Jazz Articles about Billy Cobham

Charles Earland: Intensity

by AAJ Staff
September 1, 1999

You hear it at once: a different sound, not always for the better. The music was changing, and Charles Earland joined his easy groove to the lush CTI sound so popular at the time. Results vary: the Burner is hot but too many horns spoil the brew. Take “Goin' Home": a rock guitar crashes through the left speaker, and Charles steps coolly behind him. Now he works the chords for warm strength: the feel of his Black Talk! album. But ...

Charles Earland: Intensity

by Douglas Payne
August 1, 1999

For 1972's Intensity, Charles Earland's fifth of ten Prestige discs, the Mighty Burner seemed to be aiming toward something a little different than his usual collection of soulful tenor-organ jams. The presence of two songs from the rock group Chicago and a small trumpet-dominated horn section indicate that jazz-rock was the goal. The result, the LP's four original tracks plus two tracks from the same date originally released as part of Charles III, is one of his very best.

Billy Cobham: Focused

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 1999

Jazz, Fusion pioneer Billy Cobham returns with a new band and a new look, featuring the electronic or digitally treated trumpet work of Randy Brecker. Cobham, as the liners suggest places a strong emphasis on composition and tight-knit ensemble work.

Other than his now legendary work with John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, his early 1970’s recording “Spectrum” which featured guitarist Tommy Bolin and keyboard whiz Jan Hammer is considered a modern day “fusion” classic. On “Focused”, Cobham and trumpet great Randy ...