SPECTRUM

While outdoing Mahavishnu is completely out of the question, Billy Cobham put out a strong solo debut, possibly stronger than any of McLaughlin's solo albums. Spectrum is a rockin' fusion record that obviously showcases the talent of the great drummer. great rhythm work is complimenting by solid improvisation. 2/3 of the record are done by a quartet comprised of Cobham, Jan Hammer, Tommy Bolin and Lee Sklar; the other third features some additional instrumentation (horns, woodwinds, auxiliary percussion). While the performance value is there, I can't say that there is anything especially memorable about the album. There aren't any stellar riffs or melodies to suppliment the soloing. We can expect something like this because it is, after all, a drummer's record.

It will suffice to say that Spectrum is a good but forgettable record. It is thoroughly enjoyable when you're listening to it, but you will never find any of it stuck in your head later on, and when deciding what to throw on when you're in a fusion mood, this probably won't be the first title you'll think of. Fans of predominantly jazz or jazz fusion would probably benefit from owning this one, especially those who can't get enough of the first form of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.