Billy Cobham

Instrument: 
Instruments: 
Drums
Genre: 
Jazz, Fusion
Origin: 
United States
Territories: 
Europe excl. IT
Availability: 
2023: may, jul

Born in Panama on May 16, 1944, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Cobham got his first paid gig at the age of eight as a member of St. Catherine's Queensmen, a drum and bugle corps in St. Albans, Queens. He attended New York's renowned Fiorella H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, where he studied music theory and drum technique.
While in the military from 1965 to 1968, Cobham played with the U.S. Army Band as percussionist. After his service, he played in Horace Silver's Band, performed with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott, and recorded with George Benson.

In 1969, Billy Cobham co-founded the jazz-rock combo, Dreams, which included Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie, Don Grolnick, Barry Rodgers, and Will Lee. The following year, he joined Miles Davis' new fusion ensemble, and contributed to Live-Evil, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and the Bitches Brew sessions, where he collaborated with guitarist John McLaughlin.

In 1971, Cobham became a founding member of the jazz-fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra, along with McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, and Rick Laird. This original group released three critically acclaimed albums: The Inner Mounting (1971), Birds of Fire (1973) and Between Nothingness and Eternity (live album released in 1973).

In 1973, Cobham released his debut solo album, Spectrum, a breakthrough in jazz-fusion that is universally recognized as one of the genre's most significant and influential creations. Spectrum was recorded at Iimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Cobham's lineup for the album featured Tommy Bolin on guitar, Jan Hammer on electric piano, moog synthesizer & piano and Lee Sklar on bass.
Also in 1973, Cobham toured with John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana, performing material from the album, Love Devotion Surrender.

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In 1974, the original lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra disbanded. Cobham continued to create innovative fusion material with the release of Crosswind (1974), Shabaz, (1974) Total Eclipse (1974), A Funky Thide of Sings (1975) and Life and Times (1976).

During the 70's and 80's, Cobham recorded for Atlantic, CBS, Elektra, and GRP. He collaborated with George Duke, John Scofield, Tony Williams, Jack Bruce, and The Grateful Dead spinoff band Bobby & the Midnites.

In 1992, Cobham was appointed to work with UNICEF to work with autistic outpatients and street children in Santos, Brazil in a musical project that lasted for several years.

In 2001, Cobham released the two-CD retrospective, Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology. In 2002, he began releasing a series of CD's featuring special artists, entitled Drum n Voice.

By 2005, Cobham had recorded and released over 30 recordings under his name. He developed and enjoyed a special musical collaboration with the Cuban group, Asere.

In 2007, he released Fruit from the Loom, which is a wide-ranging representation of Cobham's roots and journeys. In 2010, Cobham released Palindrome, the second installment from the Fruit from the Loom series.

In 2011, Cobham began teaching drums online at The Jazz & Fusion Drum School with Billy Cobham.

In 2013, Cobham celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of Spectrum by touring the U.S., Canada and Europe with the Spectrum 40 Band. Also that year, Purple Pyramid Records released the Billy Cobham Compass Point two-CD set, recorded live at Compass Point Hotel in the Bahamas in 1997, which was never released before.

Early 2014 marks the release of the much-anticipated "Tales from the Skeleton Coast", which is the third installment of four recordings produced as a commemoration and celebration of Cobham's mother and father, both of whom were musicians. In his words, "Tales from the Skeleton Coast reflects life experiences that I shared with my parents that I hold dear in my heart and mind, including impressions instilled in me while touring the region of what was previously called southwestern Africa but is now known as Namibia. The images of the Skeleton Coast in particular, still burn within me and through the music, I've created a sonic reflection of those cherished experiences.

In 1974, the original lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra disbanded. Cobham continued to create innovative fusion material with the release of Crosswind (1974), Shabaz, (1974) Total Eclipse (1974), A Funky Thide of Sings (1975) and Life and Times (1976).

During the 70's and 80's, Cobham recorded for Atlantic, CBS, Elektra, and GRP. He collaborated with George Duke, John Scofield, Tony Williams, Jack Bruce, and The Grateful Dead spinoff band Bobby & the Midnites.

In 1992, Cobham was appointed to work with UNICEF to work with autistic outpatients and street children in Santos, Brazil in a musical project that lasted for several years.

In 2001, Cobham released the two-CD retrospective, Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology. In 2002, he began releasing a series of CD's featuring special artists, entitled Drum n Voice.

By 2005, Cobham had recorded and released over 30 recordings under his name. He developed and enjoyed a special musical collaboration with the Cuban group, Asere.

In 2007, he released Fruit from the Loom, which is a wide-ranging representation of Cobham's roots and journeys. In 2010, Cobham released Palindrome, the second installment from the Fruit from the Loom series.

In 2011, Cobham began teaching drums online at The Jazz & Fusion Drum School with Billy Cobham.

In 2013, Cobham celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of Spectrum by touring the U.S., Canada and Europe with the Spectrum 40 Band. Also that year, Purple Pyramid Records released the Billy Cobham Compass Point two-CD set, recorded live at Compass Point Hotel in the Bahamas in 1997, which was never released before.

Early 2014 marks the release of the much-anticipated "Tales from the Skeleton Coast", which is the third installment of four recordings produced as a commemoration and celebration of Cobham's mother and father, both of whom were musicians. In his words, "Tales from the Skeleton Coast reflects life experiences that I shared with my parents that I hold dear in my heart and mind, including impressions instilled in me while touring the region of what was previously called southwestern Africa but is now known as Namibia. The images of the Skeleton Coast in particular, still burn within me and through the music, I've created a sonic reflection of those cherished experiences.

1970-1980
Spectrum (Atlantic Records)
Crosswinds (WEA)
Total Eclipse (WEA)
Shabazz (WEA)
A Funky Thide Of Sings (WEA)
Life and Times (WEA)
Cobham/Duke Live (WEA)
Magic (WEA)
Inner Conflicts (WEA)
Simplicity of Expression - Depth of Thought
B.C (very rare)
Anthology (Rhinophonic)

1980-1990
Flight Time (InAkustik)
Stratus (InAkustik)
Observations & Reflections (Elektra/Musician)
Smokin (Elektra/Musician)
Warning (GRP Records)
Power Play (Eagle Records)
Picture This (Eagle Records)
Incoming (K-tel)

1990-2000
By Design (Finac)
The Traveler (101 South Records)
Nordic (Rhythmatix Records)
Nordic / Off Color (Eagle Rock)
Focused (Eagle Records)
Mississippi Nights Live (Wenlock)
Ensemble New Hope Street (Eagle Records)
North By NorthWest (Creative MultiMedia Concepts)
Paradox - Paradox (Enja)
Paradox - First/Second (Enja)
Best Of (Atlantic)

2000 - today
Live in Rome (Audio Records)
Art Of Three (In And Out Records)
Culture Mix (In And Out Records)
Billy Cobhams Culture Mix - Colours (In And Out Records)
The Art Of Four (In And Out Records)
North by Northwest (Nicolosi Productions)
Drum and Voice ( Nicolosi Production - Just Groove)
Meeting of the Spirits (In And Out Records)
Drum'n'voice 2 (Nicolosi Production - Just Groove)
The Art Of Five (In And Out Records)
Fruit From The Loom ( CMMC Records)
Drum'n'voice 3 (Nicolosi Production - Soul Trade)
Palindrome (BHM Productions)
Live in Leverkusen (BHM Productions GmbH)
Compass Point (Purple Pyramid a division of Cleopatra
Tales from the Skeleton Coast
Time Lapse Photos
Tierra Del Fuego

“Billy Cobham set a new benchmark for fusion drumming, marrying jaw-dropping jazz-honed dexterity with pulverizing rock power”
-
Rolling Stone

BILLY COBHAM´S SPECTRUM BAND celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary album release

Billy Cobham – drums
Dean Brown – guitar
Gary Husband – keys
Michael Mondesir – bass

availability: 2023: May, Jul

BILLY COBHAM BAND:
Billy Cobham will present his new record "Tierra Del Fuego", which will complete his 4-CD Box Set that he began 10 years ago.

feat.
Michael Mondesir - bass
Steve Hamilton - keyboards
Camelia Ben Naceur or Nikki Yeoh - keyboards
David Dunsmuir - guitar

availability: 2023: Jul, Oct

28
Apr
2023
Kaunas National Drama Theater
Kaunas
Lithuania
29
Apr
2023
April Jazzfestival
Espoo
Finland
10
May
2023
Maijazz
Stavanger
Norway
11
May
2023
Arendal Jazzklubb
Arendal
Norway
12
May
2023
Nasjonal Jazzscene
Oslo
Norway
13
May
2023
Trondheim Jazzfest
Trondheim
Norway
15
May
2023
Elbphilharmonie
Hamburg
Germany
16
May
2023
Kesselhaus
Berlin
Germany
17
May
2023
Goldener Saal
Schwerin
Germany
18
May
2023
The Stoller Hall
Manchester
United Kingdom
23
May
2023
Cave Bernunes
Sierre
Switzerland
24
May
2023
New Morning
Paris
France
09
Jul
2023
Schloss Neuhardenberg
Neuhardenberg
Germany
15
Jul
2023
Zappanale Festival
Bad Doberan
Germany
27
Jul
2023
Konzertmuschel der Trinkkuranlage
Bad Nauheim
Germany