Billy did a drum clinic at my High School in '78-'79. The band director told me to bring my monster set to school for a drum battle at the end of the clinic. It was more like a drum lesson. We had a lot of fun trading licks and Billy was impressed with my playing and offered for me to go to Germany to play a gig he had set up. Had to decline due to no passport. Seen him throughout the years and we still talk about that first meeting. He's the most down to earth human that you'll ever meet.
Wow! What a great story! That must have been one helluva experience drumming side by side. Thanks for sharing....I have met him a couple of times, and such a fun guy too. Lot of laughs. Thanks for sharing your story.
I really wish I would’ve got to the Ardmore theater in Philadelphia a year or two when Billy came through. This past spring Dennis Chambers was in Philadelphia and it was the first time I have seen him in over 30 years and I got to really talk to him and he could not have been more humble and down to earth! Extremely inspiring when one of the greatest musicians on planet Earth is super laid-back and kind and wants to hear what you have to say as much as you want to hear what they have to say.
One of the great drummers, legendary Billy Cobham at his peak in the mid-70s. I remember seeing him in the mid and late 70s, including a show at the Berkeley Community Theater with George Duke and Alphonso Johnson on bass. Just the trio, and Cobham was a Kung Fu master on the drums. He had a tiny splash in the center front and he would hit that with a jab that was pure punch. This is the drum kit I preferred him on in those days. This solo has that Crosswinds album sound. Just amazing. George Duke had a wall of amps, dials, and knobs, and he had one of those library ladders that rolled back and forth, as he would adjust knobs on the wall of amps. He played sounds that were truly unearthly. Billy was unstoppable in the 70s. My dear friend, legendary guitarist Dean Brown who passed away earlier this year, started playing with Billy, in the 80s, and told me many great stories including his first audition experience, that was funny and amazing. Thanks for sharing this clip. Brings back memories. My good friend Gary Husband, who played keyboards and drums on my latest release, A Soul in Time, along with Hadrien Feraud on bass, had many great stories to tell as well. Gary toured with Billy this year playing keyboards, and loves playing with Billy.
Thanks for sharing that story. Man I would so have loved to see him back then in the 70´s. I have heard your record too, which sounds amazing!! So fresh sounding too. Love it! So cool of you to chime in here and I have known Gary since 1999 or so, so we go way back too.
I’ve heard Gary is also an unbelievable drummer. From what I heard he’s one of the best keyboard players to ever play drums. I’ve been meaning to look him up on dramas the past week because I was just watching a Romeo instructional video where a very famous drummer (I can’t think of his name) mentioned Gary as a drummer.
The quiet parts had a lot of subtlety and nuance to them, and then he explodes into the faster parts with all the crash cymbals and rack-mount toms -- simply amazing!
BC was, and is, one of a kind. His rudimentary snare work and double bass flourishes are awesome. I guarantee no other drummer was doing this in the early 70's. His use of dynamics really shows and the 3 floor toms. Bravo and thanks for posting!
One of the best from solos ever played, along with Louis Bellson, Rufus speedy Jones and others. Incredible dynamics, great drum sound, and he even plays with closed eyes on such a huge drumset telling stories on the drums. This will be admired forever!
A true testament to the power grace and fire of BILLY COBHAM in all his glory loud blazing and heartfelt a moment and magical time now crystallized in our hearts forevermore
Incredible solo! The snare drum heads and wires are so tight that it is possible to hear snare wire choke when he plays in a very low dinamic!! Never heard this except when watching live!
Billy Cobham is incomparable. I used to listen to him growing up. He's got a paradiddle that's sick, even stuart copeland admitted his snare work and trademark shuffle is badass
I was at their Rainbow show the year before in 1973. Same thing- His solo was a masterpiece. Couldn't find a listing for '74, so I must have missed this one. A full length TV programme was also shown, of one of their concerts, on UK TV around the same time. John M. always insisted on a short period of silence and contemplation before each show, which was totally observed by the audience, which was stunned into silence as the show progressed. Just a magic, other worldly moment in time. The album Between Nothingness and Eternity Live, in 1973, is a good record of what their live shows were like at this time. Now sadly gone forever.
Love the cymbals out front too they have a tasty smash - anyone know what he was using? - along with the top of the mountain skills of Cobham to showcase the dynamics.
Diese Spielweise ist was BC zum führenden Drummer seiner Zeit gemacht hat. Er spielt heute immer noch gut, ist aber im Vergleich zu dieser Hochzeit nur noch ein Schatten seiner selbst im Vergleich. Dies ist keine Kritik. Er ist im Prinzip auf seine Art zu spielen immer noch unübertroffen- allerhöchsten Respekt! 👋👋👋🙏
Well we all age so that is natural. I did see him live last year and he played beautifully and very articulate. We all have so much to thank him for. 😀
When Billy Cobham came along, it was kind of like when Micheal Jordan came into the NBA, There was Jordan...and everyone else. When Cobham burst on the scene with Mahavishnu, NO ONE on the scene could play that fast, that clean, and with that level of power. No one. This is what is sooooo heavy about Billy Cobham. It took 15 YEARS for the drumming World to catch up technically with that level of technical precision, sped and power. The FIRST guy to do it was Dennis Chambers in 1986 on the John Scofield Blue Matter album. Now, you have guys like Tony Royster Jr., Ronald Bruner Jr., Chris Coleman, Gergo Borlai...but it took 15 years for the world of percussion to catch up with Billy Cobham. Cobham was a Martian-soooooo ahead of his time. When Buddy Rich came out, he set a Gold Bar standard in the Swing Era, and Cobham set the Gold standard in Jazz Fusion.
Thanks!! I guess one had to be there at the time, to really hear how insane and far above everyone else he was at the time. I was too young, but have heard many say the same things as you.
@@sturla75 On the Mahavishnu Orchestra album, Inner Mounting Flame, at 00:15 of the first track, Meeting of the Spirits, Cobham unleashed a fill that turned the rest of the drumming world upside down. it was a flurry of single strokes across every tom on this huge kit, at unbelievable light speed, with massive power, and clinically clean. No one, and I mean NO ONE had ever heard that before. No one even knew that it was even POSSIBLE to play that fast, with that level of control and power. Then when people flocked to the Mahavishnu concerts, just absolutely curious to see who the hell this guy was, they were blown away by this HUGE kit, dripping with toms and cymbals, when most all of the other drummers in Jazz and Jazz Fusion Scene were playing a 4 piece or max, 5 piece kit, with a ride, a crash and a high hat, period. On top of that, the guy starts playing the kit LEFT HANDED, giving birth to the whole open handed technique. Then seeing the guy doing super fast tom rolls from right to left...then doing EQUALLY fast tom rolls from left to right blew everyone's mind....but the kicker was this. He did this lightning fast single stroke roll that started on his snare, jumped to his hi tom, went from left to right down three toms, jumped back to the snare, while keeping a super fast single stroke roll, jumped to his floor tom, and continued the light speed roll , right to left to his highest tom, all in a millisecond. After that, every drummer in the audience just shook their heads, and just headed resignedly to the woodshed. No more needed to be said. Cobham set a new bar, just changed the Game, right then and there. You wouldn't HAVE Players like Gergo, Coleman, Vinny , Simon, Bruner Jr., Pridgen, Xavier Ware, etc. if it wasn't for Cobham. Even to this date, the end of 2024, there are only a handful of drummers today, who can match that level of power, speed and control. That is the elite of the elite level.
What drums are these? Is this his first Tama kit? Skinny gong bass makes me think so. What a treat to see him in person and just in general. I met him in the 80s. In my top 5 as if that matters to anyone. One thing I got from him was that a drum kit is a musical instrument. He does it all. Swings. Grooves. Orchestration. Thank you BC.
One of the first designs of a Gong drum pretty wild looking. I'm not too sure what kind of kid he's using right there it may be Tama but I kind of doubt it because I think it's fibes because at the George Duke Billy Cobham concert footage that is so popular from any kind of footage you see from Billy Cobham he's using fibes drums in that and that was in 1976
Yes, cool to see that gong drum....and yeah, maybe this is where he started deveoloping that and then in conjuction with Tama later on. Regarding the kit I found some info on that online, that I posted in another response on here. It is a custom kit.
I have been a fan of Cobham’s since Miles Davis. He really turned it up with Mahavishnu. Spectrum was insane. The only one I consider them 1a and 1b is Neil Peart of Rush.
This guy has schooled a lot of good Rock drummers. He'd destroy Moon, Peart, Grohl, Ginger Baker, Bonham and so many others. Jazz Drumming is supreme because they don't have to deal with vocals like you have to with Rock. He's the Legend Goat! I've seen him drum for two hours straight in concert. No vocals but lots of complicated time signatures.
Cobham capital B. Capital "C" keep some respect on that name 🧐🥁 one of the best to ever do it and encourage many drummers to this day. I went to a Drum camp once with Dave Weckl, Tommy Oggle, from NewYork, Steve Smith, and etc. When I asked why don't y'all invite Mr. Cobham to these camps??🤔..they all but ignored me🤔😡....because, they were crediting Buddy Rich, Neil Pert, Gene Cooper. Bonnam etc... of whom are great! no doubt, but Cobham , Tony Williams, Philly Joe, Lenny White etc should be included ...because these guys were encouraging trend setters....I still enjoyed the camp but I never went back. Redz from Philly 🥁🎶
@hagnuj1070 Absolutely! We can't let them forget our previous mentors who help change the level of the game...even as far back as the big band swing era...young folks pass it on🙏🎶😌
I think it is a custom kit. I found some info online stating this ".....kit was made by Fred Hinger of Hinger Drums. The shells were made out of compressed recycled paper with a polyurethane coating (inside and out). and it had Gretsch Lugs, Slingerland double tom mount just like his Fibes kit had.. It also had a cast steel or something like that, snare drum that weighed 35 lbs."
I mean this is the year of his two best albums Crosswinds and total eclipse and I believe Shabazz the live album may have come out this year as well. He was a very busy drummer after he left mahavishnu I mean this is the year of his two best albums Crosswinds and total eclipse and I believe Shabazz the live album may have come out this year as well. He was a very busy drummer after he left mahavishnu he was desired by many to be part of any musical situation
Yes, it is mostly from the Shabazz...I originally tried to match the audio from the Shabazz record on this video clip, but it didn´t work, so I guess the Shabazz record has maybe some cuts from different shows.
This is far from sloppy this is an excellent drum solo by this guy I saw somebody here to say that this is not a good drum solo that they thought it would be better than this considering its in 1974 and the person said that it was very sloppy and it's just all around not good...... are you kidding me!!!!😅😅😅😅 what are you smoking? that's the biggest bunch of malarkey I've ever heard; apparently great drumming is something this person doesn't understand and fails to realize when they're in the presence of greatness.
Exactly! I guess it is not for everyone, but man, this is sooo good! Full of emotion, dynamics and intent all the way! Just a glorious beautiful solo and performance as far as I am concerned.
@skillet6870 Birthdate Buddy Rich 1917 Birthdate Billy Cobham 1944 You are probably the stupidest troll on You Tube " 🧌 suggesting Billy Cobham influenced Buddy Rich before he was even born 30 years in the womb Black man 🤡
I just watched a short that claimed Karen Carpenter eas the best drummer in the world in 1974. I came immediately here to forget about that (no offense to Ms Carpenter).
That SOB Terry Bozzio ripped off this solo NOTE FOR NOTE - in his 1988 VHS tape "Solo Drums". I was so sad - all of the beats I idolized Terry for, for the past 40+ years, were totally cribbed from Billy Cobham.
The same riffs that he repeated over and over for 40 years. This is one of THE most overrated drummers of all time. I am bill best pgh pa. Arthritis and aged...and i'll STILL kick this FEEBLE imposters ass. Also he was one kf the most self absorbed IGNORANT people i ever met.
Why is it that the first thing that a "great" drummer gets rid of is a cool groove? There's nothing here that makes you wanna move - it's all ratta tat tat tat thump thump thump with no rhythmic feel.
Really? I beg to differ...but different times I guess, and as far as I have learned - nobody played like that at the time. I am not so interested in technique but more in the intent, vibe, energy and flow. And to me that is just fantastic here!
You have to appreciate when this happened and have some historical context. Billy Cobham was a game changing drummer and ultimate musician. This is his free solo. What do you mean by technical? His technique here is completely at one with his music intent. I didn't once hear him struggling or unable to execute anything that he wanted to play in the moment, besides one accidental stick click. These were very different times. Music was not so metronomic. That didn't emerge so much until the eighties. You have to appreciate music with historical context. Here, I can hear Billy channelling Art Blakey, Max Roach, Tony Williams and even a little Buddy Rich to create something new for the time. If you are a drummer/musician yourself and cannot fathom the lineage of the great musicians without historical context then your own drumming will developed void of any depth.
@@sturla75 You have to amortize the music he was soloing to. It isn’t funk, metal, blues, yada. It’s a cacophony of fusion not of course everyone’s taste and it hardly represents the totality of this iconic drummers playing! He plays ambidextrous, has a solid base in drum line drumming, that was the first to include this type of articulate rudiments in his playing. He started playing jazz quite well and precisely with great sense of musicality rhythm and technique. When he started playing fusion his bass drum alone was incredible his flow his dynamic capability awesome. Frankly he’s friggen great even at his current age. He’s also a terrific down to earth guy who has devoted his life to teaching drumming to anyone who wanted to learn from him. This is like saying buddy just played too fast and couldn’t play anything but swing. Any drummer today stands on their shoulders. Now let’s hear you play the same solo and better!
simon copy exactly this kit all his carrer..., one by one drum or cymbal, except for his 12 splash..., much more time before...., even a octoban or gongdrum..., or to play tama drums..., nothing wrong with that of course, is just curious and ovbious..., he is one of the greatest drumers ever..., he play his drums like they were made of batter..., still i dont see any drummer more powerfull than him...are some drummers really powerfull, like chris colleman or thomas pridgen, dennis, borlai, eric moore, ....and more...., but still i dont saw one with his power, clouse but not more... is a video, with ponty, stanley and corea..., which billy plays a bit octaplus in acrilic blue..., is totally amazing, how much groove and power..., the velocity and power he phrases with that concert toms..., and at the same time of that making fun like a kid going in bicicle...., and with a tight jacket..., it amaze me...!, and by the way, that concert toms sounds delicious..., barriomore barlow copy that sound with tull..., i gonna look for the vid...: ruclips.net/video/SDPq1uq5Gxo/видео.html
Billy did a drum clinic at my High School in '78-'79. The band director told me to bring my monster set to school for a drum battle at the end of the clinic. It was more like a drum lesson. We had a lot of fun trading licks and Billy was impressed with my playing and offered for me to go to Germany to play a gig he had set up. Had to decline due to no passport. Seen him throughout the years and we still talk about that first meeting. He's the most down to earth human that you'll ever meet.
Wow! What a great story! That must have been one helluva experience drumming side by side. Thanks for sharing....I have met him a couple of times, and such a fun guy too. Lot of laughs. Thanks for sharing your story.
Have you heard the Billy Cobham album "Spectrum"? Classic.
@@Seeklip196TIf you could only listen to one Cobham album, Spectrum has to be it!
Total eclipse is the ultimate Billy Cobham album
I really wish I would’ve got to the Ardmore theater in Philadelphia a year or two when Billy came through. This past spring Dennis Chambers was in Philadelphia and it was the first time I have seen him in over 30 years and I got to really talk to him and he could not have been more humble and down to earth! Extremely inspiring when one of the greatest musicians on planet Earth is super laid-back and kind and wants to hear what you have to say as much as you want to hear what they have to say.
One of only a handful of drummers in the history of the world who influenced so many other drummers.
One of the great drummers, legendary Billy Cobham at his peak in the mid-70s. I remember seeing him in the mid and late 70s, including a show at the Berkeley Community Theater with George Duke and Alphonso Johnson on bass. Just the trio, and Cobham was a Kung Fu master on the drums. He had a tiny splash in the center front and he would hit that with a jab that was pure punch. This is the drum kit I preferred him on in those days. This solo has that Crosswinds album sound. Just amazing. George Duke had a wall of amps, dials, and knobs, and he had one of those library ladders that rolled back and forth, as he would adjust knobs on the wall of amps. He played sounds that were truly unearthly. Billy was unstoppable in the 70s. My dear friend, legendary guitarist Dean Brown who passed away earlier this year, started playing with Billy, in the 80s, and told me many great stories including his first audition experience, that was funny and amazing. Thanks for sharing this clip. Brings back memories. My good friend Gary Husband, who played keyboards and drums on my latest release, A Soul in Time, along with Hadrien Feraud on bass, had many great stories to tell as well. Gary toured with Billy this year playing keyboards, and loves playing with Billy.
Thanks for sharing that story. Man I would so have loved to see him back then in the 70´s. I have heard your record too, which sounds amazing!! So fresh sounding too. Love it! So cool of you to chime in here and I have known Gary since 1999 or so, so we go way back too.
I’ve heard Gary is also an unbelievable drummer. From what I heard he’s one of the best keyboard players to ever play drums. I’ve been meaning to look him up on dramas the past week because I was just watching a Romeo instructional video where a very famous drummer (I can’t think of his name) mentioned Gary as a drummer.
El number one de todos los tiempos !!!!!!
The quiet parts had a lot of subtlety and nuance to them, and then he explodes into the faster parts with all the crash cymbals and rack-mount toms -- simply amazing!
Legend !💪
Yes indeed!!
I think this track is one of Cobham’s peak. He was just monstrous here
Monstrous is really the right word!! Absolutely amazing!
I think this was not long after his Spectrum album was recorded!!! Exact same drum sound as on the album!!!
He was the perfect drummer for The Mahavisnu Orchestra!!
Yes - I do love Narada´s playing as well though. But yeah, Billy was just amazing in that band.
@@sturla75 Narada was the perfect drum for Mahavisnu Orchestra Mk II! Just sensational!
Absolute master of subtlety and control.
Yes! Exactly!!😀
BC was, and is, one of a kind. His rudimentary snare work and double bass flourishes are awesome. I guarantee no other drummer was doing this in the early 70's. His use of dynamics really shows and the 3 floor toms. Bravo and thanks for posting!
I am so glad I have gotten to see him many times live, but this was before I was born, but I just LOVE all of this.
Always hard to imagine he was the first drummer who played like that, it seems so normal now
@@Martin_Bernard Yes, he just paved way for all of us - and myself too with playing open-handed.
One of my first drum heroes
His best solo IMO & best sounding drum kit .. never to be beaten.
Excellent !!!! Mr Cobham One of The Greatest to Ever Hold a Pair of Drum Sticks 😀😀😎👊💯💯
Seen him live close up three times!
Me too. Amazing experience!
Excellent ... My favorite drummer.
Snap!👍
One of the best from solos ever played, along with Louis Bellson, Rufus speedy Jones and others. Incredible dynamics, great drum sound, and he even plays with closed eyes on such a huge drumset telling stories on the drums. This will be admired forever!
Couldn't agree more!
"Telling stories on the drums"
PERFECT!
These are my favorite type of solos, or...
Stories. 🤘
@@marklivingston1479 Excatly! Telling stories.... My kind of solos too.
That's what bass drums are supposed to sound like telling all those drummers today to stop making their bass drums sound like there made of LEGO.
Amazing soloist, and an amazing ensemble player!
Excatly! He plays so great with whatever setting I have heard him in, and that has been quite a few now..
Incredible control - looks like his doubles are all from the wrist.
King
I went to a clinic he did at a guitar center. 6 people in the audience. Outstanding
Wow!! Only 6 people?? That must have been an amazing and intimate experience.
@sturla75 it was.
A true testament to the power grace and fire of BILLY COBHAM in all his glory loud blazing and heartfelt a moment and magical time now crystallized in our hearts forevermore
❤❤❤❤❤ Billy Fantastic
Thanks for this epic vid.
"Shabazz'was released around 1975.Billy is definitely on 🔥 fire.
Yes he is indeed here!!
This GUY...insane. One of the GREATEST!
I sat nxt to the stage at the cbs summit at the montreux jazz festival in the 70s amazing. He was the best then
Amazing! That must have been quite an experience.
ONE OF THE VERY FEW THE BEST DRUMMERS EVER......
Incredible solo!
The snare drum heads and wires are so tight that it is possible to hear snare wire choke when he plays in a very low dinamic!!
Never heard this except when watching live!
Yes, so tight actually. I had to have another listen just to hear it what you meant.
The video directors of the Seventies sure knew how to conceal what we all needed to actually see.
Great! I didn't know this one, only the Kongsberg concert, Thank you!
That one is great too!!
Thanks! Amazing!
Billy Cobham is incomparable. I used to listen to him growing up. He's got a paradiddle that's sick, even stuart copeland admitted his snare work and trademark shuffle is badass
The artist is here!
Yeah!!!
A Young Simon Phillips in the audience?
Haha, yes!
Dumb.
This is probably the show that Si Phillips was at that inspired him to learn to play left handed. Great stuff .
@@malcolmhobden4350 Yeah - I have heard him say that in an interview, so perhaps it was this very show.
I was at their Rainbow show the year before in 1973. Same thing- His solo was a masterpiece. Couldn't find a listing for '74, so I must have missed this one. A full length TV programme was also shown, of one of their concerts, on UK TV around the same time. John M. always insisted on a short period of silence and contemplation before each show, which was totally observed by the audience, which was stunned into silence as the show progressed. Just a magic, other worldly moment in time. The album Between Nothingness and Eternity Live, in 1973, is a good record of what their live shows were like at this time. Now sadly gone forever.
sweet super skill man Loven this drum solo
Wow hell yea
He was also capable of playing feather-soft on that big rig. I saw him as a kid in 1975 and, yes, he was mind-blowing!
Yes and I love his very soft playing on that rig. Lucky you who got to see him the year I was born. 😀
@ Thx to my cool older brothers.😉👍
Love the cymbals out front too they have a tasty smash - anyone know what he was using? - along with the top of the mountain skills of Cobham to showcase the dynamics.
Never heard a drum solo that was too short, including this one.
Diese Spielweise ist was BC zum führenden Drummer seiner Zeit gemacht hat.
Er spielt heute immer noch gut, ist aber im Vergleich zu dieser Hochzeit nur noch ein Schatten seiner selbst im Vergleich. Dies ist keine Kritik.
Er ist im Prinzip auf seine Art zu spielen immer noch unübertroffen- allerhöchsten Respekt! 👋👋👋🙏
Well we all age so that is natural. I did see him live last year and he played beautifully and very articulate. We all have so much to thank him for. 😀
Cobham, Tony Williams….two of the early monsters!
Yes indeed!! Love em both!!
When Billy's Spectrum album came out,I couldn't believe my ears.I've been a fan ever since.Incredible.👏👏👏
Yes, killer record that is!!
Оригинальный барабанщик. В 70 так никто неиграл. Все четко без лишнего мусора. Имел удовольствие побывать на концерте в Иркутске
Astonishing stamina
From Tony to Billy to Simon to Sturla 👍👌😊🥁
Hehe those three are some of my main influences yeah. 😀
When Billy Cobham came along, it was kind of like when Micheal Jordan came into the NBA, There was Jordan...and everyone else. When Cobham burst on the scene with Mahavishnu, NO ONE on the scene could play that fast, that clean, and with that level of power.
No one.
This is what is sooooo heavy about Billy Cobham. It took 15 YEARS for the drumming World to catch up technically with that level of technical precision, sped and power.
The FIRST guy to do it was Dennis Chambers in 1986 on the John Scofield Blue Matter album. Now, you have guys like Tony Royster Jr., Ronald Bruner Jr., Chris Coleman, Gergo Borlai...but it took 15 years for the world of percussion to catch up with Billy Cobham. Cobham was a Martian-soooooo ahead of his time. When Buddy Rich came out, he set a Gold Bar standard in the Swing Era, and Cobham set the Gold standard in Jazz Fusion.
Thanks!! I guess one had to be there at the time, to really hear how insane and far above everyone else he was at the time. I was too young, but have heard many say the same things as you.
@@sturla75 On the Mahavishnu Orchestra album, Inner Mounting Flame, at 00:15 of the first track, Meeting of the Spirits, Cobham unleashed a fill that turned the rest of the drumming world upside down. it was a flurry of single strokes across every tom on this huge kit, at unbelievable light speed, with massive power, and clinically clean.
No one, and I mean NO ONE had ever heard that before. No one even knew that it was even POSSIBLE to play that fast, with that level of control and power.
Then when people flocked to the Mahavishnu concerts, just absolutely curious to see who the hell this guy was, they were blown away by this HUGE kit, dripping with toms and cymbals, when most all of the other drummers in Jazz and Jazz Fusion Scene were playing a 4 piece or max, 5 piece kit, with a ride, a crash and a high hat, period.
On top of that, the guy starts playing the kit LEFT HANDED, giving birth to the whole open handed technique. Then seeing the guy doing super fast tom rolls from right to left...then doing EQUALLY fast tom rolls from left to right blew everyone's mind....but the kicker was this.
He did this lightning fast single stroke roll that started on his snare, jumped to his hi tom, went from left to right down three toms, jumped back to the snare, while keeping a super fast single stroke roll, jumped to his floor tom, and continued the light speed roll , right to left to his highest tom, all in a millisecond.
After that, every drummer in the audience just shook their heads, and just headed resignedly to the woodshed. No more needed to be said. Cobham set a new bar, just changed the Game, right then and there. You wouldn't HAVE Players like Gergo, Coleman, Vinny , Simon, Bruner Jr., Pridgen, Xavier Ware, etc. if it wasn't for Cobham.
Even to this date, the end of 2024, there are only a handful of drummers today, who can match that level of power, speed and control. That is the elite of the elite level.
"Right Billy...thats plenty".....
Solo incrível. Sem dúvida um dos maiores bateristas da história!👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Word!
I love how he gets soft and then loud
Billy had the BEST sounding Zildjians...
What drums are these? Is this his first Tama kit? Skinny gong bass makes me think so. What a treat to see him in person and just in general. I met him in the 80s. In my top 5 as if that matters to anyone. One thing I got from him was that a drum kit is a musical instrument. He does it all. Swings. Grooves. Orchestration. Thank you BC.
✌️🤠💥🌟🌀🙏
One of the first designs of a Gong drum pretty wild looking. I'm not too sure what kind of kid he's using right there it may be Tama but I kind of doubt it because I think it's fibes because at the George Duke Billy Cobham concert footage that is so popular from any kind of footage you see from Billy Cobham he's using fibes drums in that and that was in 1976
Yes, cool to see that gong drum....and yeah, maybe this is where he started deveoloping that and then in conjuction with Tama later on. Regarding the kit I found some info on that online, that I posted in another response on here. It is a custom kit.
What are the drums? Wow!!
Some custom drums as far as I know.
I have been a fan of Cobham’s since Miles Davis. He really turned it up with Mahavishnu. Spectrum was insane. The only one I consider them 1a and 1b is Neil Peart of Rush.
This material Is on the Shabazz album
He has one of the best tuned snare drums in the business. A monster on the kit drums.
Early gong drum!
Yeah, I think so too.
The world's fastest drummer.
This guy has schooled a lot of good Rock drummers.
He'd destroy Moon, Peart, Grohl, Ginger Baker, Bonham and so many others.
Jazz Drumming is supreme because they don't have to deal with vocals like you have to with Rock.
He's the Legend Goat!
I've seen him drum for two hours straight in concert. No vocals but lots of complicated time signatures.
Cobham capital B. Capital "C" keep some respect on that name 🧐🥁 one of the best to ever do it and encourage many drummers to this day. I went to a Drum camp once with Dave Weckl, Tommy Oggle, from NewYork, Steve Smith, and etc. When I asked why don't y'all invite Mr. Cobham to these camps??🤔..they all but ignored me🤔😡....because, they were crediting Buddy Rich, Neil Pert, Gene Cooper. Bonnam etc... of whom are great! no doubt, but Cobham , Tony Williams, Philly Joe, Lenny White etc should be included ...because these guys were encouraging trend setters....I still enjoyed the camp but I never went back. Redz from Philly
🥁🎶
Thanks for the story. 😀😀Cheers from Norway
Your most welcome Redz🥁from Philadelphia Pa.
🤞🏿RUclips pulled down the video that showed the Neil Peart chops that came from Cobham and Gadd. The gatekeepers have to protect their gawds.
@hagnuj1070 Absolutely! We can't let them forget our previous mentors who help change the level of the game...even as far back as the big band swing era...young folks pass it on🙏🎶😌
@@jamesholton6766 Don't forget the Funk drumming which became a staple in most music genres.
What kit is he playing here (Fibes?) since I believe this is pre Tama.
I think it is a custom kit. I found some info online stating this ".....kit was made by Fred Hinger of Hinger Drums. The shells were made out of compressed recycled paper with a polyurethane coating (inside and out). and it had Gretsch Lugs, Slingerland double tom mount just like his Fibes kit had.. It also had a cast steel or something like that, snare drum that weighed 35 lbs."
@@sturla75 Always wondered what make this kit was;now I know,thank you. My fave sounding kit for me that Billy`s ever played.
I always wondered what brand of drums these were. They look like Gretsch.
They are some custom ones. I wrote some in another answer here.
Bad as heck, yo!
I love Cobham's changes in dynamics. His changes in tempo not so much.
Interesting. I really dig those changes actually.
🥁🫡💪👊🔥⚡😎🤘
I mean this is the year of his two best albums Crosswinds and total eclipse and I believe Shabazz the live album may have come out this year as well. He was a very busy drummer after he left mahavishnu
I mean this is the year of his two best albums Crosswinds and total eclipse and I believe Shabazz the live album may have come out this year as well. He was a very busy drummer after he left mahavishnu he was desired by many to be part of any musical situation
Yes, it is mostly from the Shabazz...I originally tried to match the audio from the Shabazz record on this video clip, but it didn´t work, so I guess the Shabazz record has maybe some cuts from different shows.
This is far from sloppy this is an excellent drum solo by this guy I saw somebody here to say that this is not a good drum solo that they thought it would be better than this considering its in 1974 and the person said that it was very sloppy and it's just all around not good...... are you kidding me!!!!😅😅😅😅 what are you smoking? that's the biggest bunch of malarkey I've ever heard; apparently great drumming is something this person doesn't understand and fails to realize when they're in the presence of greatness.
Exactly! I guess it is not for everyone, but man, this is sooo good! Full of emotion, dynamics and intent all the way! Just a glorious beautiful solo and performance as far as I am concerned.
Buddy rich, louis bellson, carl palmer, bill bruford, neil part, and all other 'rock' drummers take a back seat to Mr. Billy Cobham.
Now goadda bed.
Holy fish paste...!
Shades of Buddy Rich 👍
Shades of buddy rich?---- WHAT?!!!I, I I beg your pardon white man. buddy rich is a clear shade of the world's fastest drummer---Mr. Billy Cobham.
@skillet6870 Birthdate Buddy Rich 1917
Birthdate Billy Cobham 1944
You are probably the stupidest troll on You Tube " 🧌 suggesting Billy Cobham influenced Buddy Rich before he was even born 30 years in the womb
Black man 🤡
@skillet6870 Buddy Rich born 1917
Billy Cobham born 1944
You are really stupid 🤡
The power of the …single beat in the right place…NO rolls…listen to Ginger Baker…peace
You got gall even mentioning Mr. Billy and the overrated ginger baker in the same breath
Best drum solo. Ron Bush from iron butterfly on the album, in the garden of eden.😂
Nice to see Billy Cobham copying my kit of 1971.
Proto gospel chops. 😁
Big fan. Had every album when I was in high school. To be honest…not even close to his best
I just watched a short that claimed Karen Carpenter eas the best drummer in the world in 1974. I came immediately here to forget about that (no offense to Ms Carpenter).
hehe Glad I could be of help! :-)
the reach behind huge tom is useless IMO - didn't sound great here - maybe it got too loose sounded harsh
That SOB Terry Bozzio ripped off this solo NOTE FOR NOTE - in his 1988 VHS tape "Solo Drums". I was so sad - all of the beats I idolized Terry for, for the past 40+ years, were totally cribbed from Billy Cobham.
Show every single angle that we can't see what he's doing, oh and zoom in on his face 'cause he plays his face more than anything else!!!
The same riffs that he repeated over and over for 40 years. This is one of THE most overrated drummers of all time. I am bill best pgh pa. Arthritis and aged...and i'll STILL kick this FEEBLE imposters ass. Also he was one kf the most self absorbed IGNORANT people i ever met.
Count the stick hits and take a shot. You’ll be drunk. Love him but he’s actually not at his best here
Why is it that the first thing that a "great" drummer gets rid of is a cool groove? There's nothing here that makes you wanna move - it's all ratta tat tat tat thump thump thump with no rhythmic feel.
He should stick to playing songs.
hmm... honestly I thought this would be a better drum solo considering his age in this. This is a bit sloppy and not that technical. hmm....
Really? I beg to differ...but different times I guess, and as far as I have learned - nobody played like that at the time. I am not so interested in technique but more in the intent, vibe, energy and flow. And to me that is just fantastic here!
You have to appreciate when this happened and have some historical context. Billy Cobham was a game changing drummer and ultimate musician. This is his free solo. What do you mean by technical? His technique here is completely at one with his music intent. I didn't once hear him struggling or unable to execute anything that he wanted to play in the moment, besides one accidental stick click.
These were very different times. Music was not so metronomic. That didn't emerge so much until the eighties.
You have to appreciate music with historical context. Here, I can hear Billy channelling Art Blakey, Max Roach, Tony Williams and even a little Buddy Rich to create something new for the time.
If you are a drummer/musician yourself and cannot fathom the lineage of the great musicians without historical context then your own drumming will developed void of any depth.
@@mancuniancandidatem Thank you!! I couldn´t have said it any better.
@@mancuniancandidatem Word! 👌🏻🤩
@@sturla75
You have to amortize the music he was soloing to. It isn’t funk, metal, blues, yada. It’s a cacophony of fusion not of course everyone’s taste and it hardly represents the totality of this iconic drummers playing! He plays ambidextrous, has a solid base in drum line drumming, that was the first to include this type of articulate rudiments in his playing. He started playing jazz quite well and precisely with great sense of musicality rhythm and technique. When he started playing fusion his bass drum alone was incredible his flow his dynamic capability awesome. Frankly he’s friggen great even at his current age. He’s also a terrific down to earth guy who has devoted his life to teaching drumming to anyone who wanted to learn from him. This is like saying buddy just played too fast and couldn’t play anything but swing. Any drummer today stands on their shoulders. Now let’s hear you play the same solo and better!
粒を早く並べるだけのつまらないドラム…
simon copy exactly this kit all his carrer..., one by one drum or cymbal, except for his 12 splash..., much more time before...., even a octoban or gongdrum..., or to play tama drums..., nothing wrong with that of course, is just curious and ovbious..., he is one of the greatest drumers ever..., he play his drums like they were made of batter..., still i dont see any drummer more powerfull than him...are some drummers really powerfull, like chris colleman or thomas pridgen, dennis, borlai, eric moore, ....and more...., but still i dont saw one with his power, clouse but not more...
is a video, with ponty, stanley and corea..., which billy plays a bit octaplus in acrilic blue..., is totally amazing, how much groove and power..., the velocity and power he phrases with that concert toms..., and at the same time of that making fun like a kid going in bicicle...., and with a tight jacket..., it amaze me...!, and by the way, that concert toms sounds delicious..., barriomore barlow copy that sound with tull..., i gonna look for the vid...: ruclips.net/video/SDPq1uq5Gxo/видео.html