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| Billy Cobham Launches Unreleased 1997 Live Album 'Compass Point' In 1997, legendary jazz/fusion drummer Billy Cobham flew to New Providence in the Bahamas for a series of performances at the world famous Compass Point Hotel. Joined by his stellar jazz quartet including guitarist Carl Orr, keyboardist Gary Husband, and bassist Stefan Rademacher, the group recorded a set of all new compositions and improvisations. However, plagued by a series of troublesome events, the recordings remained on the shelf unheard by the general public - until now! The 2-CD set, entitled 'Compass Point', was released June 18 on Purple Pyramid Records. Though the tropical setting proved idyllic, the hurdles the band had to overcome in making these recordings a reality were formidable. Storms hovered on the horizon threatening to overtake them, the stage that placed the band over the resort pools had yet to be built mere hours from showtime, and the only piano tuner in town had that very day quit the business because he had just won the lottery! Despite these setbacks, the band played magnificently, laying down an accomplished set of jazz/fusion pieces that run from the energetic yet haunting "Fragolino" to the smooth shuffle of "Les Cocos." Billy Cobham reflects, "All in all, the experience was genuinely a positive one and will live forever in my memories as one of the milestones in my musical career." And what an amazing career Billy Cobham has had. From his auspicious start in the late '60s touring and recording with the great Miles Davis to his groundbreaking work with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early '70s, Cobham built a reputation for complex and soulful drumming. But it wasn't until 1973 and the release of his first solo album 'Spectrum' that he took the title of jazz fusion's preeminent drummer with a style and technique all his own, one that has been a major influence on drummers worldwide ever since. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |