Cobham: The Music and Drumming of Billy Cobham
The work and life of drumming colossus Billy Cobham is explored and analyzed

With Cobham: The Music and Drumming of Billy Cobham, the work and life of this drumming colossus is explored and analyzed. Written with Cobham’s direct involvement and culled from dozens of hours of interviews with him, the book presents a biography of his early years and the development of his career, and then documents select important recordings and projects from 1968 up to the present day. Cobham gives his views on the industry, writing music, leading a band, recording, education/clinics, and other topics.

Presented in a coffee-table style full-color layout, an extensive collection of photos (many culled from Cobham’s personal archives) documents Billy’s history—including his contributions to the innovative setup of the instrument itself: left-hand-lead/ambidextrous playing, double bass drums, the contemporary large kit with instrument innovations such as the gong drum, and an endlessly creative approach to playing the drums in ways that continue to defy convention.

The book includes many note-for-note transcriptions from throughout Cobham’s career, including tracks from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, his extensive library of CTI recordings, and many of his own albums, including classics from Spectrum, Crosswinds, Total Eclipse, Warning, Power Play, and more.

Also included are exclusive interviews with John McLaughlin, Ron Carter, Randy Brecker, and contributions from Wayne Cobham (Bill’s brother and collaborator) and Ken Hoshino (Tama drums). Contemporary legends who count Cobham among their main influences also contribute their views on Billy’s importance: Will Calhoun, Dennis Chambers, Gary Husband, Simon Phillips, John Riley, Steve Smith, and Narada Michael Walden. Rounded out by a complete discography and a collection of industry advertisements over the years, the book can be used as a musical analysis, biography, or an entertaining look at photos and history of the legendary music career of Billy Cobham.

The latest in a series from author Joe Bergamini, who has written best-selling musical biographies of Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, and Steve Gadd, COBHAM: The Music and Drumming of Billy Cobham is a must for the bookshelf of all drummers and fans of jazz and fusion.

While the book contains many drum transcriptions, people who do not read music will greatly enjoy the book as they would any other biography with text and photos.

Drum transcriptions included in the book:

CTI RECORDS:

In a Mist – Freddie Hubbard – Sky Dive
Make Me Rainbows – Stanley Turrentine – The Sugar Man
White Rabbit – George Benson – White Rabbit
Skyscrapers – Deodato – Deodato 2

MILES DAVIS:
Right Off – Jack Johnson

MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA:
Vital Transformation – The Inner Mounting Flame
Dance of Maya – The Inner Mounting Flame
You Know You Know – The Inner Mounting Flame
Birds of Fire – Birds of Fire
Celestial Terrestrial Commuters – Birds of Fire
One Word – Birds of Fire

BILLY COBHAM:
Quadrant 4 – Spectrum
Stratus – Spectrum
Spectrum – Spectrum
Red Baron – Spectrum
Spanish Moss – Crosswinds
Heather – Crosswinds
Solarization – Total Eclipse
Lunarputians – Total Eclipse
Panhandler A Funky Thide of Sings
Mozaik – Warning
The Conflict – Power Play
Fragolino – Compass Point

OTHER PROJECTS:
Hip Pockets, Juicy – Billy Cobham – George Duke Band: Live on Tour in Europe
Walkin' – Hurricane (video) – Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham

When he burst onto the international stage in 1971 with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham had already recorded with Miles Davis and dozens of others. But it was his otherworldly playing with Mahavishnu that redefined what was possible on the drum set. Cobham’s first solo album, 1973’s Spectrum, became a number one hit, spawned three future jazz standards, and cemented his place as a drumming legend for all time. But Cobham was far from finished, and in a career that has now spanned seven decades, he is considered one of the titans of the instrument, someone whose work is essential study.

Print Book | 168 pages