Billy Cobham is a drummer who gained his experience by playing with the likes of Billy Taylor, Horace Silver, George Benson, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. The fame came with the band Mahavishna Orchestra, but he continued to nurture his craft with the solo career.
During the 70s, many influential fusion musicians participated in his band, including Jan Hammer, John Scofield, Randy and Michael Brecker, and George Duke. He also had successful collaborations with many famous jazz musicians. The album Art Of Three is recorded with the help of contra-bassist Ron Carter and pianist Kenny Barron, The Art Of Four with Carter, alt-saxophone player Donald Harrison and pianist James Williams, while the Art Of Five includes Guy Barker, Orlando Le Flemming, Eric Reed and Julian Joseph.
In his interviews, Cobham noted how much he loves to collaborate with different artists. On the mentioned albums, Cobham is represented as a virtuoso leader of all star musicians who manages to animate them and force them to inventive communication of jazz standards. In that context, even though he has been proclaimed as the world’s fastest drummer, he put the technique in the second plan.
Billy Cobham is also a frontman of an international fusion collective Culture Mix which comprises of both younger, less known musicians and old cats. Continuing to play in the style that was trendy in the 70s, Cobham protects the tradition that gave him fortune. The music on Art Of Five is a reflection of Cobham tenacity to create mutual sound and explore new possibilities within the style, including elements of ethno, particularly those related to the countries his band members come from.
Here is what Billy said about his collective Culture Mix:
I have invited musicians that can play music better than anyone else at this moment. I expect them to play the best that they can. The collective is not a true collective until they play 365 concerts. We can not get to know each other until then. If you play five or six concerts, you only get a partial impression of what could come out of it, but only during the longer period of time spent together can you accomplish personal approach. I am happy that I am a part of a collective that has such a long standing. I am proud that musicians play with me because they really want to play with me, and not because they are forced to do it for the money. We are going through life’s difficulties together. Sometimes we have fun, and sometimes it’s really hard. I know that I have people that I can count on. With time, changes come, but we feel more confident. We dare to risk.
