Billy Cobham – Spectrum (1973/2016)
Artist: Billy Cobham
Album: Spectrum
Genre: Jazz Rock / Fusion
Label: Audio Fidelity
Year Of Release: 1973/2016
Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Tracklist:
1. Quadrant 4 (4:20)
2. Searching For The Right Door / Spectrum (6:33)
– a. Searching For The Right Door (1:24)
– b. Spectrum (5:09)
3. Anxiety / Taurian Matador (4:44)
– a. Anxiety (1:41)
– b. Taurian Matador (3:03)
4. Stratus (9:50)
5. To The Women In My Life / Le Lis (4:11)
– a. To The Women In My Life (0:51)
– b. Le Lis (3:20)
6. Snoopy’s Search / Red Baron (7:39)
– a. Snoopy’s Search (1:02)
– b. Red Baron (6:37)
Personnel:
– Billy Cobham / percussion, Moog synth drum (4,6b), producer
With:
– Tommy Bolin / guitar
– John Tropea / guitar (5b)
– Jan Hammer / electric & acoustic piano, Moog synthesizer
– Joe Farrell / flute (2b), soprano (2b) & alto (5b) saxophones
– Jimmy Owens / flugelhorn (2b,5b), trumpet (5b)
– Lee Sklar / Fender bass
– Ron Carter / acoustic bass (2b,5b)
– Ray Barretto / congas (2b,5b)
Drummer Billy Cobham was fresh from his success with the Mahavishnu Orchestra when he recorded his debut album, which is still his best. Most of the selections showcase Cobham in a quartet with keyboardist Jan Hammer, guitarist Tommy Bolin, and electric bassist Lee Sklar. Two other numbers include Joe Farrell on flute and soprano and trumpeter Jimmy Owens with guitarist John Tropea, Hammer, bassist Ron Carter, and Ray Barretto on congas. The generally high-quality compositions (which include “Red Baron”) make this fusion set a standout, a strong mixture of rock-ish rhythms and jazz improvising.
Review by Scott Yanow
