Billy Cobham
Billy Cobham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Billy "No Meter" Cobham
Cobham performing at WOMAD, July, 2005
Background information
Birth name
William E. Cobham
Born
16 May 1944 (1944-05-16) (age 66)
Panama
Genres
Jazz, jazz fusion, bebop, funk, progressive rock, rock and roll, soul
Occupations
Musician, songwriter, bandleader, instructor
Instruments
Drums, percussion
Years active
1968 - Present
Labels
Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, Elektra, GRP
Associated acts
Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jack Bruce, New York Jazz Quartet, Jazz Is Dead, Bobby and the Midnites
Website
Official website
William C. Cobham (born May 16, 1944 in Panama), is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970's. [1]
Coming to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cobham is, in the words of Steve Huey, "generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer with an influential style that combines explosive power and exacting precision.[1]
Contents
[hide]
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
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.[1]
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.[1]
[edit] Jazz fusion work
Cobham branched out to jazz fusion, which blended elements of jazz, rock and roll and funk, playing and recording with the Brecker Brothers (notably on their 1970-founded group Dreams), and guitarist John Abercrombie, before recording and touring extensively with trumpeter Miles Davis. Cobham's work with Davis appears on 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 snare and/or bass drums and multiple hi-hats[citation needed].
The preface to his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra was his work on guitarist John McLaughlin's album My Goal's Beyond.[1]
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 keyboardist Jan Hammer, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, guitarist Tommy Bolin, who later played with heavy rock band Deep Purple, and bassist Lee Sklar. 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. As band leader and composer, Cobham recorded a number of other ground-breaking fusion records during the 70's, Total Eclipse, Funky Thide of Sings, and Crosswinds. You can also hear his 70's playing well represented on George Duke & Billy Cobham European Tour Live. It was on this tour that Billy reported (in a Down Beat interview) experiencing astral projection during shows, wherein he found himself hovering above and in front of his drums, watching himself play ideas he'd never thought of or executed previously.
In the 1970s, Cobham recorded extensively for the fusion-oriented CTI Records, founded by producer Creed Taylor.
During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet.
[edit] 1980s work and later
Baku Jazz Festival 2007
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. In 1998, he joined up with Grateful Dead cover band Jazz Is Dead.
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 including 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.[2][3]
Billy was announced as a patron and visiting artist of top London drum college Drumtech in June 2008[4].
Billy Cobham performing on Réunion in October 2006
In 2009, Cobham released Drum n voice 3. Guests included Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, George Duke, Alex Acuna, Bob Mintzer, Brian Auger, John Scofield and Novecento. The CD was produced and arranged by Pino and Lino Nicolosi for Nicolosi productions.
Billy Cobham performed with John McLaughlin at the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland, on Friday, July 2, 2010, for the first time since the band split up.
As of March 2010, Cobham had begun working on a new project with acclaimed Jordanian guitarist Kamal Musallam.[5]
[edit] Sampling
He has been sampled by Massive Attack in their tune "Safe from Harm", centered on the beat and bassline of Cobham's "Stratus", from his debut album Spectrum; by Souls of Mischief's "93 'til Infinity", based on the bassline and keyboards of "Heather", from 1974's Crosswinds, and by DJ Shadow on "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain",[6] which uses elements of "A Funky Kind of Thing" from 1975's A Funky Thide of Sings. Cobham is also covered extensively by "hyperfunk" jam-band RAQ.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Billy Cobham discography
[edit] Filmography
- 2002: Glass Menagerie
- 2004: Live Palais des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989
- 2005: Billy Cobham - Culturemix: New Morning Paris Concert
- 2005: Billy Cobham - Drums for the Soul - Solo Concert - Drums and Percussion Paderborn
- 2005: Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Live in Riazzino
- 2007: Billy Cobham Live At 60
- 2007: Cobham Meets Bellson
- 2007: Cobham: Crosswinds
- 2009: Live in Cannes
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e allmusic Billy Cobham Biography
- ^ Nicolosi Productions
- ^ http://www.nicolosiproductions.com/Billy-Cobham-tour.gif
- ^ Billy Cobham Becomes a Patron - Official Drumtech website
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309467554636 Billy Cobham, Kamal Musallam & Friends on Facebook
- ^ Search
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Billy Cobham
- Billy Cobham Homepage
- Billy Cobham management
- Interview with Billy Cobham
- Billy Cobham Drummerworld.com Page
[hide]
Mahavishnu Orchestra
John McLaughlin • Jan Hammer • Jerry Goodman • Rick Laird • Billy Cobham • Gayle Moran • Jean-Luc Ponty • Ralphe Armstrong • Narada Michael Walden • Danny Gottlieb • Stu Goldberg • Mitchel Forman • Bill Evans • Jim Beard • Jonas Hellborg
Studio albums
The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) • Birds of Fire (1972) • Apocalypse (1974) • Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1975) • Inner Worlds (1976) • Mahavishnu (1984) • Adventures in Radioland (1986) • The Lost Trident Sessions (1999, recorded 1973)
Compilations
The Best of Mahavishnu Orchestra (1980) • The Collection (1994)
Live albums
Related subjects
| Billy "No Meter" Cobham | |
|---|---|
 Cobham performing at WOMAD, July, 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William E. Cobham |
| Born | 16 May 1944 (1944-05-16) (age 66) Panama |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, bebop, funk, progressive rock, rock and roll, soul |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, bandleader, instructor |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1968 - Present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Columbia, CTI, Elektra, GRP |
| Associated acts | Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jack Bruce, New York Jazz Quartet, Jazz Is Dead, Bobby and the Midnites |
| Website | Official website |
William C. Cobham (born May 16, 1944 in Panama), is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970's. [1]
Coming to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cobham is, in the words of Steve Huey, "generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer with an influential style that combines explosive power and exacting precision.[1]
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career
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.[1]
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.[1]
[edit] Jazz fusion work
Cobham branched out to jazz fusion, which blended elements of jazz, rock and roll and funk, playing and recording with the Brecker Brothers (notably on their 1970-founded group Dreams), and guitarist John Abercrombie, before recording and touring extensively with trumpeter Miles Davis. Cobham's work with Davis appears on 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 snare and/or bass drums and multiple hi-hats[citation needed].
The preface to his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra was his work on guitarist John McLaughlin's album My Goal's Beyond.[1]
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 keyboardist Jan Hammer, from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, guitarist Tommy Bolin, who later played with heavy rock band Deep Purple, and bassist Lee Sklar. 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. As band leader and composer, Cobham recorded a number of other ground-breaking fusion records during the 70's, Total Eclipse, Funky Thide of Sings, and Crosswinds. You can also hear his 70's playing well represented on George Duke & Billy Cobham European Tour Live. It was on this tour that Billy reported (in a Down Beat interview) experiencing astral projection during shows, wherein he found himself hovering above and in front of his drums, watching himself play ideas he'd never thought of or executed previously.
In the 1970s, Cobham recorded extensively for the fusion-oriented CTI Records, founded by producer Creed Taylor.
During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet.
[edit] 1980s work and later
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. In 1998, he joined up with Grateful Dead cover band Jazz Is Dead.
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 including 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.[2][3]
Billy was announced as a patron and visiting artist of top London drum college Drumtech in June 2008[4].
In 2009, Cobham released Drum n voice 3. Guests included Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, George Duke, Alex Acuna, Bob Mintzer, Brian Auger, John Scofield and Novecento. The CD was produced and arranged by Pino and Lino Nicolosi for Nicolosi productions.
Billy Cobham performed with John McLaughlin at the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland, on Friday, July 2, 2010, for the first time since the band split up.
As of March 2010, Cobham had begun working on a new project with acclaimed Jordanian guitarist Kamal Musallam.[5]
[edit] Sampling
He has been sampled by Massive Attack in their tune "Safe from Harm", centered on the beat and bassline of Cobham's "Stratus", from his debut album Spectrum; by Souls of Mischief's "93 'til Infinity", based on the bassline and keyboards of "Heather", from 1974's Crosswinds, and by DJ Shadow on "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain",[6] which uses elements of "A Funky Kind of Thing" from 1975's A Funky Thide of Sings. Cobham is also covered extensively by "hyperfunk" jam-band RAQ.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Filmography
- 2002: Glass Menagerie
- 2004: Live Palais des Festivals Hall Cannes 1989
- 2005: Billy Cobham - Culturemix: New Morning Paris Concert
- 2005: Billy Cobham - Drums for the Soul - Solo Concert - Drums and Percussion Paderborn
- 2005: Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Live in Riazzino
- 2007: Billy Cobham Live At 60
- 2007: Cobham Meets Bellson
- 2007: Cobham: Crosswinds
- 2009: Live in Cannes
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e allmusic Billy Cobham Biography
- ^ Nicolosi Productions
- ^ http://www.nicolosiproductions.com/Billy-Cobham-tour.gif
- ^ Billy Cobham Becomes a Patron - Official Drumtech website
- ^ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=309467554636 Billy Cobham, Kamal Musallam & Friends on Facebook
- ^ Search
[edit] External links
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Billy Cobham |
- Billy Cobham Homepage
- Billy Cobham management
- Interview with Billy Cobham
- Billy Cobham Drummerworld.com Page
| |||||||||||||||||
Hi Billy
You are the best on the "cueros" man!!!!
Reply to this
Haha, I love Billy's nickname, "No Meter." This guy is so talented. I listen to a lot of his stuff from the 70's, especially the New York Jazz Quartet.
-Brenda T.
Reply to this
This man is a really special soul, thanks Brenda.
I have the chance to share with him and his beautiful wife. What a Overdose of fun that night.
Reply to this
While going through this post I felt that you have done a lot of research on the topic, I appreciate your efforts and glad that I found your blog. Keep posting such informative content.
Reply to this
Hi, I found your post really helpful. It helped me all the way in completing my assignment, I am also giving a referance link of your blog in my case study. Thanks for posting such informative content. Keep posting.
Reply to this
How do I subscribe to your blog? I do not see RSS
Reply to this
Where can I find more information on the topic of this article?
Reply to this
When it was summer come?
Reply to this
What is CMS??
Reply to this
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is without a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
Reply to this
Hi, Thanks for sharing such a wonderful piece of information. I must say that while reading your post I found my thoughts in agreement with the topic that you have discussed, which happens very rare.
Reply to this
The German mind has a talent for making no mistakes but the very greatest.
Reply to this
From a monarchy followed by suffering under Communism, Ethiopians must be given the opportunity to flourish under the greatest of systems - democracy.
Reply to this
Really appreciate this post. It’s hard to sort the good from the bad sometimes, but I think you’ve nailed it .
Reply to this
Many thanks for taking this chance to speak about this, Personally i think strongly regarding it and I make use of learning about this subject. When possible, as you gain data, please update this website with new information. I’ve found it extremely useful.
My blog is about [url=http://healthyrecipeforweightloss.blogspot.com]Healthy recipes[/url].
Reply to this
I wanted to thank you yet again for this amazing web-site you have designed here. It’s full of ideas for those who are definitely interested in this subject, especially this very post. You’re really all absolutely sweet and thoughtful of others plus reading your blog posts is a superb delight if you ask me. And what a generous gift! Ben and I are going to have fun making use of your points in what we should instead do next week. Our list is a mile long and tips might be put to good use.
Welcome to my blog : [url=http://www.neckbackpainrelief.org]Neck pain relief[/url]
Reply to this
I completely agree with the above comment, the internet is without a doubt growing into the most important medium of communication across the globe and its due to sites like this that ideas are spreading so quickly.
Reply to this
I happen to enter your blog with the help of Google search. To my sheer luck I got what I was searching for. Thanks
Reply to this
Amazing!I also wish him good luck to defend his gold medal. I like to share it with all my friends and hope they will also encourage him.
Reply to this
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me.
Reply to this
I also wish him good luck to defend his gold medal. I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Reply to this
Thanks for the knowledge on.......
Reply to this
A very useful post I must say
Reply to this
Your post was very nice
Reply to this
I was just thinking about Real Estate Auction and you've really helped out. Thanks!
Reply to this
Really its a good news. I am very interested for this post. This side will be help all of us. Thanks.
Reply to this
Personally i think strongly regarding it and I make use of learning about this subject.
Reply to this
Is a cool blog here,congratulation for it.Keep up these standards and you will have more and more visitors!
Reply to this