I was a little sceptical at first when receiving this DVD, as the late 80's were not the most promising years in terms of musical output for powerhouse fusion legend Billy Cobham. My fears were laid to rest however just moments into this smokin' set, and the amazing drummer and his band rip through 45 minutes of hot jazz/rock fusion, covering many Cobham classics.
Most of Cobham's band on this show are musician's I have never heard of, but they kick some serious butt and deserve mention. Guitarist Peter Wolpl is a monster player who just shreds with fire and technique, especially on cuts like "Red Baron", "Stratus" and "Incoming." I'll be searching for other projects he has participating in for sure after seeing this DVD. Wolfgang Schmidt, the bassist, also impresses, as he locks into many a tight groove with Cobham's drums, as well as adds a few serious gymnastic lead passages. The keyboard tandem of Wayne Cobham and Rita Marcotelli lay down all the necessary electric & acoustic piano, synth, and organ tones, while percussionist Nippy Noya adds color and textures to Cobham's rock solid and technical drum work. In addition to the set, there are numerous special features, including a biography, discography, and other pertinent info on Billy Cobham.
On the minus side, the concert is very short at about 45 minutes, and the quality of the picture is somewhat grainy, and at times breaks up a bit. Obviously is seems that this might have been transferred from VHS. Despite that, the sound is very good, and the performance is top notch, making this a worthwhile purchase for any fusion fan.
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