Jazz / Fusion; Post-Bop
Recorded: Atlantic & Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York
This is Billy Cobham's third solo recording under his own name and is a fine follow up to Crosswinds. The mini suite, "Solarization," not only showcases the band's technical abilities, but also Cobham's strong compositional skills. It also features a schizophrenic piano solo ("Second Phase") from the underrated pianist Milcho Leviev, who sounds like a mutation of Cecil Taylor and Bill Evans. The funky "Moon Germs," on which John Abercrombie is pushed to inspiring new heights, became a Cobham classic. "The Moon Ain't Made of Green Cheese" is a beautiful flugel horn solo by Randy Brecker backed by Cobham's debut on piano. The band stretches out on the lengthy "Sea of Tranquility," while "Last Frontier" is a gratuitous drum solo. This recording is highly recommended as Cobham still sounds inspired.
---Robert Taylor, allmusic
Billy Cobham - piano, drums, tympani
Michael Brecker - soprano & tenor saxophones, flute
Randy Brecker - trumpet, flugelhorn
Glenn Ferris - tenor & bass trombones
Sue Evans - marimba
Milcho Leviev - keyboards
John Abercrombie
Cornell Dupree - guitar
Alex Blake - electric bass
David Earle Johnson - congas |
