Thanks to the insightful thread brought to us by Tapehead47 about Joe Zawinul/Weather Report. I began to bust out some old jazz albums. Are there any Billy Cobham & George Duke fans in here?

I can remember the first Billy Cobham compilation I heard, it was on 8-track & titled "Spectrum." It is still one of my favorites & I plan on getting it on vinyl someday.

Somewhat less appealing, to me, was his "Magic" album. I wanted more of his dynamic drum style to come forth.

I do have The Billy Cobham -- George Duke Band, "Live" On Tour In Europe
on vinyl. After listening to Jaco's Opus Pocus, I was primed for some more funky ear candy & "Hip Pockets" on Billy & George's album satisfied my craving. It changes styles with ease & the tempo is smooth. This album also features the jazzy style of guitarist John Scofield & Alphonso Johnson's unique bass riffs.

Old George later hooked up with bassist Stanley Clarke & gave us "The Clarke Duke Project." Another piece of music worth checking out. I have that album as well & "Louie Louie" is a tune worth the listen.

Sound off if you like old Billy & George.
Rome

Right On Rome! One of my all time favorite albums . . . I saw them in concert in Chicago on that tour at the Ivanhoe Theatre . . . I went to both shows each night . . . 4 shows in 24 hours!!! I went to the club early sat at the bar and Billy sat down in the stool right next to me . . . It dosen't get any better that group!!! The first show blew me away so much I decided to see the next three!!! The album came out shortly after I believe and was able to relive the experience forever more . . . a local radio station even recorded it and played on the air and I recorded on cassette and still listen to that today . . . It was a great place to see shows: To mention a few . . . The Jan Hammer Group . . . Jean Luc Ponty with Darryel Sturmer . . . Jack Dejohnnette's Directions with John Abercrombie John McLaughlin & Shakti . . . The Spectrum album has Jan Hammer & Tommy Bolin all over it . . . Excellent!!!

Count me in x10. I love them (everyone you named).

I also have that live album, and had no idea a duke/clarke album existed. I am a big george duke fan.

Have you checked out Stanley's solo albums . . . School Days & Journey to Love they both have Duke on them as well as cameos by Jeff Beck, Lenny White, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and on and on . . . Also The Stanley Clarke Album (his first) has Alan Holdsworth, Tony Williams & Jan Hammer . . . killer album . . . you might be hip to these albums already!

Right On Rome! One of my all time favorite albums . . . I saw them in concert in Chicago on that tour at the Ivanhoe Theatre . . . I went to both shows each night . . . 4 shows in 24 hours!!! I went to the club early sat at the bar and Billy sat down in the stool right next to me . . . It dosen't get any better that group!!! The first show blew me away so much I decided to see the next three!!! The album came out shortly after I believe and was able to relive the experience forever more . . . a local radio station even recorded it and played on the air and I recorded on cassette and still listen to that today . . . It was a great place to see shows: To mention a few . . . The Jan Hammer Group . . . Jean Luc Ponty with Darryel Sturmer . . . Jack Dejohnnette's Directions with John Abercrombie John McLaughlin & Shakti . . . The Spectrum album has Jan Hammer & Tommy Bolin all over it . . . Excellent!!!

Ahhhhh Cactus Bob!
Now, my blood pressure is rising... :yes:
These guys you mentioned are great talents. I even have a Live Jeff Beck album featuring the great Jan Hammer.

Great stuff!
Rome

Count me in x10. I love them (everyone you named).

I also have that live album, and had no idea a duke/clarke album existed. I am a big george duke fan.

Just great 240!
They make a nice combo.
Crank up Hip Pockets today & if you can get the Clarke Duke project do so, if only for Wild Dog & my favorite, Louie Louie.. :thmbsp:

Rome

Have you checked out Stanley's solo albums . . . School Days & Journey to Love they both have Duke on them as well as cameos by Jeff Beck, Lenny White, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and on and on . . . Also The Stanley Clarke Album (his first) has Alan Holdsworth, Tony Williams & Jan Hammer . . . killer album . . . you might be hip to these albums already!


I have Modern Man on vinyl. I listened to School Days while in college.
Never got around to getting some Duke, but always loved his solo stuff.

Rome

Ahhhhh Cactus Bob!
Now, my blood pressure is rising... :yes:
These guys you mentioned are great talents. I even have a Live Jeff Beck album featuring the great Jan Hammer.

Great stuff!
Rome


I saw Jeff Beck & The Jan Hammer Group on that tour . . . Great Album Rome!!!
I had the extreme pleasure of sitting right next to Hammer with that same group sans Beck . . . at a small club in 75' . . . he just came out with The First Seven Days Album . . . I was lucky I lived in Chicago . . . lots of music!

I saw Jeff Beck & The Jan Hammer Group on that tour . . . Great Album Rome!!!
I had the extreme pleasure of sitting right next to Hammer with that same group sans Beck . . . at a small club in 75' . . . he just came out with The First Seven Days Album . . . I was lucky I lived in Chicago . . . lots of music!



Ahhhhh Cactus Bob!
You sir are a blessed man. I wish I could have seen a lot of the great talent in my growing up years. East Texas just did not provide the venues for popular musical talents back then.

Enjoy the memories & protect that tape. Make a backup.

Ole Rome

Let's not forget George Duke's work on Zappas Overnight Sensation & Apostrophe albums and Grand Wazoo? . . . You guys probably know already that George Duke took Joe Zawinal's place in Cannonball Adderly's group I have a CD with Duke and him but I don't remember the name off hand . . .

Let's not forget George Duke's work on Zappas Overnight Sensation & Apostrophe albums and Grand Wazoo? . . . You guys probably know already that George Duke took Joe Zawinal's place in Cannonball Adderly's group I have a CD with Duke and him but I don't remember the name off hand . . .

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Grand Wazoo was an interesting piece of work indeed. I have a tune from that album on a cassette recorded back in the 80s. It is still a hard driving compilation of Zappa's unique style.

Check out the bibliography on Duke & see if you can find that album.

Nice info CB...
Rome

Hey CB & 240!
Check out Return to Forever, featuring Chick Corea: No Mystery....
Dayride & Sofistifunk are my favs on there.

rome

Billy Cobham is awesome!! I have several BC albums including with George Duke. Great stuff! I really like the Magic album!

Billy Cobham is awesome!! I have several BC albums including with George Duke. Great stuff! I really like the Magic album!

Ahhh Clyde!
Indeed BC is a great drummer & I wish I could have attended some concerts he & others played. Yea, I have the Magic album as well & it just did not grab me like Spectrum did. Maybe I will give another thorough listen too soon... :thmbsp:

Rome

Billy Cobham is one helluva drummer, I am jealous that my uncle saw him in the 70s. Said his double bass was amazing, and he didn't think his ass touched the drummers throne all night!

Evan

Billy Cobham is one helluva drummer, I am jealous that my uncle saw him in the 70s. Said his double bass was amazing, and he didn't think his ass touched the drummers throne all night!

Evan

Yea 240, I hate I missed a lot of the great musicians in my younger days like Billy.

Rome

Saw Billy Cobham with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke with Stanley Clarke in Toronto back in the day. The Mahavishnu concert was the first concert I ever went to at a tender age of 14 :smoke:

You guys might have seen them already . . . but there are some Cobham-Duke Band videos that are decent quality on You Tube . . . I wish we can have a DVD of this . . . . but I don't think there are any available

Saw Billy Cobham with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke with Stanley Clarke in Toronto back in the day. The Mahavishnu concert was the first concert I ever went to at a tender age of 14 :smoke:



Ah yes . . . those were the days . . . I saved most of my ticket stubs . . . I was about the same age . . . BTW . . . I still have my ESS AMT1's that I bought in 76" . . .

Ah yes . . . those were the days . . . I saved most of my ticket stubs . . . I was about the same age . . . BTW . . . I still have my ESS AMT1's that I bought in 76" . . .

very cool

Saw Billy Cobham with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke with Stanley Clarke in Toronto back in the day. The Mahavishnu concert was the first concert I ever went to at a tender age of 14 :smoke:

That had to be one heck of a first concert for you! Tough to follow that one!

Saw Billy Cobham with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke with Stanley Clarke in Toronto back in the day. The Mahavishnu concert was the first concert I ever went to at a tender age of 14 :smoke:

Ahhhhh DB!
I envy your memories...

Rome

You guys might have seen them already . . . but there are some Cobham-Duke Band videos that are decent quality on You Tube . . . I wish we can have a DVD of this . . . . but I don't think there are any available

Thanks for that info CB!
I bet they are nice, especially if the video & sound quality is good.

Rome

Thanks for that info CB!
I bet they are nice, especially if the video & sound quality is good.

Rome
Rome . . . decent by You Tube standards . . . . nothing fancy but you get to see them in action . . . Cactus!

OH hell yeah Mahavishnu orchestra! Man I wish I had a fully functioning TT right now. All of that is on vinyl.

Evan

OH hell yeah Mahavishnu orchestra! Man I wish I had a fully functioning TT right now. All of that is on vinyl.

Evan

Yea 240!
I got my TT about a month ago & I have been pulling out all the vinyl I have.
I hope you can get one soon.

Rome

That had to be one heck of a first concert for you! Tough to follow that one!

I was lucky to have a friend with an older brother that turned us on to some great music. During the 70's there was a big Jazz scene in Toronto, a lot of musicians stopped by.

Doug

Ahhhhh DB!
I envy your memories...

Rome

Fun times for sure.

Doug

Check out this clip of Billy with Mahavishnu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujcYw2QTPzM

Doug

I saw George Duke with Stanley Clarke sometime around 1981 or so. They only played for 45 minutes, after starting the show late.:thumbsdn: Awesome musicians, but the worst concert experience I've had, a total rip-off. The same year I saw Al DiMeola and Jan Hammer on the same bill, in Chicago. I also Jean-Luc Ponty that year as well. Our seats for that show were in the wings, which gave us a great view of Jean-Luc coming off-stage to snort lines between songs. Perhaps that was what Stanley and George were so anxious to get off the stage for too.:scratch2:

This thread has me wanting to get out some of my old fusion records.:music:

I saw George Duke with Stanley Clarke sometime around 1981 or so. They only played for 45 minutes, after starting the show late.:thumbsdn: Awesome musicians, but the worst concert experience I've had, a total rip-off. The same year I saw Al DiMeola and Jan Hammer on the same bill, in Chicago. I also Jean-Luc Ponty that year as well. Our seats for that show were in the wings, which gave us a great view of Jean-Luc coming off-stage to snort lines between songs. Perhaps that was what Stanley and George were so anxious to get off the stage for too.:scratch2:

This thread has me wanting to get out some of my old fusion records.:music:

Hi P. Shivers!
Yea, I have always wondered why musicians showed up late for their gigs. It is just unacceptable, unless there is just cause & most of them just show up late for no reason. :thumbsdn:

I wish I could have seen them though. Go out & do just that P. I am lusting for some better copies of my vinyl. Most of them are over thirty years old & have been through a lot of abuse. :D

Rome

Well now, this is my kind of music! From the early 70's up until the mid 80's I purchased just about every solo Cobham album he made, still have them. My favourite one is his second solo Crosswinds. I also have many of the other artists mentioned in this thread. The nice thing about fusion jazz, it got me more interested in the more conventional/standard jazz which I still love today. It acted like a "bridge" I guess.
I do not know whether it still in print but George Dukes "I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry" is a must have. Teamed up in the studio with an "all-star" band, this compilation has everything from rock, blues, jazz...you name it. I have it in both formats Cd/LP and actually played it for a couple of young fellows the other night when I sold a turntable. Give it a listen if you can find a copy. Cobham's CD "Nordic" is another great one for auditioning or selling equipment. Dave

Hi Dave!
Glad you are a fan as well. I have not heard the Crosswinds piece. I will have to look for it. I just have the Live & Magic projects on vinyl. I am sure Nordic is a a fine piece. He certainly has a great style, along with the late great John Bonner.

Also, I will keep in mind Duke's music you mentioned.

Rome

Rome: as stated I have all Cobhams stuff up to a certain point, mid 80's I believe. The C.D.'s came afterward of course. I will say there were many of his albums that were not very good at all but I kept on buying them when they came out waiting for the next "great one". Nordic has a more traditional jazz flavour to it but it is one of the most "polished" Cobham I had heard up until the time I purchased it several years ago. "Time Traveler" is very good as well with that touch of fusion Cobham is known for. His website is very good and shows many C.D.'s he has done in recent years. I am too old to keep up with him now:yes: Dave
http://www.billycobham.com/

http://www.georgeduke.com/discography.html

Vintageman1 . . . you ever check out Larry Coryell's Spaces album 1969 . . . and Spaces Revisited about 2002 . . . both have Cobham, nice stuff . . . your bridge analogy is on the money . . . Cheers

Mahavishnu Orchestra "Birds of Fire" was the ultimate 70s HiFi demo record. A great classic.

Mahavishnu Orchestra "Birds of Fire" was the ultimate 70s HiFi demo record. A great classic.

Couldn't agree more!!!

Rome: as stated I have all Cobhams stuff up to a certain point, mid 80's I believe. The C.D.'s came afterward of course. I will say there were many of his albums that were not very good at all but I kept on buying them when they came out waiting for the next "great one". Nordic has a more traditional jazz flavour to it but it is one of the most "polished" Cobham I had heard up until the time I purchased it several years ago. "Time Traveler" is very good as well with that touch of fusion Cobham is known for. His website is very good and shows many C.D.'s he has done in recent years. I am too old to keep up with him now:yes: Dave
http://www.billycobham.com/

http://www.georgeduke.com/discography.html

Nice info Vman,
Rome

Hey Guys . . . check out this internet station . . . they play all the stuff were talking about and then some, I'm a 365 live member so I get MP3 Pro streams and have access to thousands of channels . . . commercial free


http://fusion101radio.com

Hey Guys . . . check out this internet station . . . they play all the stuff were talking about and then some, I'm a 365 live member so I get MP3 Pro streams and have access to thousands of channels . . . commercial free


http://fusion101radio.com

Thanks so much CB for the link!

Rome

Vintageman1 . . . you ever check out Larry Coryell's Spaces album 1969 . . . and Spaces Revisited about 2002 . . . both have Cobham, nice stuff . . . your bridge analogy is on the money . . . Cheers

No, I have not heard those however L.C. does appear on many albums I do have.

Now, if you really want an experience and broaden your listening pleasure and have a system that you wish to show off it's high end, Maynard Ferguson is a real treat. Progressive Big Band music that we used to demonstrate our E.P.I.'s back in the day. His music from the late 60's to late 70's in fabulous. :thmbsp:

[QUOTE=Vintageman1;2256881]No, I have not heard those however L.C. does appear on many albums I do have.

Now, if you really want an experience and broaden your listening pleasure and have a system that you wish to show off it's high end, Maynard Ferguson is a real treat. Progressive Big Band music that we used to demonstrate our E.P.I.'s back in the day. His music from the late 60's to late 70's in fabulous. :thmbsp:[/QUOTE

Sounds like I'll have to break out the ESS Heil Air Motion Transformers for that one! :yes:

Sounds like I'll have to break out the ESS Heil Air Motion Transformers for that one! :yes:

Fine speaks you have there CB! :thmbsp:

Rome

Fusion 101 is playing Puffin' Stuff from the Magic album right now

Oh yah Cactus Bob.....one of those times where you just say to yourself
"momma's Zenith Console could'nt do this!"

I forgot to mention another C.D. that is a must have. "Stanly Clark & Friends, Live at the Greek". Features Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton, and Najee.
Even my wife likes this one. Hard to find....may be out of print but worth looking for.

Oh yah Cactus Bob.....one of those times where you just say to yourself
"momma's Zenith Console could'nt do this!"

I forgot to mention another C.D. that is a must have. "Stanly Clark & Friends, Live at the Greek". Features Billy Cobham, Larry Carlton, and Najee.
Even my wife likes this one. Hard to find....may be out of print but worth looking for.

I am familiar with that one and like it very much . . . I should hunt that down, Thanks!!

You sounded like Clint their for a moment . . . he's a great Jazz fan too!

You guys also might take a look at some work done by Charles Mingus.
I listen to the CD channel on Dish Network & when ever I see him listed, I sit down for a listen. Great player as well.

Ole Rome

Live at the Greek, Cheap Buy it Now on that auction site...New!

Live at the Greek, Cheap Buy it Now on that auction site...New!

Sounds good Vman!

Rome

When it comes to jazz, one of the best learning tools for those just starting to explore, is that PBS series done a few years back. I know you can buy it but what I really like about it is follows many of the "greats" through their careers which shows their evolution. From there, it's finding out what you like and seaching out the L.P.'s/C.D.'s. They did a great job with Miles Davis and many others. Put it on your Christmas List..HO HO HO

When it comes to jazz, one of the best learning tools for those just starting to explore, is that PBS series done a few years back. I know you can buy it but what I really like about it is follows many of the "greats" through their careers which shows their evolution. From there, it's finding out what you like and seaching out the L.P.'s/C.D.'s. They did a great job with Miles Davis and many others. Put it on your Christmas List..HO HO HO

You mean "JAZZ a film by Ken Burns" http://www.pbs.org/jazz/

It's very good . . . you can borrow it on DVD from the library . . . and pick up some CD's while your there!!

This thread is just to much for me, thanks guys for all that you have shared.

Ole Rome

This thread is just to much for me, thanks guys for all that you have shared.

Ole Rome

Great thread you started here Rome, thanks . . .
I dig Charles Mingus . . . I have a monster collection of straight-ahead-Jazz . . . . I'm a huge fan of Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver Too!!

Saw Billy Cobham with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and George Duke with Stanley Clarke in Toronto back in the day. The Mahavishnu concert was the first concert I ever went to at a tender age of 14 :smoke:I had second row seats for Mahvishnu(Inner Mounting Flame tour), and still to this day can remember it like it was yesterday. I still shake my head in amazement when I think of it. Believe this or not BUT Aerosmith was supposed to open for them and didnt show up. Now that would have been a clash of styles. hehehehe

Great thread you started here Rome, thanks . . .
I dig Charles Mingus . . . I have a monster collection of straight-ahead-Jazz . . . . I'm a huge fan of Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver Too!!

Glad you & others have participated in it.!
I have been so enlightened with the great info.

Rome

I had second row seats for Mahvishnu(Inner Mounting Flame tour), and still to this day can remember it like it was yesterday. I still shake my head in amazement when I think of it. Believe this or not BUT Aerosmith was supposed to open for them and didnt show up. Now that would have been a clash of styles. hehehehe

Who knows Hhibrownsbac!
It may have been stellar with the different style of music blasted around. Keep those memories alive.

Man, I hate I did not see any of these bands growing up...

Rome

Mahavishnu Orchestra "Birds of Fire" was the ultimate 70s HiFi demo record. A great classic.

That's funny as I used to do exactly that. I remember going into one store asking the sales guy to play it, he did and after about 2 minutes said something like "listen to this record instead" and then I just walked out. I guess he didn't realize that I was looking for a system to listen to my music on and not his :smoke:

Doug

Glad to have been part of this post. Lost my job after 28.5 years of service. It's actually been nice to talk to people to keep my mind off of things. Dave

If you're looking for something different by Billy Cobham and like Afro-Latin rhythms check out Billy Cobham and Asere, De Cuba y De Panama.

I too used fusion to discover all types of great music.

Doug

Glad to have been part of this post. Lost my job after 28.5 years of service. It's actually been nice to talk to people to keep my mind off of things. Dave

Sorry to hear that Vman!
I will certainly keep you in my prayers & thank you for adding nice sentiments to this thread.

Rome

If you're looking for something different by Billy Cobham and like Afro-Latin rhythms check out Billy Cobham and Asere, De Cuba y De Panama.

I too used fusion to discover all types of great music.

Doug

Thanks DB!
That combo sounds interesting.

Rome

I just had to say it. I listened to "Hip Pockets" again on yesterday & I just wanted to say to all who have this album.

Crank it! :D

Love this tune!
Rome

I just had to say it. I listened to "Hip Pockets" again on yesterday & I just wanted to say to all who have this album.

Crank it! :D

Love this tune!
Rome

It's never too early to crank that album to 11!!!!!!!!!! Cheers!!!

It's never too early to crank that album to 11!!!!!!!!!! Cheers!!!

You got it CB!
My Polks bring out the flava! :thmbsp:

Ole Rome

PRELUDE by Eumir Deodato also features Billy Cobham as well as a bunch of other players. I have this on cd, but it is from the early 70's. Thanks for bringing up Billy, this is now going in the cd player.

Peace,

Jim

I saw Billy Cobham twice in the early 70's when he played with the Mahavishnu Orch. He was so good that after seeing him play the first time I briefly quit playing drums. I just didn't see the point. The Man's a Monster! Fortunately I quickly changed my mind and am now quite comfortable being half the drummer he is.

PRELUDE by Eumir Deodato also features Billy Cobham as well as a bunch of other players. I have this on cd, but it is from the early 70's. Thanks for bringing up Billy, this is now going in the cd player.

Peace,

Jim

Hi Jim!
Thanks for the info regarding Billy on the Prelude cd. Glad to hear you are putting him on. :thmbsp:

Rome

I saw Billy Cobham twice in the early 70's when he played with the Mahavishnu Orch. He was so good that after seeing him play the first time I briefly quit playing drums. I just didn't see the point. The Man's a Monster! Fortunately I quickly changed my mind and am now quite comfortable being half the drummer he is.

Hi MJ!
Glad you got back on the horse (drums). :yes:
We often get discouraged when someone else is a bit better than we are, but one thing most important is that when you do your best nothing else matters. I am sure you could give him a run for the money. :thmbsp:

Glad you are a BC fan. He is a great drummer & there are many others as well.

Take care,
Rome

Sounding as good as I remembered it!

Peace,

Jim

Sounding as good as I remembered it!

Peace,

Jim

Take care Jim!

Rome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ikhatPxNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ikhatPxNE

Thanks again, CB!

Rome