BILLY COBHAM - DRUMMER - radio vinilemania web-radio Latin - Jazz

DRUMMER

Born in Panama, Cobham's family moved to New York City during his early childhood. A drummer from his youth, Cobham attended New York's High School of Music and Art, graduating in 1962.

He played in a U.S. Army Band from 1965 to 1968. Following his discharge, Cobham joined the group of pianist Horace Silver for about a year, also playing or recording with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, organist Shirley Scott, and guitarist George Benson

Cobham branched out to jazz fusion, which blended elements of jazz, rock and roll and funk, playing with the Brecker Brothers and guitarist John Abercrombie before recording and touring extensively with trumpeter Miles Davis. Cobham's work with Davis appears on Live-Evil and A Tribute to Jack Johnson, among other recordings. Cobham is also one of the first drummers to play open handed lead: a drummer that can lead (or ride) with either hand and begin or end a beat or fill with either hand (most drummers lead with 1 hand). He was also one of the first drummers to play with 3 or more bass drums and multiple hi-hats.

The preface to his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra was his work on guitarist John McLaughlin's album My Goal's Beyond.

In 1971, with fellow Davis alumnus McLaughlin , Cobham co-founded Mahavishnu Orchestra, a definitive jazz fusion ensemble. Cobham toured extensively from 1971 to 1973 with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, who released two studio albums and one live album. The original studio versions of tunes on the live album were later released as The Lost Trident Sessions in 1999.

In May 1973, while still with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cobham recorded his first solo album Spectrum, with musicians including keyboardist Jan Hammer, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and guitarist Tommy Bolin, who later played with heavy rock band Deep Purple. Just before the Mahavishnu Orchestra's last touring leg, in late 1973, Cobham recorded and toured with guitarists Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin, in concerts which featured material from their album Love Devotion Surrender, and Cobham's own material.

In the 1970s, Cobham recorded extensively for the fusion-oriented CTI Records, founded by producer Creed Taylor.

In 1980, he worked with Jack Bruce, in a band called Jack Bruce & Friends. In 1994, he joined an all-star cast at the Greek Theatre (in LA) and the results appeared on Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham, Najee and Deron Johnson LIVE AT THE GREEK. The concert was predominantly Clarke's music but all the musicians contributed material.

A number of solo albums followed (as of July 2005, Cobham has released over 30 recordings under his own name), and continues to record, perform and teach.

In 2006, Cobham released Drum n voice 2. This was a return to the 1970s jazz-funk sound, with guests such as: Jan Hammer, Buddy Miles, John Patitucci, Jeff Berlin, Dominic Miller, Mike Lindup, Airto Moreira, Frank Gambale, Brian Auger, Guy Barker and the band Novecento. The CD was produced and arranged by Pino and Lino Nicolosi for Nicolosi productions.

Billy was announced as a patron and visiting artist of top London drum college 'Drumtech' in June 2008. Source http://www.wikipedia.org/

VIDEOS

BILLY COBHAM, HERBIE HANCOCK AND RON CARTER - JAZZ PERFORMANCE

BILLY COBHAM - TAURIAN MATADOR

BILLY COBHAM - CROSSWINDS

BILLY COBHAM - DRUM SOLO

BILLY COBHAM - DRUM 'N' VOICE 2 (2006)

Brian Auger (hammond organ)

Buddy Miles (voice)

Frank Gambale (el.guit.)

Mike Lindup (voice)

Dominic Miller (guitars)