Billy Cobham ( born Billy Cobham ; May 16, 1944 , Panama ) - American jazz drummer of Panamanian origin, composer and leader of the big band .
| Billy Cobham Billy cobham | |
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 Billy Cobham at the World Music Festival, 07/30/2005 | |
| basic information | |
| Full name | William C. Cobham |
| Date of Birth | May 16, 1944 (75 years) |
| Place of Birth | Panama |
| A country |  USA |
| Professions | Drummer , Teacher |
| Years of activity | - present time |
| Instruments | Drum kit |
| Genres | Jazz , Fusion , Jazz-Funk |
| Collectives | Miles Davis , Mahavishnu Orchestra , |
| Labels | and |
| billycobham.com | |
At the age of three, Billy's family moved to New York . At the age of 8 he made his debut with his father. He started playing in the late 60s, at that time jazz-rock was especially popular. Billy studied at the famous school Drum & Bugle Corps, then entered the prestigious New York School of High School of Musical Art. There he studied the theory of music and the technique of playing the drums. Billy studied at the seminars of famous jazz performers Thelonious Monk and Stan Getz . He received the diploma in 1962. Cobham served in the army as a drummer of a military orchestra, in 1968 he participated in the ensemble of pianist Horace Silver , after which he began working as a session musician.
Cobham played jazz fusion in which elements of jazz, rock and roll and funk are mixed. He performed and recorded with Brecker Brothers (in particular in the 1970s Dreams group) and guitarist John Abercrombie. Billy Cobham was one of the first drummers to start playing in an open production (using his left hand to keep time on the hi-hat). He usually plays with several volumes and a double bass drum and became recognizable in the 70s because of his big drum set.
Cobham gained fame in the early 70s, becoming one of the founders of the fusion movement. After successful concerts with Miles Davis , John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cobham became a superstar.
At the beginning of the new century, Billy Cobham performed several times in Moscow, played in the big band of Igor Butman .
Billy is also engaged in teaching: he writes textbooks, speaks with master classes, etc.
In December 2011, Billy Cobham began teaching the school playing drums on his personal website.
In August 2012, Billy Cobham visited Kazakhstan. His wife is a native of Kazakhstan.
Discography
Most of Billy Cobham’s solo albums are listed here, besides which there are also a huge number of his recordings in the projects of other prominent musicians.
1970s:
- Billy Cobham - Spectrum
- Billy Cobham - Crosswinds
- Billy Cobham - Total Eclipse
- Billy Cobham - Shabazz
- Billy Cobham - A Funky Thide Of Sings
- Billy Cobham - Life and Times
- Billy Cobham - Cobham / Duke Live
- Billy Cobham - Magic
- Billy Cobham - Inner Conflicts
- Billy Cobham - Simplicity of Expression - Depth of Thought
- Billy Cobham - BC (very rare)
1980s:
- Billy Cobham - Flight Time
- Billy Cobham - Stratus
- Billy Cobham - Observations & Reflections
- Billy Cobham - Smokin '
- Billy Cobham - Warning
- Billy Cobham - Power Play
- Billy Cobham - Picture This
- Billy Cobham - Incoming
1990s:
- Billy Cobham - By Design
- Billy Cobham - The Traveler
- Billy Cobham - Nordic
- Billy Cobham - Nordic / Off Color
- Billy Cobham - Focused
- Billy Cobham - Mississippi Nights Live
- Billy Cobham - Ensemble New Hope Street
- Billy Cobham - North By NorthWest
- Billy Cobham - Paradox - Paradox
- Billy Cobham - Paradox - First / Second
- Billy Cobham - Best Of
2000s:
- Billy Cobham - Art Of Three
- Billy Cobham - Billy Cobham Culture Mix
- Billy Cobham's Culture Mix - Colors (2004)
- Billy Cobham - The Art Of Five
- Billy Cobham - Drum and Voice (2005)
- Billy Cobham - Drum'n'voice 2 (2006)
- Billy Cobham - The Art Of Four
- Billy Cobham - Fruit From The Loom (2007)
- Billy Cobham - Drum'n'voice 3 (2010)
- Billy Cobham - Palindrome (2010)