Customer Reviews

Magic / Simplicity of Expression

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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.

This out of Print 2 Billy Cobham albums on 1 CD is surely rare to find and a jewel to any CD collector who can get his hands on a copy.
"Magic" was released in 1977 followed by "simplicity of Expression" the year after.
Decent Jazz fusion through out however, if you are not a collector as I am or a beginner to Cobham's music, try instead; "Spectrum", "Crosswinds" and "By design"

WARNING: ABOUT HALF OF THE TRACKS ON THIS CD CONTAIN VOCALS.

If you are expecting the fusion that Cobham played on albums like Crosswinds or Spectrum, you may be disappointed by this CD. But, even though this doesn't reach the heights for those 2 earlier CD's I still think this is very good. I think if is much better than anything he did later on GRP.

MAGIC

The CD starts out weakly, with two light fusion instrumentals. They aren't bad, but nothing that I would buy on their own. They are certainly better than the material on the GRP CD's, Warning and Power Play. These tunes are mellow but are still driven by Cobhams drumming.

Next up is Puff'N'Stuff, which alone makes this CD worth buying. It starts and ends with some beautiful clarinet work. In the middle is a manic interlude, with Cobham "hamboning it up".

The fifth track features some more wonderful clarinet work. This is followed by a suit that includes some vocals. It is another excellent track, except for the ending. Following this beautiful singing is a jarring section of music that really doesn't belong.

SIMPLICITY OF EXPRESSION/DEPTH OF THOUGHT

This album is a little more mellow than Magic. There are 4 vocal tracks and 2 instrumentals. The vocal tracks are basic jazz songs. Some of them have a little funk thrown in. Cobham isn't the greatest lyricist in the world, but none of the songs are bad. There are very good sections.

This album came out when the face of jazz was changing. People were moving away from heavy fusion. Sunday Brunch style of music was becoming fashionable. Souless groups were becoming popular. Cobham evolved with this, but I think these ablums are much better than what others were doing at the time.

Admirers of drum technique will find lots to listen in awe at in these two albums. Billy Cobham is a technician almost without peer.

That said, as musical and artistic ventures both these albums are ultimate failures, and represent some of the worst of late 1970's fusion. I can only laugh when I hear Kamal singing "Early Libra" - it is pseudo-spiritual dross, no doubt written in good faith, but so maudlin as to beggar belief. Hallmark Card sentiments dressed in orchestral excess.

These albums have dated very, very badly. The only reason I hold onto this double album set is to teach me a lesson about bad taste.

If you are looking for the definitive Billy Cobham album, buy "Spectrum", and leave this one for the trainspotters and drum geeks !

Simplicity of Expression - A timeless treasure.
My "Depth of thought" - with resellers asking for over $80, it might as well be in Davey Jones' locker. Meanwhile I will be praying that SoE:DoT gets re-released so mates can afford it.

Early Libra sung by Kamal on this album is a hot track that still gets airplay. Anyone who thinks it's dross should look at themselves in the mirror. Ha!