Billy Cobham
Crosswinds

Billy Cobham, one of the greatest drummers in the world and one of the most brilliant Fusion composers. There is no other way to define this extraordinary musician, still active and more energetic than ever. This album is his second solo work, after leaving the Mahavishnu Orchestra and releasing the excellent "Spectrum". This record features some of the most important musicians of all time, just to name a few: the Brecker brothers, George Duke, John Abercrombie, and many others.

The heart of the album lies in the opening suite titled "Spanish Moss". It is a long 17-minute piece divided into four movements, which we will now analyze. The first movement is titled after the suite and consists of a frenzied overture to the piece, with memorable soundscapes. Then comes "Savannah The Serene", a relaxing moment with a delightful melody, featuring the great George Duke delivering a superb solo. In the same movement, there is another excellent trombone solo by Garnett Brown. The third movement, titled "Storm", is nothing short of spectacular. It consists of a drum solo by Billy Cobham that is processed to give the impression of a storm. At times it is frantic, and at times it is silent. Truly stunning. The suite concludes with the fourth and final movement titled "Flash Flood", very similar to the suite's overture.
On "Flash Flood", the trumpeter Randy Brecker and the great guitarist John Abercrombie showcase their talents. This suite truly ranks among Billy Cobham's masterpieces. The second piece of the album, "The Pleasant Pheasant", is undoubtedly the least successful. It consists of a pleasant Funky with a good bass line and some fine solos. Perhaps the track, although good, is a bit disappointing because it comes right after the fantastic 17 minutes of "Spanish Moss". "Heather" is the name of Cobham's wife, as well as the third piece of the album. It is a very calm track, similar to "Savannah The Serene", in which the absolute protagonists are George Duke and Michael Brecker. A piece to listen to while lounging on the bed with the blinds down and the stereo volume up, truly suggestive and relaxing. The album closes with the brief but excellent title track: a hard-hitting track, with a great guitar performance by Abercrombie.

An absolutely essential album, especially if you're a musician: the quality of the solos contained within is astonishing. 5 stars without a shadow of a doubt. The cover is also splendid!