Super Site Record of the Month

Crosswinds (1974) by Billy Cobham

I picked up this solo LP by Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer Billy Cobham last summer for $3 when I got a new turntable, and looking at the all-star supporting cast I knew I was in for a good time. It features the Brecker Brothers, John Abercrombie, and none other than George Duke on Rhodes, Clavinet & synthesizers. Side A is a 4-part suite titled Spanish Moss - A Sound Portrait, which starts out with a serious groove, then lapses into a gentler trombone solo with beautiful Rhodes accompaniment in Track 2 ("Savannah the Serene"). At 3:08 George's solo begins, the piano having an incredible bell tone combined with Suitcase Vibrato and what I think is the Echoplex fattening up the sound. Track 3 ("Storm") ultimately brings in the drum solo everyone has been waiting for, and Track 4 ("Flash Flood") brings back the funk. Randy Brecker's trumpet solo here is done with a wah pedal for a very synthy effect, followed by a guitar solo taking the effect one step further.

Side B is where George really starts to tear it up on The Pleasant Pheasant, with a big bad synth solo at 1:47 and amazing two-fisted Rhodes/Clav action throughout (listen with headphones!). This is followed by Heather, the one definite "Rhodes track" on the album, very sweet and mellow with that same luscious tone from Spanish Moss. Finally we arrive at Crosswind, the last dose of heavy downtempo funk. It has an abrupt ending, which leaves you wishing it went on for 3 or 4 more minutes. It's worth noting that there's a "Crosswinds - Live in Cannes" DVD out there featuring some of these songs, but considering that the concert is from 1989, I doubt that it lives up to the original.