Respected for his incalculable influence on both jazz and rock, Billy Cobham is an important drummer – and one that I had never seen perform.

John McLaughlin and his Mahavishnu Orchestra were busy creating new conventions, and ‘Birds of Fire’ set the bar high even as the band itself soon afterwards disintegrated. The Audio Fidelity version of their finest album makes their innovations a little more manifest.

This exclusive in-concert stream from Billy Cobham, one of jazz rock’s most powerful drummers but also one of its most rhythmically intriguing, combines key moments from two-early 1970s solo efforts.

Amazon.com Widgets Billy Sherwood, both with Yes and on his recent helming of the Prog Collective, has already established himself as a staunch advocate for the 1970s’ signature rock style. So why shouldn’t he do the same with 1970s jazz?

The forthcoming Fusion Syndicate finds Yes alum Billy Sherwood exploring his lesser-known passion for free-form instrumental sounds associated with Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever.

Turns out, this was one funky ship that ran ashore. Our latest Desert Island Disc lists focus on 1970s fusion, and top vote-getters included Herbie Hancock’s thunderously groove-filled 1973 triumph Head Hunters.

by Something Else Reviews Credit, or discredit, the late Grover Washington Jr. with setting the template for the whole smooth jazz thing. There was always more to him than that. Really.

As an in-demand drummer and keyboard player, Gary Husband has gotten to play for some pretty heady names in both rock and fusion: John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Billy Cobham, Gary Moore, Level 42 and Andy Summers have all called on his services at one time or another. For Dirty and Beautiful Volume 1, manyRead More

by S. Victor Aaron On prior columns I’ve made no bones about my affinity for early Chicago songs. Danny Seraphine’s comeback album is a triumph because the band’s founding drummer brought back the spirit of his old band. And singer/keyboardist/songwriter Robert Lamm’s openness for melding complex jazz with straightforward blues and rock made for some of the more simultaneously catchyRead More

Miles Davis’ ‘Tribute to Jack Johnson’ is less than perfect in many respects, but the imperfections are such that they only add to the intrigue.