Billy Cobham – Total Eclipse

Since his time in John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra (1971-1973), drummer Billy Cobham has been one of the great heroes of electric fusion jazz. "Total Eclipse" was his third leader album within a few months, and once again he had composed all the pieces himself.

Already the opening 'suite' called "Solarization" (11 minutes long) shows a wide and quite sophisticated stylistic spectrum. Cobham's music jumps from high-energy jazz rock with turned-up guitar and thundering drum salvos to idiosyncratic piano or brass improvisations. There are also smooth electric Latin grooves or gripping funk numbers.

Cobham's hand-picked band is full of virtuosos. The names of the three-man horn section alone - Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Glenn Ferris - are a highlight in themselves. And the then 30-year-old bandleader himself embodied the ultimate in jazz-rocking drumming technique - the density of his beat sequences is still sensational today. With this album, the exceptional drummer thrilled all fans of high-class fusion sounds in the vein of Weather Report or Return To Forever.

Billy Cobham (dr, p, arr); Mike Brecker (fl, ss, ts); Randy Brecker (tp, fgh); Glenn Ferris (tb); Milcho Leviev (keyb); John Abercrombie, Cornell Dupree (g); Alex Blake (b); David Earle Johnson, Sue Evans (perc)

Recording: 1974 at Atlantic Recording Studios and Electric Lady Studios, New York, N. Y. by Ken Scott

Production: Billy Cobham & Ken Scott

This Speakers Corner production was made using 100% pure analog master tape and mastering. All licenses and GEMA fees have been paid.