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Billy Cobham: Magic / Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Billy Cobham
Title: Magic
Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought
Released: 1978
Label: Columbia Records
Time: 77:41
Producer(s): See Artists ...
Appears with: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jan Hammer
Category: Jazz
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  2001.09.14
Price in €: 10,99
Web address: www.billycobham.com

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


MAGIC (1977):
[1] On a Magic Carpet Ride (Cobham) - 5:09
[2] AC/ DC (Cobham) - 5:27
[3] Leaward Winds (Cobham) - 3:38
[4] Puffnstuff (Cobham) - 6:25
[5] "Anteres" the Star (Cobham) - 5:13
[6] Magic / Reflections in the Clouds / Magic - Recaitulation (Cobham) - 13:24

SIMPLYCITY OF EXPRESSION - DEPTH OF THOUGHT (1977-1978):
[7] Bolinas (Cobham/Soskin) - 4:32
[8] La Guernica - 8:10
[9] Pocket Change (Batiste/Cobham/Jackson/Mouton/Singleton/Soskin) - 6:42
[10] Indigo - 6:53
[11] Opelousas (Cobham) - 4:55
[12] Early Libra (Cobham) - 7:13

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


BILLY COBHAM - Percussion, Drums, Background Vocals, Producer

PETE ESCOVEDO - Timbales
STEVE KHAN - Guitar, 12 String Acoustic Guitar
JOACHIM KÜHN - Synthesizer, Keyboards, Mini Moog, Cup Piano
MIKE LAWRENCE - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
MARVIN STAMM - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
ALVIN BATISTE - Clarinet, Vocals, Background Vocals, Woodwind, Hambone
MARK SOSKIN - Piano, Keyboards, Electric Piano, Oberheim
DAVID NADIEN - Strings, Concert Master
JONATHAN ABRAMOWITZ - Strings
WAYNE ANDRE - Trombone
DONALD CORRADO - French Horn
EDDIE DANIELS - Tenor Saxophone, Woodwind
PETER DIMITRIADES - Strings
SHEILA ESCOVEDO - Conga
RICHARD HENDRICKSON - Strings
CHARLES MCCRACKEN - Strings
RAY MOUTON - Guitar
MATTHEW RAIMONDI - Strings
ALAN RAPH - Trombone
ZACHARY SANDERS - Background Vocals
BROOKS TILLOTSON - French Horn
ANAHID AIEMIAN - Strings
GEORGE QUINN - Trombone
LOUIS SHULMAN - Strings
RAYMOND SIMPSON - Background Vocals
JAY CHATTAWAY - Arranger, Conductor, Producer

BRUCE LUNDVALL - Executive Producer
BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN - Engineer, Remixing
DENNIS MACKAY - Engineer, Remixing
DOUG EPSTEIN - Engineer
TIM GEELAN - Engineer
PAULA SCHER - Design
GENE GREIF - Design
DAVID GAHR - Photography
DICK WINGATE - Product Manager
CHRISTINE MARTIN - Music Contractor

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1978 CD Jazz 2 On 1 82277
2001 CD Sony International 492526

Two of the great jazz drummer's original albums for Columbia together on one disc, 'Magic' & 'Simplicity Of Expression - Depth Of Thought'. Contains all of the tracks from when both were first issued, in 1977 & 1978, respectively. A combined total of 12 selections, all digitally remastered using 20 bit Super Bit Mapping (SBM) technology. Also features the original cover art of each record. 1998 release.



This is a bargain priced CD reissue of two of drummer Billy Cobham's harder to find recordings from the later '70s. Of the two, Magic is far superior and is generally regarded as one of his most interesting recordings in his extensive discography. Magic alone is worth the upgrade to CD; however, the inclusion of Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought amounts to nothing more than a throw in. Cobham recorded some embarrassing disco during the late '70s and this is a prime example. The two for one is too good to pass up and makes the CD highly recommended for fusion collectors.

Robert Taylor



MAGIC: Billy Cobham tends to make more significant records as a sideman than as a leader. On this out-of-print Columbia LP, Cobham is joined by some intriguing players (including both Joachim Kuhn and Mark Soskin on keyboards, guitarist Pete Naunu and clarinetist Alvin Batiste), but none of the funky originals are memorable or particularly catchy. The results are decent fusion, but not all that special.

Scott Yanow - All Music Guide



SIMPLICITY OF EXPRESSION: DEPTH OF THOUGHT: Along with the little known B.C., this is Billy Cobham's most disappointing recordings of the '70s. Like fellow fusion/drumming legends Alphonse Mouzon and Lenny White, Cobham gradually migrated toward disco/funk. His brand of this music sounds worse than most because he continues the propulsive drum style, making for an unbalanced approach. "Bolinas" and "Pocket Change" are embarrassing, but all is not lost as "La Guernica" is a burner. As the so-called death of fusion was fast approaching, Cobham was at a crossroads in his career.

Robert Taylor



Ethereal Jazz: Is there one word which defines this double compilation CD from drummer extraordinaire Billy Cobham? Sure.....it's "ethereal". Here, Cobham transcends his contemporaries, such as Jack de Johnette and Omar Hakim to display not only a surreal understanding of rhythm, but an "ethereal" display of melody, nuance and structure. Check out "Leaward Winds" from the "Magic" album, or "Bolinas" from "Simplicity of Expression, Depth of Thought". The title song from the latter CD goes boldly where many a jazz drummer wish to tread, but cannot successfully navigate. This applies to "La Guernica" from the same CD. No overstatement here....merely the weight of Cobham's drumming flowing effortlessly over an air tight melodic wave of creativity and purpose. A masterpiece.

A music fan from Coral Springs, Florida United States , August 22, 2000
 

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