BILLY COBHAM PRESENTS NORTH BY NORTHWEST

Quite rare Italian release of Billy, playing post-bop with team of unknown Scandinavian jazz musicians. Cobham's drumming is technically competent as usual, but a bit uninspired (as all album's music).

New millennium's beginning (as well as 90-s) wasn't great time for Cobham. Musically he fluctuated between some world fusion works ( very polished and openly commercial) and some return to roots ( usually post-bop, with some contemporary jazz elements). It's difficult to say, what is better. His world fusion albums are melodic, colorful, but very rounded, mellow, and often are somewhere on the border with easy listening. His series of nostalgic post-bop releases (with unknown European jazz musicians) are less commercial, but often are of not very high technical level and contains quite secondary and uninspired music. This album is from the second group.

In fact, every listener can choose, what is better for him, but in both cases it is a big chance you will be disappointed. Pity, but better take Cobham album from 70-s.

Hardly more than 2+.