Billy Cobham
An undisputed master of fusion rhythm, Billy Cobham is one of the most influential drummers of his time. Combining the groove and complexity of jazz with the raw power of rock, he took part in the birth of jazz fusion at the dawn of the 1970s as a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and with Miles Davis on the legendary Bitches Brew and A Tribute to Jack Johnson. A regular at the Montreux Jazz Festival, he played there for the first time in 1974, the year his debut album Spectrum was released. A masterpiece of jazz, rock and funk fusion, the album includes the track ‘Stratus’, sampled by Massive Attack and revisited on stage by Prince. In 2011, the American-Panamanian drummer founded the Billy Cobham School of Drums to pass on his knowledge to young musicians. At nearly 80, Billy Cobham continues to perform all over the world.