Billy Cobham – “Stratus” from the album “Spectrum”

Billy was born William Emanuel Cobham on 16 May 1944 in Panama. He moved to New York City with his family as a child, attended New York’s High School of Music and Art and graduated in 1962. He played in a U.S. Army Band between 1965 to 1968 and, following his discharge, joined an ensemble led by Horace Silver. He co-founded Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin in 1971.

He recorded Spectrum in May 1973, while still with Mahavishnu Orchestra,

Spectrum

1) Quadrant 4; 2) Searching for the Right Door/Spectrum; 3) Anxiety/Taurian Matador; 4) Stratus; 5) To the Women in My Life/Le Lis; 6) Snoopy’s Search/Red Baron

Personnel

Billy Cobham – drums and electronics; Tommy Bolin – guitar; Jan Hammer – electric piano, Moog synthesizer, acoustic piano; Lee Sklar – bass guitar; Joe Farrell – soprano and alto sax; Jimmy Owens – flugelhorn and trumpet; John Tropea – guitar; Ron Carter – acoustic bass; Ray Barretto – congas