Cobham is the best. I had the chance to do a camp with him in 2018 and it was a life changer. What an experience! I sincerely recomend everyone to go watch him live.
Billy did a drum clinic at my high school back in '78-'79. Just the coolest, most down to earth guy you'd ever meet. The music teacher that set it up had me bring my monster drum set in and have a drum battle with Billy at the end of the clinic. That was a great learning experience. Billy complimented me on my playing and was really interested in how I got my drum sound. We traded some info on sound and set-up before he had to leave to catch a flight to Germany for a gig. He offered for me to join him to Germany and play, but mom said no because I didn't have a pass port and not enough time to get one. We've crossed paths over the years and he hasn't changed a bit. He's still the coolest, most down to earth guy you'd ever meet.
known ... really for his rolls down the toms - his technique being a revalation, as Cobham showed over and over, he was a great and loving collaborator and teacher and even composer. He might say ..., " I hope that is my greatest legacy."@@jimhardiman3836
Also, with all the unfortunate hype-degeneration of the music industry - and other traditional media - it is balm always to my soul when we hear personal stories of these greats where they are kind and helpful. Really, an extra burden for famous people.
I got to see Billy Cobham twice live up close on two occasions (like in front of the stage close). He is by far the most powerful drummer I have ever seen. Incredible stamina (tireless). Whenever I listen to Miles Davis, George Duke or Stanley Clarke, I could always tell the tunes that he was playing on. Also he was the first drummer I had ever seen use two drum sticks in each hand. I can only imagine what his music would be like with the drumming equipment in use today.
Brilliant insights. As a tabla player who has performed in many bands, it always amazes me when I come across musicians, drummers, and percussionists who don't listen and respond to what the other band members are doing.
Its a real treat watching him play. Between the power, speed, and the ability to play with 4 sticks makes for an awesome experience. There are not many musicians I can say this about, but when I listen to him play, I want it to be a video because I need to see a master at work.
In my opinion, Billy Cobham is the most important drummer in drumming history, because he was the one who really made the transition between jazz and rock, and because jazz and rock are the two most important genres of the last hundred years, Billy is the most important of the last hundred years (which is the entire history of the drum set). Sure, we have Danny Seraphine, Bobby Colomby and of course Tony Williams, but they didn't have a sound rooted on both genres 50/50 as Billy Cobham did. Billy started as a jazz drummer, but developed a sound that embraced the power of rock (and played double bass drums better than the rock drummers of his time)
Tony Williams was the first fusion drummer with his band with Larry Young and John McLaughlin! Billy Cobham studied Tony Williams and then took it to another level with John McLaughlin with the Mahavishnu Orchestra! Around this same time period, Lenny White appeared in Chick Korea's Return To Forever band! All three of these drummers got their break from Miles Davis around the time of Miles Bitches Brew album! Don't forget Alphonse Mouzon and Larry Coryell's band Eleventh House? Cheers!
Short answer: It's slang for keeping time - if the groove feels soild and intentional it's "in the pocket". So, because a lot of players can lose sight of the pulse during a solo, pocket also took on the meaning of "general groove". "Playing pocket" is just playing a groove that's mostly about keeping a pulse going without extensive or complicated melodies. That means it's really obvious what the pulse is and you get that solid "in the pocket" feel. Playing pocket though is still a bit of a misnomer, because nothing you play should be out of pocket. Everything should always be aligned to something . Even when doing rubato (free time) type of phrasing you should be able to keep track of a metrnome. Either just in your head, or idealy with quarter notes or a clave or something akin to that on a seperate limb. Watch some Horazio Hernandez to see someone who is obscenely good at playing basically anything with a clave going - them latin cats are something else (translation: latin musicians and drummers in particular are wild.) So, someone's pocket is both their ability to play while keeping a pulse - and how they sound playing a groove with a powerful, obvious pulse. And Billy was a master at all of that, if it wasn't obvious.
THE GREAT BILLY COBHAM NOT ONLY WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CREATION OF JAZZ FUSION MUSIC ,HE IS THE CREATOR OF JAZZ FUSION DRUMMING! BRAVO MR. COBHAM!
A Drummer friend and I attended a Billy Cobham drum clinic in London late 1970s. My take away was ‘spirituality’ in approach. BC did not speak or demonstrate isolated chops during the clinic, design was among key songs he was associated with. Most of the audience (much younger and frankly) were slightly baffled, just our observation that has stayed vivid. Your posting provides a great rounded picture…You’ve a new subscriber 👍
I was huge fan and a wannabe drummer. I met him in the 70's. Real nice guy. I always envisioned that he would be a large man with a powerful voice but to my surprise, he was short, stocky and had a high pitched voice.
Honestly, I think Billy's later work is better than his early stuff that gets all the attention. The album Fruit From The Loom (2007) is one of my favorites. It's a more tasteful, and calmer Cobham. But honestly I think it's some of his best work.
The gatekeepers of Rock music is the best this or that pulled a video showing all the licks Peart took from Billy Cobham, Tony Williams and Steve Gadd. This was over 10 years ago.
I think a nice addition to these great videos would be to give something like a PDF with the links to the interviews to watch and the reading you did. That'd be great get further into the topic - could possibly be also little patreon extra. (:
Billy Was The First Drummer I Was Turned onto when I First Started Drumming in 1975. He came out With The Album Magic and Crosswind and I Was Totally Blowed Away By His Technique on The Drum's. When I Saw My 1st Drum Clinic he Encouraged Me To Practice whenever I Could. Billy Cobham is Such and Inspiration To Me. Keep On Encouraging Us Drummer's Of all Age's Mr. Cobham.
Saw Cobham at Toad's Place in New Haven CT. In the Seventies playing an acrylic Fibes kit while performing, "Quadrant 4" he was playing with war clubs, he was hittin' them so hard, I remember the whole kit shaking violently during the song.... great memories!
Quite some years ago, I was listening to the album, "California Concert" and the song "Red Clay" featuring the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson...at he end , I was like, " who the hell was that drumming?" From what I remember , Billy was 20 at the time, around 1970...amazing artist
Great tribute to a living legend. Probably the most influencial drummer other than Bonham or Buddie. He wrote the book on fusion drumming. Everyone to this day in fusion and chops drumming is just redoing what he came up with.
"Other than bonham or buddy"?. That's insulting. Buddy rich, bonham, peart, carl palmer, bill bruford and any 'rock' drummer all secure a back seat to Mr. Cobham.
subscribe if you haven't already for more drum + music content 🥁 any other drummers you think I should cover? drop some names below!
He's one of the heavyweights of drummers definitely one of the best
For me, Billy Cobham is part of the godsof drumming. Not only his skills but anything around him participates to this great legacy.
What a man - what a drummer! He blew me away and he still blows me away!
Best wishes to him for the oncoming years...
He is so naturally talented he just does whatever and it works like a charm lol.
Cobham is the best. I had the chance to do a camp with him in 2018 and it was a life changer. What an experience! I sincerely recomend everyone to go watch him live.
Billy did a drum clinic at my high school back in '78-'79. Just the coolest, most down to earth guy you'd ever meet. The music teacher that set it up had me bring my monster drum set in and have a drum battle with Billy at the end of the clinic. That was a great learning experience. Billy complimented me on my playing and was really interested in how I got my drum sound. We traded some info on sound and set-up before he had to leave to catch a flight to Germany for a gig. He offered for me to join him to Germany and play, but mom said no because I didn't have a pass port and not enough time to get one. We've crossed paths over the years and he hasn't changed a bit. He's still the coolest, most down to earth guy you'd ever meet.
Please don't "hurt my feelings" with your "tell it like it is" way of living.
known ... really for his rolls down the toms - his technique being a revalation, as Cobham showed over and over, he was a great and loving collaborator and teacher and even composer. He might say ..., " I hope that is my greatest legacy."@@jimhardiman3836
Also, with all the unfortunate hype-degeneration of the music industry - and other traditional media - it is balm always to my soul when we hear personal stories of these greats where they are kind and helpful. Really, an extra burden for famous people.
I got to see Billy Cobham twice live up close on two occasions (like in front of the stage close). He is by far the most powerful drummer I have ever seen. Incredible stamina (tireless). Whenever I listen to Miles Davis, George Duke or Stanley Clarke, I could always tell the tunes that he was playing on. Also he was the first drummer I had ever seen use two drum sticks in each hand. I can only imagine what his music would be like with the drumming equipment in use today.
Brilliant insights. As a tabla player who has performed in many bands, it always amazes me when I come across musicians, drummers, and percussionists who don't listen and respond to what the other band members are doing.
My all time favourite ❤
Its a real treat watching him play. Between the power, speed, and the ability to play with 4 sticks makes for an awesome experience. There are not many musicians I can say this about, but when I listen to him play, I want it to be a video because I need to see a master at work.
💯
Is, and always will be, my favourite drummer/composer/musician...
I would really like to stand next to him while he plays Vital Transformation just the way he played it on The Inner Mounting Flame.
The GOAT 🐐
Cobham, force of nature.
Bilham Cobly is also a nice guy. Very important point, that.🙂
Great video!
Je viens de le voir en concert à Monaco :78 ans et toujours aussi bon !
Alex Van Halen Hot For Teacher ..100% Sample
In my opinion, Billy Cobham is the most important drummer in drumming history, because he was the one who really made the transition between jazz and rock, and because jazz and rock are the two most important genres of the last hundred years, Billy is the most important of the last hundred years (which is the entire history of the drum set). Sure, we have Danny Seraphine, Bobby Colomby and of course Tony Williams, but they didn't have a sound rooted on both genres 50/50 as Billy Cobham did. Billy started as a jazz drummer, but developed a sound that embraced the power of rock (and played double bass drums better than the rock drummers of his time)
Tony Williams was the first fusion drummer with his band with Larry Young and John McLaughlin! Billy Cobham studied Tony Williams and then took it to another level with John McLaughlin with the Mahavishnu Orchestra! Around this same time period, Lenny White appeared in Chick Korea's Return To Forever band! All three of these drummers got their break from Miles Davis around the time of Miles Bitches Brew album! Don't forget Alphonse Mouzon and Larry Coryell's band Eleventh House? Cheers!
@@jeroldparker7766 Also Stu Martin and Eric Gravatt 💪🏼😃🥁🎶
You totally left out the part about how he defeated godzilla bare handed...
I thought Williams and DeJohnette was on Bitches Brew. Crazy!
Cobham and DeJohnette or Lenny White...
Unico ed Immortale
I think Marco Minnemann has the scope and the power.
Please explain to me what "pocket" means. I Think means what you can do what is in your possibility but may be it has more meanings. Thanks
Short answer: It's slang for keeping time - if the groove feels soild and intentional it's "in the pocket".
So, because a lot of players can lose sight of the pulse during a solo, pocket also took on the meaning of "general groove".
"Playing pocket" is just playing a groove that's mostly about keeping a pulse going without extensive or complicated melodies. That means it's really obvious what the pulse is and you get that solid "in the pocket" feel.
Playing pocket though is still a bit of a misnomer, because nothing you play should be out of pocket. Everything should always be aligned to something . Even when doing rubato (free time) type of phrasing you should be able to keep track of a metrnome. Either just in your head, or idealy with quarter notes or a clave or something akin to that on a seperate limb. Watch some Horazio Hernandez to see someone who is obscenely good at playing basically anything with a clave going - them latin cats are something else (translation: latin musicians and drummers in particular are wild.)
So, someone's pocket is both their ability to play while keeping a pulse - and how they sound playing a groove with a powerful, obvious pulse.
And Billy was a master at all of that, if it wasn't obvious.
@@nram3930 thank you very much for your time. You explained very well the term situations. I appreciate it very much. Thanks
LEGENDARY Panamanian Barista.
THE GREAT BILLY COBHAM NOT ONLY WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CREATION OF JAZZ FUSION MUSIC ,HE IS THE CREATOR OF JAZZ FUSION DRUMMING!
BRAVO MR. COBHAM!
Calm down
Why are you yelling???
Got to see him perform at the Sony hall in New York back in October of 2022. to put it simply, it was a mind-blowing experience!
A Drummer friend and I attended a Billy Cobham drum clinic in London late 1970s.
My take away was ‘spirituality’ in approach. BC did not speak or demonstrate isolated chops during the clinic, design was among key songs he was associated with. Most of the audience (much younger and frankly) were slightly baffled, just our observation that has stayed vivid.
Your posting provides a great rounded picture…You’ve a new subscriber 👍
Spiritual is a great way to put it, listening to him talking about drums is beautiful. Thanks for your comment and sub, Roger
@@OffBeatChannelCouldn't hold Louie Bellson's jockstrap 😂
I was huge fan and a wannabe drummer. I met him in the 70's. Real nice guy. I always envisioned that he would be a large man with a powerful voice but to my surprise, he was short, stocky and had a high pitched voice.
Open-handed drummer.
Honestly, I think Billy's later work is better than his early stuff that gets all the attention. The album Fruit From The Loom (2007) is one of my favorites. It's a more tasteful, and calmer Cobham. But honestly I think it's some of his best work.
~My favorite drummer of all time.
I think I read someplace, BILLY COBHAM was one of NEIL PEART'S inspirations.
He's most drummer's inspirations that's currently younger than 70 years old. 🙂 he was blowing minds in the early to mid 70's and beyond.
The gatekeepers of Rock music is the best this or that pulled a video showing all the licks Peart took from Billy Cobham, Tony Williams and Steve Gadd. This was over 10 years ago.
Peart was no where near in the same league....
Cobham es lo más groso que he visto en mi vida, una máquina rítmica que te deja sin aliento.
I think a nice addition to these great videos would be to give something like a PDF with the links to the interviews to watch and the reading you did. That'd be great get further into the topic - could possibly be also little patreon extra. (:
That's a great suggestion! I'll definitely look to incorporate that my Patreon once I get around to setting it up
Billy Was The First Drummer I Was Turned onto when I First Started Drumming in 1975. He came out With The Album Magic and Crosswind and I Was Totally Blowed Away By His Technique on The Drum's. When I Saw My 1st Drum Clinic he Encouraged Me To Practice whenever I Could. Billy Cobham is Such and Inspiration To Me. Keep On Encouraging Us Drummer's Of all Age's Mr. Cobham.
Billy and Lenny White 🔥
Saw him play at a small venue in manitou springs CO in 2022.
Couldn’t take my eyes off him the whole show .
Definitely a drummer’s drummer
Saw Cobham at Toad's Place in New Haven CT. In the Seventies playing an acrylic Fibes kit while performing, "Quadrant 4" he was playing with war clubs, he was hittin' them so hard, I remember the whole kit shaking violently during the song.... great memories!
Quite some years ago, I was listening to the album, "California Concert" and the song "Red Clay" featuring the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, George Benson...at he end , I was like, " who the hell was that drumming?" From what I remember , Billy was 20 at the time, around 1970...amazing artist
Why was Cobham so jacked in the 70s? His arms are freaking huge!
Thanks for the video! Can you cover someone like Elvin Jones, Max Roach, or even modern drummers like Brian Blade?
Billy the 🐐 😂 for real though. Mad love and respect.
Matt Garstka is our Billy today
My all time favorite drummer, together with Robert Wyatt
Nice Video, Cobham is my absolutly vavorit Drummer !!!
Vital transformation with Mahavishnu, ooohmph
40 albums..DAMN!@ He is the KING!
❤ beautiful ethos
🔥🥁🔥
I've been listening 🎶 to Billy since the Birds of Fire...Mahavishnu Orchestra!! Billy is Great!!
Cobham is so good it's almost frightening.
Great tribute to a living legend. Probably the most influencial drummer other than Bonham or Buddie. He wrote the book on fusion drumming. Everyone to this day in fusion and chops drumming is just redoing what he came up with.
"Other than bonham or buddy"?. That's insulting.
Buddy rich, bonham, peart, carl palmer, bill bruford and any 'rock' drummer all secure a back seat to Mr. Cobham.
Buddy rich secures a back seat to this drummer.
Once i heard Billy in about 83 at 15 years old and was changed forever! Lots of great players but Billy is at the top!
You left out his work the group Dreams!!!!