B I L L Y C O B H A M
PERHAPS THE GREATEST DRUMMER
ON THE PLANET
Jazz fusion pioneer, drummer, percussionist, composer, and
bandleader Billy Cobham has for decades been respected as one of the
greatest drummer’s on the planet.
Born in Panama and brought up in Brooklyn, New York, Cobham got his first
paying gig at the age of eight as a member of St. Catherine’s Queensmen, a drum
and bugle corps in St. Albans, Queens. Billy attended New York’s renowned High
School of Music and Art, where he studied music theory and drum
technique.
While in the military (1965-1968), Cobham played with the U.S Army Band as percussionist. After the military, Cobham began working in Horace Silver’s Band. He also performed with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott, and recorded with George Benson.
In 1969, Billy Cobham co-founded the jazz-rock combo Dreams. The band featured Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie, Don Grolnick, Barry Rodgers, and Will Lee. The following year he was invited to join Miles Davis’ new fusion ensemble. Cobham contributed on … Live-Evil, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and the Bitches Brew sessions where he collaborated with guitarist John Mclaughlin.
In 1971, John Mclaughlin formed the jazz-fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra with Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, and Rick Laird. The original lineup released three critically-acclaimed albums … The Inner Mounting Flame (1971), Birds of Fire (1973), and Between Nothingness and Eternity (live album released in 1973).
In 1973, Billy Cobham released his debut solo album entitled Spectrum. The album was recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Cobham’s core lineup for the album featured guitar virtuoso Tommy Bolin, Jan Hammer on electric piano, moog synthesizer & piano and Lee Sklar on bass. The album featured an incredible mix of jazz, funk, and rock. The recording was hailed as one of the most important albums in the development of the jazz fusion genre and jazz rock era.
Also in 1973, Cobham toured with John Mclaughlin and Carlos Santana performing material from the Love Devotion Surrender album.
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.
While in the military (1965-1968), Cobham played with the U.S Army Band as percussionist. After the military, Cobham began working in Horace Silver’s Band. He also performed with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott, and recorded with George Benson.
In 1969, Billy Cobham co-founded the jazz-rock combo Dreams. The band featured Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie, Don Grolnick, Barry Rodgers, and Will Lee. The following year he was invited to join Miles Davis’ new fusion ensemble. Cobham contributed on … Live-Evil, A Tribute to Jack Johnson and the Bitches Brew sessions where he collaborated with guitarist John Mclaughlin.
In 1971, John Mclaughlin formed the jazz-fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra with Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, and Rick Laird. The original lineup released three critically-acclaimed albums … The Inner Mounting Flame (1971), Birds of Fire (1973), and Between Nothingness and Eternity (live album released in 1973).
In 1973, Billy Cobham released his debut solo album entitled Spectrum. The album was recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Cobham’s core lineup for the album featured guitar virtuoso Tommy Bolin, Jan Hammer on electric piano, moog synthesizer & piano and Lee Sklar on bass. The album featured an incredible mix of jazz, funk, and rock. The recording was hailed as one of the most important albums in the development of the jazz fusion genre and jazz rock era.
Also in 1973, Cobham toured with John Mclaughlin and Carlos Santana performing material from the Love Devotion Surrender album.
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 UNISEF to work with autistic
outpatients and street children in Santos, Brazil in a musical project.
Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology, 2- CD retrospective was released in 2001.
Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology, 2- CD retrospective was released in 2001.
In 2002, Billy Cobham began releasing a series of CD’s with
special guest artists entitled … Drum n Voice.
By 2005, Cobham had recorded and released over 30 recordings under his name.
By 2005, Cobham had recorded and released over 30 recordings under his name.
In 2013, Billy Cobham celebrated the 40th anniversary of the
release of Spectrum CD by touring in USA, 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 marked the release of the much-anticipated "Tales from the Skeleton Coast", which is the third installment of the four recordings produced as a commemoration and celebration of Cobham's mother and father, both of whom were musicians.
In the summer of 2014, Cobham released a live CD recording from the celebrated
Spectrum 40 tours, which dazzled audiences around the world in commemoration of
the 40th anniversary of Spectrum CD, the defining album of the jazz-fusion
genre. (Spectrum 40 LIVE)
Jazz-fusion pioneer Billy Cobham will bring his highly
acclaimed Art of the Rhythm Section Retreat back to the Mesa Arts Center for
its second year, offering an immersive educational program for drummers,
bassists, guitarists and keyboard players. In the words of program founder
Billy Cobham, “The unique format of the program allows participants to explore
and expand their artistry, develop and refine their band and focus on the all-important
elements of teamwork and collaboration, so that all types of instrumentalists
can benefit and learn from the perspective of each one of our coaches.”
The Retreat will also offer a musician enrichment program,
“Social Media on Steroids conducted by marketing expert Dan Shinder, to help
musicians better leverage social media in promoting their music and their
brands.
The Billy Cobham Art of the Rhythm Section Retreat culminates
with a special
Saturday night performance with Billy and the Spectrum 40 Band
at the Mesa Arts
Center on Saturday, July 22, 2017 in the Piper Theatre at
7:30 pm. Enrollment for the program is now open, with spaces limited
for each of the four Instrument categories of drums, guitar, bass and keyboards.
For more information and to register, visit: www.billycobhamretreat.com
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The Billy Cobham Art of the
Rhythm Section Retreat Enrollment for the program is now open, with spaces
limited for each of the four Instrument categories of drums, guitar, bass and
keyboards.
For more information and to register, visit: www.billycobhamretreat.com
For more
information about Billy Cobham and very latest news and concert dates visit … www.billycobham.com
Billy Cobham on
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… www.facebook.com/officialbillycobham
Billy Cobham on
Twitter
…Billy Cobham @gladbash
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