Glass Menagerie

Glass Menagerie

William Emanuel "Billy" Cobham (born May 16, 1944, Panama) is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who permanently relocated to Switzerland during the late 1970s.<br><br>Coming to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with Mahavishnu Orchestra, and on countless CTI releases, Cobham according to Allmusic's reviewer is "generally acclaimed as fusion's greatest drummer with an influential style that combines explosive power and exacting precision.<br><br>Cobham branched out to jazz fusion, which blended elements of jazz, rock and funk, playing and recording with the Brecker Brothers (notably in their 1970-founded group Dreams), and guitarist John Abercrombie, before recording and touring extensively with trumpeter Miles Davis. Cobham's work with Davis appears on A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971), among other recordings.<br><br>Cobham is one of the first drummers to play open-handed lead: a drummer that plays on a right-handed set but leads with his left hand on the hi-hat instead of crossing over with his right (and also has his ride cymbal on the left side, instead of the traditional right). He typically plays with multiple toms and double bass drums and was well known in the 1970s for his large drum kits.<br><br>In 1981, Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie was formed, featuring Michael Urbaniak el violin & EWI, Gil Goldstein piano, Tim Landers bass, and Mike Stern guitar. Dean Brown replaced Stern when he left to play with Miles Davis. Glass Menagerie released two records for the Elektra Musician label.<br><br>This DVD was filmed in Switzerland in 1981 and features Cogham at his best in front of what football enthgusiasts would doubtlessly call "A Home Crowd" who obviously adore him.<br><br>Billy Cobham - Drums<br><br>Mike Stern - Guitar<br><br>Michal Urbaniak - Lyricon and Violin<br><br>Gil Goldstein - Piano<br><br>Tim Landers - Bass