Billy Cobham's Crosswinds Project at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley |
More about the show:
Billy Cobham's Crosswinds Project
March 8, 7:30 p.m.
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle
Jazz fusion pioneer Billy Cobham is an internationally renowned drumming virtuoso, percussionist, composer, producer, educator and master clinician whose life has been dedicated to musical exploration and creative expression.
Since his birth on May 16, 1944, in Colón, Panama, Cobham has been surrounded by music. His father was a pianist, his mother was a singer, and his family members built percussion instruments for religious purposes.
After he completed his military service, Cobham began his performing career with jazz artists such as: Horace Silver, George Benson, Ron Carter, Thad Jones, Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott. In 1969, Cobham was a founding member of the band “Dreams,” which featured brothers Michael and Randy Brecker, along with Jeff Kent, Doug Lubahn, the late John Abercrombie, Barry Rogers, Eddie Vernon and later, Will Lee and Don Grolnick.
The following year, he was invited to join Miles Davis’ group and contributed to four pivotal recordings by the trumpeter, including Bitches Brew (where he collaborated with guitarist John McLaughlin) and Tribute to Jack Johnson.
In 1973, Cobham began leading his own groups and releasing his own albums, beginning with Spectrum, which unexpectedly became a sensational hit around the world. This breakthrough album is widely regarded as one of the most important, defining statements of the jazz-rock genre.
Throughout his career, Cobham has appeared on over 300 recordings, including those by pop and rock icons like Peter Gabriel, Quincy Jones, Jack Bruce, Bob Weir, and James Brown, and to date, has produced and released more than forty albums as a leader.
During the 1970s and '80s, Cobham recorded steadily as a band leader for Atlantic, CBS, Elektra, and GRP, collaborating with artists ranging from George Duke, John Scofield, and Airto Moreira to Jack Bruce and the Grateful Dead, both on stage and in-studio.
At the start of the new millennium, Cobham introduced "The Art of Jazz" series, recording and touring extensively first with the Art of 3 (with Kenny Barron and Ron Carter), then the Art of 4 (with Carter, Donald Harrison and James Williams) and the Art of 5 (with Harrison, Guy Barker, Eric Reed or Julian Joseph, and Orlando Le Fleming).
Since his birth on May 16, 1944, in Colón, Panama, Cobham has been surrounded by music. His father was a pianist, his mother was a singer, and his family members built percussion instruments for religious purposes.
After he completed his military service, Cobham began his performing career with jazz artists such as: Horace Silver, George Benson, Ron Carter, Thad Jones, Kenny Burrell, Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott. In 1969, Cobham was a founding member of the band “Dreams,” which featured brothers Michael and Randy Brecker, along with Jeff Kent, Doug Lubahn, the late John Abercrombie, Barry Rogers, Eddie Vernon and later, Will Lee and Don Grolnick.
The following year, he was invited to join Miles Davis’ group and contributed to four pivotal recordings by the trumpeter, including Bitches Brew (where he collaborated with guitarist John McLaughlin) and Tribute to Jack Johnson.
In 1973, Cobham began leading his own groups and releasing his own albums, beginning with Spectrum, which unexpectedly became a sensational hit around the world. This breakthrough album is widely regarded as one of the most important, defining statements of the jazz-rock genre.
Throughout his career, Cobham has appeared on over 300 recordings, including those by pop and rock icons like Peter Gabriel, Quincy Jones, Jack Bruce, Bob Weir, and James Brown, and to date, has produced and released more than forty albums as a leader.
During the 1970s and '80s, Cobham recorded steadily as a band leader for Atlantic, CBS, Elektra, and GRP, collaborating with artists ranging from George Duke, John Scofield, and Airto Moreira to Jack Bruce and the Grateful Dead, both on stage and in-studio.
At the start of the new millennium, Cobham introduced "The Art of Jazz" series, recording and touring extensively first with the Art of 3 (with Kenny Barron and Ron Carter), then the Art of 4 (with Carter, Donald Harrison and James Williams) and the Art of 5 (with Harrison, Guy Barker, Eric Reed or Julian Joseph, and Orlando Le Fleming).
He also produced Culture Mix featuring steel pan player Junior Gill, recording two albums with them for CMMC (with distribution through In and Out Records).
In 2002, Cobham collaborated with the Cuban group Asere at the WOMAD Festival in Reading, a rich collaboration that would continue for many years. He also recorded the CD, De Cuba y de Panama with Asere, and a DVD, A Latin Soul, directed by John Hollis, featuring Cobham and Asere performing together.
In 2003, Cobham reactivated Spectrum as a band that revisited the music of that genre-reinventing album, featuring Leland Sklar (the original bassist), Dean Brown (guitar) and Gary Husband (keyboards).
In 2002, Cobham collaborated with the Cuban group Asere at the WOMAD Festival in Reading, a rich collaboration that would continue for many years. He also recorded the CD, De Cuba y de Panama with Asere, and a DVD, A Latin Soul, directed by John Hollis, featuring Cobham and Asere performing together.
In 2003, Cobham reactivated Spectrum as a band that revisited the music of that genre-reinventing album, featuring Leland Sklar (the original bassist), Dean Brown (guitar) and Gary Husband (keyboards).
In 2013, Cobham celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of Spectrum CD by touring in USA, Canada and Europe with the Spectrum 40 Band. These performances were extremely well-received by longtime and next-generation fans.
Also that year, Purple Pyramid Records released the Billy Cobham Compass Point two-CD set, recorded live in New Providence, Bahamas, which features Gary Husband, Stefan Rademacher and Carl Orr.
In early 2014, Cobham released the much-anticipated Tales from the Skeleton Coast, which was the third installment of the four recordings produced as a commemoration and celebration of Cobham's mother and father.
Also that year, Purple Pyramid Records released the Billy Cobham Compass Point two-CD set, recorded live in New Providence, Bahamas, which features Gary Husband, Stefan Rademacher and Carl Orr.
In early 2014, Cobham released the much-anticipated Tales from the Skeleton Coast, which was the third installment of the four recordings produced as a commemoration and celebration of Cobham's mother and father.