Spectrum [Digipak] - Billy Cobham > Reviews > Crazy funky jazz, what a choice of musicians!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Amazing collaboration, so funky
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This album is truly awesome, showing some of the best guitar and drum work in the 70's in one go. Here legendary Panamanian American drummer Billy Cobham who had previously worked with Mile Davis records the album with guitarist Tommy Bolin (Zephyr, Moxy, Deep Purple etc) and keyboard player Jan Hammer who had previously worked with Cobham and McLaughlin in Mahavishnu Orchestra combine to come up with one of the funkiest albums I have ever heard.

I'm a big Tommy Bolin fan, so naturally had to check the album out. Supposedly Tommy was informed what he had to do and the album was finished in 2 days, I'd be amazed if this legend was actually true because the work is quite intricate and the album is often considered to be Billy Cobham's best work.

I've dug out a link from youtube which might encourage you to buy it, the song is Stratus, by no means as good as the track Red Baron but an awesome song all the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpluKxftc6w

If you've had a listen, you'll undoubtedly be appreciating the funkyness that sounds like Alex the Kidd playing Tetris at light speed on drugs in a jungle! This is a theme throughout the album and undoubtedly some of if not the most experimental jazz and music of the early 70s. Quadrant 4 is another big winner with me, for some reason I picture Big Bird from Sesame Street waltzing with the cast of Pigeon Street, it's all quite weird and not a single musician lets themselves down, completely superb fusion!

Artists:

Billy Cobham - Percussion
Tommy Bolin - Guitar
Jan Hammer - Electric piano, Acoustic piano, & Moog synthesizer
Lee Sklar - Fender bass
Joe Farrell - Flute, Soprano sax, & Alto sax
Jimmy Owens - Flugelhorn & Trumpet
John Tropea - Guitar
Ron Carter - Acoustic bass
Ray Barretto - Congas

Track List

Quadrant 4
Searching For the Right Door
Spectrum
Anxiety
Taurian Matador
Stratus
To the Women of My Life
Le Lis
Snoopy's Search
Red Baron