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Title: A Departure for Cobham
Review: The drums are unmistakeably Billy Cobham, but the music is quite different from the style we've been accustomed to since the early 70s. This is the first Cobham album I've heard that eschews the popping-bass funk groove in favor of an all-acoustic, traditional jazz set, with mixed results. This is a quartet with piano, acoustic bass and saxophone playing rather unmemorable riffs over Cobham's powerful drumming. It's worth noting that only two of the selections are written by Cobham; you can tell right away which ones they are. The first time I played this album I heard a lot of things I liked; the next morning, when I played it a second time, it seemed meandering and undistinguished. Go figure. Probably not the best choice for those unfamiliar with Cobham's work, who would probably be best served by checking out his sessions with Miles Davis and John McLaughlin first.
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