott (when he is on tenor). The six group originals are highlighted by "Bahama Mama," "Some Punk Funk" and "On a Magic Carpet Ride." Due to the amount of variety and spontaneity, Alivemutherforya is superior to most of these musicians' individual projects of the era. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.

Billy Cobham - Warning (1985)

01.Mozaik
02.Red And Yellow Cabriolet
03.Slow Body Poppin'
04.Unknown Jeromes
05.The Dancer
06.Stratus
07.Come Join Me
08.Go For It!.

Billy Cobham - drums
Baron Browne - bass
Dean Brown - guitar
Gerry Etkins - keyboards
Sa Davis - percussion.

This was one of the earliest entries in the GRP catalog. It's a keyboard-dominated session, and definitely has a commercial sound to it. There are, however, enough drumming calisthenics to satisfy the intended audience. Cobham's band is not as exciting or as distinguishable as those from his days in the '70s, but the personnel is certainly adequate for the music being played. In particular, "Slow Body Poppin'" contains a fine Larry Carlton-influenced solo by Dean Brown. The remake of "Stratus" was interesting, but does not do the original justice. This is recommended mostly for the Cobham faithful. ~ Robert Taylor, All Music Guide.

Billy Cobham - Fruit From The Loom (2007)

01.Cat in the Hat
02.Zanzibar Breeze
03.Samba Du Militaiesstrasse
04.Crosswind
05.Eggshells Still On My Head
06.Spectrum
07.Florianapolis
08.Thoughts from Okuta
09.Faia
10.Sweet Bocas
11.Clitter Clatter.

"Fruit From The Loom" is the first release from drummer Billy Cobham (under his own name) since the1998 release "Focused". It is intended to be the first of four releases in this music series in which Cobham will be revisiting the music he has created throughout his career as well as re-connecting with the musicians who helped him create his past sonic offerings. Some of the pieces he has re-worked for this release are Spectrum, Crosswinds, and the Grammy-nominated Zanzibar Breeze. Among the old friends Billy has invited to appear on this recording are: Ernie Watts (sax), Dave Samuels (vibraphone, marimba), Guy Barker (trumpet), Victor Bailey (bass), Brian Auger (organ) and guitarists Dean Brown & Jean-Marie Ecay. Past and current members of Culture Mix, Cobham's multi-national quintet round out the supporting cast. They include Stefan Rademacher (bass), Junior Gill (steel pan), Marco Lobo (percussion) and Christophe Cravero (piano). String flavors also color several of the tunes with violinists Johan Renard and Aurelien Guyot. Five members of the explosive Nigerian percussion ensemble, Okuta Percussion join Billy in a rhythmic tour-de-force on "Thoughts from Okuta". Some of the more recent compositions by Billy Cobham finally make their appearance on this studio recording like "Florianopolis", "Clitter Clatter", "Eggshells Still On My Head" and "Cat in the Hat". And of course, no Cobham solo album would be complete without a solo piece from the master himself which he calls "Sambu du Militairstrasse". As an added bonus, Mr. Cobham has personally hand signed every copy. This CD is currently only available at his concerts and thru Audiophile Imports.

Billy Cobham - Crosswinds (1974)

Billy Cobham - Crosswinds (1974)

1.Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait": Spanish Moss
2.Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait": Savannah the Serene
3.Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait": Storm
4.Spanish Moss - "A Sound Portrait": Flash Flood
5.The Pleasant Pheasant
6.Heather
7.Crosswind.


 

John Abercrombie - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Soloist
Michael Brecker - Horn, Woodwind, Soloist
Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Horn, Soloist
Garnett Brown - Trombone, Soloist
Billy Cobham - Percussion, Arranger, Drums, Orchestration, Photography, Soloist
George Duke - Keyboards, Vocals, Soloist
Lee Pastora - Percussion, Soloist, Latin PercussionJohn Williams - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Bass (Electric), Bass (Acoustic).

(Dedicado al "Flaco Gonzalo")