Billy Cobham – Crosswind
Billy Cobham
Listen/Download Billy Cobham – Crosswind
Greetings all
I hope the middle of the week finds you well.
Back in the day when I was but a longhaired troglodyte learning to beat my drum set into submission, the name Billy Cobham seemed to pop up a lot.
Cobham was one of the preeminent jazz rock/fusion drummers of the 60s/70s/80s (and beyond) and his impressive flash made a dent in the heads of those of us that had an adolescent obsession with technique and speed.
This is not to suggest that was all Cobham had going for him, but rather that it was all kids like me were paying attention to.
Cobham, who had been born in Panama, got his start working with hard bop and soul jazz outfits like those of Horace Silver and Shirley Scott, before coming to prominence in Miles Davis’s electric bands of the early 70s.
Later on (much later), as a collector of and listener to things funky, I began to see (and hear) the drummers (and bands) of the fusion/funky jazz era in a new light.
Someone –I don’t recall who – hepped me to the 45 of the track you see before you today, 1974’s ‘Crosswind’, and I dug it.
I eventually got my hands on the LP (still haven’t copped the 45) of the same-ish (the album is called ‘Crosswinds’) and discovered that there was a lot to like.
The funky ‘Crosswind’ is presented at 45-length, and features some groovy electric piano by George Duke and some wild guitar by John Abercrombie.
The overall sound manages to catch fusion when it was still funky and had yet to descend into a swamp of masturbatory soloing.
Interestingly, ‘Crosswind’ was also recorded in an excellent version by one of Woody Herman’s mid-70s bands (featured in this space back in 2012).
You can pick up the LP Crosswinds
I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Friday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).
Themocracy
Billy Cobham comes to town and plays in a Jazz trio with Ron Carter on bass. I got to meet him at the Blue Note Billy is still pretty angry how he was treated by Maha Vishnu John mcLaughlin_
Cobham’s “Crosswinds” & “Spectrum” are two of my all-time fave albums for fusion/funk. Excellent disciplined playing, none of the excesses of most fusion; and the funkiest grooves this side of Hancock’s Headhunters. I think he took the best ideas of Miles & Mahavishnu and perfected them! Great post, Larry