Billy Cobham

green glass drum said:
Oh man....you got me started on a Cobham Voyage....and there is this version/medley of "Firebird Suite" by Stravinsky and "Birds of Fire" by Don Sebesky with an all-star Orchestra......of course with Billy on the drum......THIS is REALLY GOOD.
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Always loved this track...

Billy was basically one of the "house drummers" of the CTI label - playing on many many releases by a bunch of the label's artists. So even though he of course played the original recording of Birds of Fire - it always struck me that his approach here was as though he hadn't played on the original - but to rather function as the CTI house drummer, filling his normal role of interpreting the original. Thus the obviously purposeful choice of not play double bass drum - just approaching like he would on any other CTI session.

To me - a great lesson in there never only being one way to approach a song.
 
There are many records already from the 60´s with Horace Silver and Turrentine, etc... As a CTI guy a ton too, being one of my favorites "Sunflower", but there are so many...

Billy Cobham Alex 1985 Mejor.jpg

 
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Now that’s a “chamber performance” I’d pay to experience.
 
Happy birthday to one of the greatest!
Here's an awesome clip from him with Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Check out the whole thing of course, but I love the 7:30 mark especially!

 
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