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SHABAZZ

Billy Cobham

Jazz Rock/Fusion


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Billy Cobham Shabazz album cover
4.00 | 39 ratings | 4 reviews | 33% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Live, released in 1974

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Shabazz (13:49)
2. Taurian Matador (Revised) (5:27)
3. Red Baron (6:38)
4. Tenth Pinn (13:58)

Total Time: 40:23

Line-up / Musicians

- Billy Cobham / Drums, Percussion
- Alex Blake / Bass
- John Abercrombie / Guitar
- Milcho Leviev / Keyboards
- Michael Brecker / Saxophone
- Randy Brecker / Trumpet
- Glen Ferris / Trombone

Releases information

LP WEA (1974)
CD Wounded Bird Records (ASIN: B00004SWDM) (2000)

Thanks to Chus for the addition
and to Joolz for the last updates
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BILLY COBHAM Shabazz ratings distribution


4.00
(39 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(33%)
33%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
44%
Good, but non-essential (15%)
15%
Collectors/fans only (5%)
5%
Poor. Only for completionists (3%)
3%

BILLY COBHAM Shabazz reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars "Spectrum" and this live album "Shabazz" are my two favourite Billy Cobham albums. It's not even close actually with the rest of his discography as they fall far behind these two gems.These two albums compliment each other well as they sound quite different from one another with two very different lineups.This album has John Abercrombie on guitar and we get the Brecker brothers on sax and trumpet. Add trombone and yes there's a lot of brass. Cobham is the star here though and the album begins and ends with his talent on full display.This was recorded live in the summer of 1974 in two different venues in Europe.

"Shabazz" opens with drums only before the horns join in before 2 minutes. Guitar and electric piano after 3 minutes. It settles a minute later then kicks back in. Just a collage of sounds here. It settles again after 9 minutes, then the tempo picks up before 11 1/2 minutes. A change a minute later as it turns jazzy with horns. "Taurian Matador (Revised)" hits the ground running with horns and drums leading. A calm 2 1/2 minutes in. It starts building a minute later as the crowd cheers. Keyboards and drums shine.

"Red Baron (Revised)" is where they slow things down. Horns before a minute and it's kind of funky. It's fuller before 5 minutes then the horns return a minute later. "Tenth Pinn" opens with drums only then we get a full sound before 1 1/2 minutes. A calm follows with horn expressions. It's builing slowly then kicks in around 4 minutes.The tempo continues to shift back and forth. Drums only before 9 minutes as Billy puts on a show until just before it ends when the band kicks back in.

Without a doubt an album that Jazz / Fusion fans should check out.

Latest members reviews

4 stars The best live performance by Billy Cobham - all performances are motivated, precise and filled with energy. The two new tracks are focused around drums, "Shabazz" being more of a band effort then "Tenth Pinn". The brass section sounds more live than on any of BH studio albums and shows also more p ... (read more)

Report this review (#2166016) | Posted by sgtpepper | Friday, March 15, 2019 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Hot damn, what a performance! Billy Cobham's drumming is at its absolute peak on this album-better than he was with Miles and, dare I say it, even better than his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Billy rips into his drums with speed and precision comparable only to Buddy Rich-if that sounds ... (read more)

Report this review (#299080) | Posted by 40footwolf | Monday, September 13, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Billy's power jazz is desiged to rock your socks off; it leaves you exhausted and barefoot. Shabazz begins with a drum solo, but once the band kicks in the ride is quickly underway. And what a band it is! Randy and Michael Brecker bring their unique mini horn section to join the fun. Thei ... (read more)

Report this review (#125616) | Posted by vingaton | Tuesday, June 12, 2007 | Review Permanlink

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