BILLY COBHAM’ SPECTRUM 50 PROJECT
This architect of rhythm is considered one of the world's finest drummers. A leader in jazz rock and fusion, and now reconverted to acoustic jazz, we are talking about Billy Cobham, of course! In 1973, the musician left the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra to release his first solo album, Spectrum. Although he had a clear idea of what he wanted to do, he never imagined that he'd be giving shape to one of jazz rock's landmark recordings, and celebrating it on tour 40 years later...
A collaborator of Miles Davis, George Benson and Quincy Jones, he also signed numerous albums as a leader, notably with his group Spectrum Band in the early 70s. A master in the art of polyrhythm and the key drum of jazz rock, Billy Cobham has illuminated with his science hundreds of sessions that, from Miles Davis to the Mahavishnu Orchestra via Dreams with the Brecker brothers, cover a staggeringly wide spectrum.
In 2009, the artist released Drum 'n' Voice 3, a return to the jazz-funk sound of the 1970s, with guests such as Brian Auger, George Duke and Gino Vannelli.
Cobham plays his drums using the open-hand technique, which allows the musician to play without crossing his right hand over the snare drum. His concert at the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival will certainly be one to watch.
Steve Gadd
An influential drummer in contemporary music, Steve Gadd can play anything, deftly bridging the gap between different musical styles. His technique and musicality on tracks such as Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", Steely Dan's "Aja" and Chick Corea's "Nite Sprite" have been so impressive and innovative that his place in the history of the percussive arts is assured.
He quickly established himself on the studio scene, and his resume includes a variety of collaborations with such greats as Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Aretha Franklin, Stanley Clarke and Frank Sinatra.
After a period of touring and recording with his band the Gadd Gang, he created the spark that ignited Paul Simon's recordings, notably the Grammy Award-winning "Graceland", inspired by South Africa. Now busier than ever, Gadd balances his schedule between recording dates and touring with the likes of Eric Clapton and James Taylor.
